There’s more than one path

Community colleges offer certificates, associate degrees, career education, and courses that prepare you to transfer to a four-year university. You can pick one path or combine them, and it’s fine if you’re still deciding.

College credit can start in high school

As a middle college high school, our students take college courses alongside their high school classes. Those credits can count toward a certificate, an associate degree, or transfer, depending on the courses you choose. Taking college courses in high school doesn’t change your status as a first-year applicant to a university, and your counselor can help you plan your schedule and report those courses correctly.

Transfer is an option

Some students finish a certificate or degree and go straight into a career, and others continue to a four-year university. If you want to transfer, there are clear pathways: nearly one-third of UC undergraduates transferred from a California community college, an Associate Degree for Transfer can lead to guaranteed admission to a CSU (with conditions such as choosing a similar major), and six UC campuses offer transfer admission guarantees. Cal-GETC is the general education pattern used for transfer, and ASSIST, a free tool, shows which community college courses count toward UC and CSU majors.

The cost is low, and sometimes free

At Folsom Lake College, California residents pay $46 per unit, and through the Los Rios Promise most students don’t pay tuition fees. Financial aid can also help with books and living costs, so it’s worth filling out the FAFSA or Dream Act application. Other community colleges have their own programs.

One application works across colleges

All California community colleges share a common application. You can apply to Folsom Lake College or any other college you’re interested in, and one application covers every college in the Los Rios district.

A personalized plan, made with an FLC counselor, that maps out the courses needed for a degree, certificate or transfer. The flyer has a QR code to book a CSEP appointment.

A checklist of the FLC courses that meet each Cal-GETC area, plus the AP and IB exams that clear specific areas. Print it and check off courses as you complete them.

Valid Fall 2026 through Summer 2027.

An AA-T or AS-T degree guarantees admission with junior standing to the CSU system. Lists the 28 transfer degrees FLC offers, plus its full list of degrees and certificates.

An AD-T does not guarantee admission to a specific CSU campus or major.

FLC's career-focused degrees and certificates, grouped by industry: business, health science, technology, education, public services and more.

More information: flc.losrios.edu/ce

• UC Davis
• UC Irvine
• UC Merced
• UC Riverside
• UC Santa Barbara
• UC Santa Cruz

• Golden Gate University
• Saint Mary's College of California
• University of the Pacific

• Arizona State University

3 courses: English Composition, Critical Thinking and Oral Communication

1 course

2 courses: one in Arts and one in Humanities

2 courses from two different subjects

2 courses: one physical science and one biological science, with at least one lab

1 course