Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 25: Transforming College Transfer Pathways in Illinois

In Illinois, nearly 80 percent of community college students say they plan to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree, yet only about 35 percent actually transfer, and just 20 percent complete a four-year degree. Students from underinvested neighborhoods and low-income backgrounds are even less likely to reach the finish line. While research shows that strong transfer pathways are essential to degree completion and economic mobility, many students still encounter lost credits, added costs, and uneven support along the way.

In this episode of Trust Talks, we examine why improving the community college-to-four-year transfer process is a critical but often overlooked issue, what the research shows about challenges transfer students face, and how wraparound supports such as advising, financial assistance, and basic needs assistance can help keep students enrolled through graduation. The conversation also explores why transfer success matters beyond higher education: a bachelor’s degree is a key driver of long-term earnings and workforce stability, making transfer a powerful lever for expanding access to opportunity and strengthening the regional economy.

The conversation is hosted by the Trust’s Sonianne Lozada (Program Manager for Income & Small Business) and features Juan Salgado (Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago), Mike Abrahamson (Director of Policy & Research from the Partnership for College Completion), and Meg Bates (Director of Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative—IWERC).

This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at The Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub.