Articulation Agreements

Institutional Agreements 

Program Agreements

Other Transfer Opportunities

MiTransfer and MiWorkforce Pathways

Reverse Transfer

Institutional Agreements

Institutional Agreements are formal agreements between GRCC and a 4-year partner to facilitate the seamless transfer of students from GRCC to the partner. These agreements allow for Program Agreements to be created. 

• Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, MI)
• Calvin University (Grand Rapids, MI)
• Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, MI)
• Davenport University (Grand Rapids, MI)
• Ferris State University (Big Rapids, MI)
• Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI)
• Lawrence Technological University (Southfield, MI)
• Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI)

Program Agreements

The following Programs were created to align with Agreements intended to ensure that GRCC courses within these programs transfer into a specific bachelor degree as outlined by the Agreement. These programs are financial aid eligible and result in an Associate Degree from GRCC. Program agreements are developed at the department level following the establishment of an Institutional Agreement.

• Click on the AA icon at the top of each program to view the Agreement. 
• If an Agreement is under review or outdated, the coursework outlined within the Agreement document may still be useful. Students should contact the 4-year partner about how each course will be used to meet the bachelor’s degree requirements.  

Aquinas College

• Pre-Biology, A.A. (Aquinas College)  
• Pre-Exercise Science, A.A. (Aquinas College)  

Cornerstone University

• Pre-Business, A.A. (Cornerstone University)  

Davenport University

• Pre-Biological Laboratory Science, A.A. (3+1, Davenport University)  
• Pre-Accounting, A.B. (3+1, Davenport University)  
• Pre-Business, A.B. (3+1, Davenport University)  
• Pre-Management, A.B. (3+1, Davenport University)  
• Pre-Marketing, A.B. (3+1, Davenport University)  

Ferris State University

• Architectural Technology, A.A.A.S (Ferris State University-Facility Management)  
• Architectural Technology, A.A.A.S. (Ferris State University-Construction Management)  
• Pre-Early Childhood Education, A.A. (Ferris State University)    
• Pre-Elementary Education, A.A. (Ferris State University)  
• Pre-Hospitality Management (Specialized Management), A.A. (Ferris State University)  
• Pre-Manufacturing Engineering Technology, A.A. (Ferris State University)  
• Pre-Music and Entertainment Business, A.A. (3 + 1, Ferris State University)  
• Plastics-Polymer Engineering Technology, A.A.A.S (Ferris State University-Manufacturing Engineering Technology)  
• Plastics-Polymer Engineering Technology, A.A.A.S (Ferris State University-Plastics Engineering Technology)   

Grand Valley State University

• Pre-Birth to Kindergarten, A.A. (Grand Valley State University)  
• Pre-Business, A.A. (Grand Valley State University)  
• Pre-Exercise Science, A.A. (Grand Valley State University - Clinical Exercise Science)  
• Pre-Exercise Science, A.A. (Grand Valley State University - Health Fitness Instruction)  
• Pre-Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching + Educational Studies, A.A. (Grand Valley State Univ)  
• Pre-Sport Management, A.A. (Grand Valley State University)  

Lawrence Technological University

• Pre-Master of Architecture, A.A. (Lawrence Technological University)  

Western Michigan University

• Child Development, A.A.A.S. (Western Michigan University - Family Science and Human Development)  
• Pre-Business Administration, A.A. (Western Michigan University)   
• Pre-Engineering Design Technology, A.A. (Western Michigan University)  
• Pre-Engineering Management Technology, A.A. (Western Michigan University)  
• Pre-Exercise Science, A.A. (Western Michigan University - Applied Exercise Science)  
• Pre-Exercise Science, A.A. (Western Michigan University - Clinical Exercise Science)  
• Pre-Industrial & Entrepreneurial Engineering, A.A. (Western Michigan University)  
• Pre-Manufacturing Engineering Technology, A.A. (Western Michigan University)  
• Music, A.M. (Western Michigan University)  
• Pre-Nutrition and Dietetics, A.A. (Western Michigan University)  
• Pre-Public Health, A.A. (Western Michigan University)  
• Pre-Recreation/Sport Management, A.A. (Western Michigan University)  

Program Note-What is a “3+1”

“3+1” is a term GRCC uses to describe a program in which students may complete at least a substantial portion of the four-year institution’s bachelor degree requirements at GRCC, earn an associate’s degree at GRCC, and then transfer to the 4-year institution to complete the remaining bachelor degree requirements. The actual number of years a student spends at an institution is dependent on many factors (student enrollment status, course offerings, etcetera). For more information see the Curriculum Policy.

