Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) will introduce a new generation of transfer-focused programs starting Fall 2026, following formal approval by the IECC Board of Trustees. The newly approved Transfer Pathways are designed to help students move seamlessly from IECC to four-year universities, marking a significant advancement in transfer education within the region.
Each Transfer Pathway features a structured, 64-credit degree plan that aligns with university requirements, reduces excess credits, and provides students with a clear, intentional route to a bachelor’s degree. Instead of navigating course selection independently, IECC faculty and staff have mapped out semester-by-semester degree plans tailored to specific majors at Illinois universities and regional partners. Students will know from day one which courses to take, when to take them, and how each course applies to their intended bachelor’s degree.
“We’ve built a strong reputation in career and technical education by offering programs that are clear, purposeful, and connected to outcomes,” said Dr. Cathy Robb, IECC Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. “Transfer Pathways applies that same philosophy to university-bound students. By naming programs by major and aligning them directly to bachelor’s degrees, we are elevating the visibility of transfer options and establishing IECC as a leader in transfer success.”
Beginning Fall 2026, students will be able to enroll in these newly structured transfer degrees across a wide range of disciplines. Each pathway includes sequenced general education coursework, major-specific core courses, and integrated academic and career planning through IECC’s First-Year Experience sequence. Students will complete a full associate degree designed for transfer in four semesters.
“Completing those first two years with a clear plan also has a significant financial impact,” said Dr. Ryan Gower, IECC Chancellor. “At IECC, a student can complete two years of college for about $13,400 in tuition, fees, and books. At the University of Illinois, those same two years can exceed $62,000 when housing and meals are included. That is more than $48,000 saved by starting your education at one of our four campuses. Transfer Pathways make IECC the smart and affordable starting point for students planning to earn a four-year degree.”
The Transfer Pathways initiative is part of IECC’s broader commitment to Guided Pathways, a student-centered approach that organizes programs into clear academic and career routes, strengthens advising, and helps students complete degrees on time. For students and families, the benefits are clear: fewer unnecessary credits, lower total cost of earning a bachelor’s degree, stronger advising support, and a clear academic plan from the first semester to transfer.
IECC will begin recruiting students for the new Transfer Pathways programs during the current admission cycle for Fall 2026 enrollment. Additional details, including degree maps for each pathway, will be available on the IECC website in the coming months.