Students in the Ventura County Community College District don’t have to limit themselves to transferring only to CSU, UC, and private California colleges and universities. There are a wide variety of universities across the nation to choose from, including Ivy League, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), large public state universities, research universities, and private liberal arts colleges and universities. Some of these colleges and universities may also be designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) meaning that at least 25 percent of their enrolled undergraduates identify as Hispanic.

Each of these universities will have their own transfer admission requirements and graduation requirements including general education. Some out-of-state universities will accept CSU GE and/or IGETC certification to meet their general education requirements. It is best to work with an Admission Counselor/Recruitment Office at the university you are interested in, along with your VCCCD counselor, to make sure that you are taking courses that will fulfill their transfer/GE/major requirements.

Paying Out-of-State Tuition

While out-of-state tuition may be more expensive than California public universities, there are options that can help students to transfer to their dream university:  

1. Independent Universities may have large endowments that allow them to offer merit-based scholarships and need-based grants to help meet the cost of attendance. While competitive for admission, Ivy League Universities (Harvard, Princeton, Yale, etc.) offer needs-based free college tuition packages. Visit the university’s website for Admissions and Financial Aid information. Generally, you will need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to receive any financial assistance from a university. 
2. Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is America’s largest regional interstate tuition savings program. There are 160+ participating public colleges and universities that provide steep nonresident tuition savings for students from Western states. In 2023-2024, the average WUE participating student saved $11,834 for the year in tuition costs. To see the list of participating colleges and universities choose this link to the WUE Handout.