Other Transfer Opportunities

GRCC has established other transfer opportunities with institutions that offer you additional options to explore:

• Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine (Grand Rapids, MI) – has partnered with GRCC to provide an “enhanced opportunity” for medical school admission. Students who transfer as undergraduate premedical students to Michigan State University will have an opportunity to be granted an early assurance of admission to the MSU College of Human Medicine. Please consult MSU’s Early Assurance Opportunity for additional information. 
• Ferris State University’s Doctor of Pharmacy Program (Big Rapids, MI) – guarantees five seats each year for Grand Rapids Community College students. The memorandum of understanding allows students to get all of their prerequisite classes for the Ferris program at GRCC. Please consult Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy for additional information.
• University of Michigan Transfer Bridges (Ann Arbor, MI)– program presents an opportunity for GRCC students who are interested in transferring to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at U-M. Through this unique program, U-M professionals will keep students current with the most updated information to help them successfully prepare and submit transfer applications.

• Baker College (Owosso, MI) and GRCC agree that students who choose to transfer to Baker should be provided with a smooth curriculum transition minimizing loss of credit and duplication of coursework. Please consult Baker College for additional information and Transfer Guides showing GRCC associate degree pathways of credits accepted into Baker bachelor degrees. 

• Kuyper College (Grand Rapids, MI) and GRCC agree to facilitate a smooth curricular transition that minimizes loss of credits. Once transferred to Kuyper College, students will be able to take all of their classes toward the Bachelor of Science in Business Leadership at Kuyper’s urban location at the Center for Community Transformation (1530 Madison Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507), and will be eligible to participate in the KuyperWorks program.

• Lansing Community College (LCC) (Lansing, MI) – has partnered with GRCC to provide students who are interested in becoming American Sign Language interpreters with an opportunity to complete their first year of the Sign Language Interpreter Program at GRCC before transferring to LCC to complete their training. LCC and GRCC agree that students who choose to transfer to LCC will be provided with a smooth curriculum transition minimizing loss of credit and duplication of coursework. During their final semester at GRCC, students should contact an advisor at LCC to assist them with enrollment in the summer courses required to continue on this pathway.

  • LCC & GRCC Sign Language Interpreter Partnership  

• University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, MI) and GRCC have signed an agreement that will allow GRCC students who have completed the Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences in Dental Hygiene to transfer up to 96 credits (instead of the standard 63) to fulfill specific requirements in Detroit Mercy’s Dental Hygiene Degree Completion program. If interested, it is recommended that GRCC students contact Detroit Mercy Dental Hygiene Degree Completion advisors as early as possible.
  • Univ of Detroit Mercy Dental Hygiene Agreement  

It’s always important to research and utilize all transfer resources available to maximize the number of GRCC courses that transfer and apply to their 4-year program. Because transferability of courses varies by institution, students should contact the 4-year institution they plan to attend to obtain detailed information about transfer requirements. GRCC advisors and faculty are available to help students navigate transfer resources and create an individualized transfer plan, including selection of courses, which meets all GRCC and transfer institution requirements.

To learn more about additional options for transfer, please visit GRCC’s Transfer Out page.

MiTransfer and MiWorkforce Pathways

GRCC partners with other institutions in Michigan by participating in the MiTransfer and MiWorkforce Pathways. More information can be found on the Michigan Transfer Network.

MiTransfer Pathways provides guidance about transferring courses in specific academic programs to multiple colleges and universities in Michigan. For more information, please visit our MiTransfer Pathways page. 

MiWorkforce Pathways provide for transfer of the complete applied associate degrees identified in the agreements to selected bachelor’s degree completion programs at Michigan’s colleges and universities.  More information about which GRCC associate degrees and participating four-year institutions can be found within the agreements located on the Michigan Transfer Network.  

Reverse Transfer

This is a process where academic credits for course work completed at a four year university are transferred back to GRCC to satisfy associate degree requirements, which may not have been met prior to transferring.  To see if you maybe eligible, visit Reverse Transfer.   Through Reverse Transfer, a student’s achievements are recognized with an associate degree after they have transferred to a 4-year school and have accumulated the credits needed to fulfill the 2-year degree program requirements. It’s value added to your education!