How to Transfer from a Washington Community College to the University of Washington
GradeToGrad Team
April 3, 2026
UW Seattle is one of the top public research universities in the country. Its Direct Transfer Agreement with Washington community colleges gives CC students a structured — and far more accessible — path to a UW degree.
The Washington Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA)
Washington State's Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) is the statewide framework for community college to university transfer. It functions similarly to California's IGETC — complete the DTA Associate Degree at a Washington community or technical college, and the 90 credits transfer as a complete lower-division block to any participating Washington public university.
Participating universities include:
- University of Washington (Seattle, Tacoma, Bothell)
- Washington State University (Pullman, Vancouver, Tri-Cities, Everett)
- Western Washington University
- Central Washington University
- Eastern Washington University
- The Evergreen State College
The DTA Associate Degree
The DTA AS or AA degree is a 90-quarter credit (60 semester credit) program structured around Washington's lower-division distribution requirements:
| Distribution Area | Credits Required |
|---|---|
| Written Communication | 10 quarter credits |
| Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning | 5 quarter credits |
| Humanities | 15 quarter credits |
| Social Sciences | 15 quarter credits |
| Natural Sciences | 15 quarter credits |
| Electives | 30 quarter credits |
Note: Washington community colleges typically run on the quarter system (fall, winter, spring) rather than semesters. 90 quarter credits ≈ 60 semester credits.
Complete the DTA degree and transfer — you won't repeat these distribution requirements at UW or other participating institutions.
UW Seattle Transfer Specifically
UW Seattle is the most competitive transfer destination in Washington. There is no blanket guaranteed transfer — admission is selective.
UW's Admission Guarantee Program: UW offers a limited Guaranteed Admission Program for DTA transfer students. To qualify:
- Complete the DTA AA or AS degree
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA minimum (guaranteed admission to UW)
- The guarantee is to UW — not necessarily to specific competitive majors
However, competitive UW programs require significantly higher GPAs:
| UW Program | Typical Transfer GPA |
|---|---|
| Computer Science (Allen School) | 3.8+ (extremely competitive) |
| Engineering (direct to major) | 3.5+ |
| Business (Foster School) | 3.5+ |
| Nursing | 3.5+ |
| Communication, Social Sciences | 3.0–3.3 |
| Arts & Sciences (general) | 2.5–3.0 |
UW Computer Science is one of the most competitive transfer programs in the entire country — fewer than 5% of transfer applicants are admitted directly into the major.
UW Bothell and UW Tacoma: More Accessible Paths
If UW Seattle's competitive programs are out of reach, UW's branch campuses are worth serious consideration:
UW Bothell: Strong for Business, Computer Science, and Nursing. Transfer GPA requirements 2.75–3.5+ depending on program. More accessible than Seattle for most majors.
UW Tacoma: Urban-serving campus with strong pathways for first-generation and transfer students. Most programs require 2.5–3.0 GPA. Computer Science and Nursing are competitive.
Both campuses offer UW degrees — the diploma reads "University of Washington."
Top Washington Community Colleges for UW Transfer
| Community College | Service Area | Notable Transfer Pathways |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue College | Eastside Seattle | Strong STEM; CS and Engineering pathways |
| Seattle Central College | Seattle | Liberal arts, Business, Health Sciences |
| Shoreline Community College | North Seattle | Strong nursing pre-transfer |
| North Seattle College | North Seattle | Business, STEM |
| Edmonds College | North of Seattle | STEM, Business |
| Green River College | South Seattle/Auburn | STEM, Business, Liberal Arts |
How to Apply to UW as a Transfer
Apply via the UW Admissions Office directly at admit.uw.edu.
| Term | Priority Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall (primary) | February 15 |
| Winter | October 15 |
| Spring | January 15 |
UW accepts transfers for fall, winter, and spring — unusual among flagship universities. This flexibility can help students who aren't ready for a fall transfer.
Required materials vary by program but typically include:
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- Personal statement
- Major-specific essays for competitive programs (CS, Engineering, Nursing)
Financial Aid Through the Transfer
Washington College Grant follows you through the UW transfer — file FAFSA annually, maintain eligibility, and your WCG award automatically adjusts to reflect 4-year institution costs (up to $12,400/year).
UW also has institutional transfer scholarships — check the UW Financial Aid Office for current opportunities.
The Bottom Line
The DTA degree plus a 2.0 GPA gets you guaranteed access to UW through the admissions guarantee — but competitive programs require 3.5+. If UW Computer Science or Engineering is your target, plan from day one for 3.7+ and seek out every relevant prerequisite.
For most other UW programs, the DTA transfer path is the most affordable and accessible route to a top-20 public research university.
Use GradeToGrad's transfer simulator to map your Washington CC-to-university options and compare them side by side.
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