Pima Community College and University of Arizona Strengthen Transfer Pathways

Collaboration aims to make four-year degrees more accessible for Southern Arizona students

Jan. 28, 2026 at 7:47pm

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Pima Community College (PCC) and the University of Arizona are working to strengthen transfer pathways, making it easier for students to start at the community college and then transition to the four-year university. This shift is driven by the increasing competitiveness of getting into the University of Arizona directly, as well as PCC's affordability and data showing higher completion rates for students who start at the community college before transferring.

Why it matters

The partnership between PCC and the University of Arizona aims to provide more options and flexibility for students in Southern Arizona seeking a four-year degree. As the cost of higher education continues to rise, the community college pathway can make a four-year degree more accessible, especially for students who may not have initially been accepted to the university.

The details

PCC and the University of Arizona are exploring initiatives like co-enrollment, where students who don't get accepted to the university directly can still be part of the 'dual family' and take classes at both institutions. PCC has also seen an 8% increase in enrollment for the 2025-26 school year, continuing an upward trend, which officials attribute to the smaller class sizes and more individualized support the community college can provide. Students like Lovely Watts and Edward Leal have benefited from starting at PCC before transferring, citing the more manageable pace and flexibility to balance school and work.

  • PCC saw an 8% increase in enrollment for the 2025-26 school year.
  • PCC and the University of Arizona are in the initial stages of exploring co-enrollment programs.

The players

Dr. Ian Roark

Provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and workforce development at Pima Community College.

Lovely Watts

A student who chose to start at Pima Community College before transferring, citing the more manageable pace and flexibility.

Edward Leal

A student who is benefiting from the flexible classes at Pima Community College as he splits his time between school and work.

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What they’re saying

“Pima Community College is a great value in terms of our affordability for pathways to higher education, whether that is career and technical education or intending to transfer.”

— Dr. Ian Roark, Provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and workforce development at Pima Community College (KGUN9.com)

“We have data that show that students who intend to transfer to the University of Arizona, who start at Pima Community College, actually do a better job and have a higher completion rate, as compared to students who start at the university and intend to stay all four years.”

— Dr. Ian Roark, Provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and workforce development at Pima Community College (KGUN9.com)

“If I would have started a uni, it would have been not horrible, but it probably would have been a lot more challenging. Rather as Pima is a little bit more like kind of up my speed a little bit. They're very patient when it comes down to like stuff that you need to do.”

— Lovely Watts (KGUN9.com)

“This path was going to help me understand my classes, understand how tuition works, and eventually get me transferred to the U of A.”

— Edward Leal (KGUN9.com)

What’s next

PCC and the University of Arizona are in the initial stages of exploring co-enrollment programs, where students who don't get accepted to the university directly can still be part of a 'dual family' and take classes at both institutions.

The takeaway

The partnership between Pima Community College and the University of Arizona demonstrates how community colleges can serve as an affordable and accessible pathway to a four-year degree, especially as university admissions become more competitive. This collaborative approach aims to provide more options and flexibility for students in Southern Arizona seeking higher education.