Benefits of Degree Completion
Finishing your associate degree before transferring from Tri-C® can increase your likelihood of earning a bachelor’s degree and save you time and money.
Prepare for Success
Did you know that Tri-C students who earn an associate degree prior to transferring to a four-year institution are nearly 60% more likely to graduate with a bachelor’s degree? Source.
Nationally, 64% of associate degree graduates go on to attend four-year schools.* In Ohio, these transfer students are twice as likely to complete their bachelor’s degree if they attend a four-year school within the region.** This makes Tri-C’s regional university partnerships a perfect pathway toward bachelor’s degree completion.
| Bachelor's Earned*** | Associate Earned | Associate Not Earned |
| Within Six Years | 48% | 35% |
| Within 10 Years | 72% | 56% |
*National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Snapshot Report, Summer 2016 (2009-10)
**Ohio Department of Higher Education, September 2016 report (2008-09)
***Community College Research Center (Jenkins & Fink, 2016). (Shapiro et al., 2013)
Save Time and Money
Following an articulation agreement or transfer pathway can ensure that your associate degree credits count toward a bachelor’s degree. Meeting with a Tri-C counselor, a campus transfer specialist and representatives from four-year institutions will help you plan for degree completion and ensure the best use of your time and money.
Make a Tri-C associate degree part of an efficient, affordable path toward bachelor’s degree completion!
Tuition Comparison 2025-2026 (Tuition Only, Housing is Not Included)
| Institution | Annual Tuition (30 hours over two semesters) | Tuition Cost (over four years to earn bachelor’s) | Tuition Cost (two years to associate + two years to bachelor’s) | Cost savings of 2+2 |
| Cuyahoga Community College | $3,886 | NA | NA | NA |
| Cleveland State University | $13,289 | $53,036 | $34,290 | $18,746 |
| Kent State University | $13,445 | $53,780 | $34,662 | $19,119 |
| University of Akron | $13,740 | $54,960 | $35,252 | $19,708 |
| Ohio University | $14,582 | $58,328 | $36,936 | $21,392 |
| The Ohio State University | $13,640 | $54,560 | $35,052 | $19,508 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | $41,386 | $165,544 | $90,544 | $75,000 |
| Case Western Reserve University | $70,066 | $280,264 | $147,904 | $132,360 |
Tri-C rates are for Cuyahoga County residents. Other schools’ rates are for Ohio residents. All rates are for tuition and fees only.
Revised October 2025