2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The persistent transfer credit loss among engineering transfer students, particularly in California, has far-reaching implications for individual academic pathways, the higher education landscape, and workforce development. Academic transfer credit loss can result from multiple factors, including issues of transfer requirements, missing transfer pathways, and curriculum misalignment between community colleges and universities, often stemming from variations in course content, sequencing, and rigor. Because engineering courses have degree-specific prerequisites that must be met, transfer credit loss for engineering students is particularly problematic. Inadequate academic advising practices fail to provide students with clear guidance on course selection and transfer pathways. Moreover, factors associated with student demographics and academic preparedness, such as socioeconomic background, first-generation status, and prior academic performance, can increase the potential for academic credit loss. Transfer credit losses increase financial burdens for students through additional tuition costs and by postponing their entry into the workforce, which impacts the availability of qualified engineers to meet the demands of California's dynamic and rapidly evolving industries, potentially hindering economic growth and innovation. This paper summarizes academic transfer credit losses during two academic years (AY 2022-2024) for transfer students in the Department of Civil Engineering at one of the California State University campuses. The study revealed that 247 engineering transfer students lost an average of nearly 7 units, totaling 1,462 units during two academic years. This represents 6.1% of the total completed credits for these students. Understanding the causes and results of transfer credit loss allows educators to develop targeted strategies to streamline the transfer process, enhance academic advising, and promote curriculum alignment between community colleges and universities.