Arizona State University (ASU) and the California Community Colleges system signed a statewide agreement in Los Angeles on October 8, 2026: California community college students who complete any Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) are guaranteed admission to ASU and enter an aligned bachelor’s program with junior standing. EdSource reported on the agreement on October 19. Irvine students taking transfer coursework at Irvine Valley College (IVC) or another California community college now have one more bachelor’s degree route with a guarantee.
Who Is Affected by the ASU Admission Guarantee
The agreement affects California community college students who are completing or planning an ADT. ASU accepts all 60 California ADTs, including the Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T). The main terms are:
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Admission | Completing an ADT guarantees admission to ASU |
| Class standing | Junior standing in a bachelor’s program aligned with the ADT |
| Credit | At least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of eligible coursework accepted |
| General education | The completed ADT satisfies ASU’s lower-division general education requirements in the aligned pathway |
| Graduation | No more than 60 additional semester units in an aligned pathway |
| Programs | Nearly 100 bachelor’s programs mapped directly to ADTs, plus nearly 500 in-person and more than 200 online bachelor’s options |
Students can study online, through ASU Local in Los Angeles, Long Beach, or Chula Vista (online coursework with weekly in-person sessions), or in person in downtown Los Angeles or in Arizona. ASU offers six start dates a year, which vary by program.
What to Do Now About the ASU Admission Guarantee
Confirm the target school first. The ADT was originally created as a path into the California State University (CSU) system. The ASU guarantee applies only after the student completes the ADT; students without an ADT can still apply to ASU, with courses evaluated individually and credit given for grades of C- or better.
Use the ASU pathway finder. The ASU ADT page shows the programs aligned with each ADT, how completed courses apply, and which requirements remain; tuition depends on where and how the student attends.
Keep the University of California plan in place. Students aiming for the University of California should still choose courses according to UC transfer requirements. The Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) timeline is covered in Brief: UC TAG Applications Close September 30, and CSU timing in Brief: CSU Transfer Priority Filing Ends Nov. 30. Community college transfer planning is covered by the EDUBUS community college to UC transfer service.
Sources
- Arizona State University News: ASU and California Community Colleges guarantee ASU admission to all ADT grads (accessed October 19, 2026)
- Arizona State University: Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) to ASU (accessed October 19, 2026)
- EdSource: Arizona State offers guaranteed admission to California community college grads (accessed October 19, 2026)
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