An ADT (also referred to as an AS-T or AA-T) is a degree offered through the California community colleges that allow students to earn a guaranteed saved spot at participating four-year universities, both throughout California and outside the state.

The ADT makes it easier for students to transfer between a California community college and CSU, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), entirely online and out-of-state universities or participating independent, non-profit universities in California (member institutions of AICCU).

California community colleges continue to offer a variety of associate degrees. However, when you earn an ADT, you can transfer with a guaranteed saved spot to a participating four-year university and gain other admission advantages.

An ADT can still be used to transfer to any college or university outside of the program, just as you could with a standard associate degree. However, when you apply to a partner university with an Associate Degree for Transfer, you receive various admission advantages. And because the ADT is considered transfer-level preparation, your courses transfer, versus standard Associate Degrees, where not all courses are likely to transfer.

The guarantee means students who earn an ADT can transfer with a guaranteed spot to a participating university.

Requirements vary depending on where you'd like to attend. With this degree, you may get an admission advantage when applying to specific campuses or majors, which also helps you transfer.

Each university's guarantee has different eligibility requirements, such as achieving a minimum GPA. Therefore, it helps to know what you want to study before you begin planning. For example, at a CSU, students are guaranteed admission into a CSU in a similar major but not necessarily to a particular campus. Meanwhile, at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, entirely online and out-of-state universities, and the participating independent, non-profit universities in California, students are guaranteed admission into the exact campus or major they want to pursue.