Sacramento City College (SCC) this week announced the launch of City Scholars, a cohort-based transfer program that pairs structured academic sequencing with dedicated support services to help students complete an associate degree and transfer within two years.
Beginning in fall 2026, the first cohort of 120 students majoring in administration of justice, business, or psychology will have guaranteed access to required courses through block scheduling reserved exclusively for City Scholars participants. The program also includes dedicated counselors, milestone-based scholarship opportunities, financial assistance for required materials, and tutoring, counseling, and financial aid services.
Eligibility is limited to students graduating high school this year who plan to enroll full-time at SCC in fall 2026 and intend to transfer to a four-year university or complete an associate degree for transfer in the designated majors.
According to a press release, the City Scholars program will combine an intensive, cohort-based model with equity-focused infrastructure at a campus that is classified as an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and Black-Serving Institution (BSI). That design aligns with emerging practices aimed at raising transfer outcomes for students who have historically been underserved; research shows that only about a third of community college entrants ultimately transfer and that bachelor’s attainment gaps persist for low-income students and students of color, even when they express transfer intent.
The model also reflects elements of proven student success strategies — such as intentional advising and clear pathways — that have been highlighted as promising in previous coverage of college reforms aimed at improving outcomes and supporting transfer-oriented planning. By embedding these supports within a cohort structure, the program seeks to reduce barriers that too often slow or derail students’ progress toward a bachelor’s degree.
