Skip to main content

Michigan Transfer Landscape

Transfer landscape hero

Michigan Transfer Landscape

Background & Project Introduction

The Michigan legislature appropriated funds in the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget to improve transfer student success outcomes. The boilerplate language for this $1M appropriation tasked the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) Office of Higher Education (OHE) to work with institutions across the state to “facilitate the transfer of students and acceptance of credits” among institutions in the state. To this end, MiLEAP OHE is actively planning several components of its Transfer Success Project focused on evidence-based decision-making and authentic cross-sector collaboration toward student-centric outcomes.

The objectives of the project are to:

  • Reduce complexities around transfer articulation between Michigan institutions
  • Improve transfer rates, and both associate and bachelor’s degree completion outcomes for transfer students;
  • Lessen transfer students’ time-to-degree and excess credits earned above typical degree requirements.

Michigan Transfer Landscape Cover Thumbnail on light blue background

Michigan Transfer Landscape Analysis Report

One of MILEAP OHE’s first endeavors after launching this project was to analyze the transfer landscape in Michigan. To get a full picture, OHE reviewed state and national quantitative data to understand transfer student demographics, outcomes, and enrollment patterns. OHE also analyzed workforce data to understand which academic pathways would be most productive for Michigan transfer students’ long-term success in employment. Finally, OHE held discussions with over 100 transfer stakeholders to gain their perspective on the transfer landscape.

This series of briefs lay out OHE's findings from the qualitative and quantitative inquiry activities to provide a current landscape analysis of transfer in Michigan. Briefs can be accessed from the links below.

Read and explore the full Michigan Transfer Landscape Analysis Report.

  • Michigan Transfer Landscape Analysis - Brief 1-half

    Brief #1

    Critical Context: A Brief History of Transfer Initiatives in Michigan

  • Michigan Transfer Landscape Analysis - Brief 2-half

    Brief #2

    Perspectives on Today’s Transfer Ecosystem in Michigan

  • Michigan Transfer Landscape Analysis Brief 3 half cover image

    Brief #3

    Getting to Know Michigan's Transfer Students

  • BRIEF4

    Brief #4

    Michigan Transfer Student Outcomes

  • Brief 5

    Brief #5

    Enrollment & Mobility Patterns of Michigan Transfer Students

  • Transfer Brief #6 half cover

    Brief #6

    Exploring Michigan Transfer Students' Academic Pathways

Michigan Transfer Research Grants

One component of OHE’s transfer success project involves a focus on research and evaluation to more effectively assess transfer student outcomes and improve Michigan’s transfer infrastructure overall. As such, OHE solicited proposals in spring 2026 to advance new studies that will promote deeper understanding of the Michigan transfer landscape and contribute to statewide transfer success improvements. Findings from these projects will be shared in early fall 2027. OHE received a competitive pool of proposals and has awarded grants to: 

Grantee: University of Michigan

Project Title: Curricular Complexity and Pathway Design in Michigan’s Community College Transfer Programs

The University of Michigan project will analyze student course-taking patterns across Michigan’s 10 MiTransfer Pathways, examining how course sequences, co-enrollment and other elements of pathway design relate to student progress. Researchers will pair this analysis with perspectives from students, instructors and academic leaders to provide a fuller picture of how transfer pathways function in practice.

Grantee: Oakland University

Project Title: Transfer Student Success Pathway: From Admission to Graduation — A Mixed Methods Approach

The Oakland University project will use a mixed-methods approach to examine transfer students’ experiences from admission through graduation. Researchers will combine quantitative measures and predictive analytics with qualitative insights from students to examine patterns in retention, completion, academic behavior and engagement across student populations.

Grantee: Ithaka S+R

Project Title: Translating Transfer Success into Economic Returns: A Michigan Impact Model

Ithaka S+R will develop a Michigan-specific economic impact model that connects changes in transfer outcomes to potential economic effects for students, institutions and the state. Drawing on Michigan transfer and outcomes data, existing research and a structured literature review, the model will allow policymakers to examine how changes in transfer volume, bachelor’s degree completion, credit accumulation and time to degree could translate into economic returns.

Press Release

$200,000 Investment in New Research Aims to Help More Michigan College Students Transfer and Graduate