New Transfer Pipeline Opens Direct Path from CUNY’s Largest Community College to Maryland’s Preeminent Public HBCU

Partnership with Borough of Manhattan Community College Expands Access for New York Students Seeking a Four-Year Degree at Morgan State University

BALTIMORE — Morgan State University continues to expand its national reach and commitment to student advancement toward earning a bachelor's degree through a newly formalized transfer articulation agreement with the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), the largest community college within the City University of New York (CUNY) system. The partnership establishes a structured pathway for BMCC graduates to transfer to Morgan and complete their bachelor’s degrees, strengthening access to four-year degree attainment for students from New York City and the broader Tri-State region.

The agreement enables BMCC students who complete an associate degree with a minimum 2.0 GPA to apply for transfer admission to Morgan State University under established transfer policies. Eligible students may transfer up to 70 credit hours toward the 120-credit requirement for a Morgan bachelor’s degree, providing a streamlined, cost-effective path to completing a four-year credential.

“This partnership represents another strategic step in Morgan’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality, transformative educational opportunities for students nationwide,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “By creating clear and supportive opportunities for talented students from institutions like Borough of Manhattan Community College, we strengthen the pipeline of future leaders who will benefit from the distinctive academic experience, research engagement and community impact that define Morgan.”

Located in the heart of New York City, BMCC enrolls more than 20,000 degree-seeking students and 10,000 continuing education students annually, awarding associate degrees in more than 60 academic fields. The institution is nationally recognized for its success in graduating minority students and serves one of the most diverse student populations in the country.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will collaborate on advising, recruitment, and student support initiatives to ensure a seamless transition for transfer students. BMCC students interested in transferring to Morgan will have access to joint academic advising, transfer guidance and recruitment programming designed to help them prepare for successful entry into Morgan’s undergraduate programs.

“Morgan State University has long drawn students from the Tri-State area who recognize the value of an HBCU education grounded in academic excellence, cultural legacy and career readiness,” said Kara Turner, Ph.D., senior vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Success at Morgan State University. “Through partnerships like this one with BMCC, we expand access for students seeking to continue their academic journey at a four-year institution. By establishing intentional transfer pathways, we make it easier for talented community college students and associate degree earners to see Morgan as a natural next step toward achieving their educational and professional goals.”

According to available national data, approximately 48%–49.7% of transfer students earn a bachelor’s degree, with higher completion rates among those who earn an associate degree or certificate before transferring. Additionally, transfer students who enter with an associate’s degree have an average retention rate of 86.8%.

Students transferring from BMCC may also benefit from Morgan’s transfer support initiatives, including coordinated advising, scholarship opportunities and potential eligibility for the University’s Transfer Incentive Program (TIP) grant, which provides financial support for qualifying transfer students.

For BMCC, the agreement strengthens opportunities for students seeking to continue their education beyond the associate degree level.

“Partnering with Morgan State University opens a vital pathway for our students to pursue a four-year degree while building on the strong academic foundation they develop at BMCC. This agreement underscores our commitment to student social mobility and to expanding educational opportunities for our diverse student body,” said Anthony E. Munroe, Ed.D., president of Borough of Manhattan Community College. “By creating a clear, seamless transfer route to an HBCU celebrated for its academic excellence, research engagement, and community impact, we are helping our graduates become the next generation of leaders in the Tri-State region and beyond, further epitomizing our motto, Start Here, Go Anywhere.”

The partnership builds on Morgan’s broader strategy to expand transfer pipelines with community colleges. In recent years, the University has launched similar agreements designed to help more students transition from two-year institutions into bachelor’s degree programs, including partnerships with Anne Arundel Community College in 2025 and the Community College of Baltimore County in 2023.

As Morgan continues to grow its national footprint, partnerships with institutions like BMCC reflect the University’s ongoing commitment to meeting students where they are and providing clear pathways to academic achievement, career preparation and lifelong impact.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

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Media Contacts:

Larry Jones, or Dell Jackson, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022