Trends in the number of transfer students enrolled in New Jersey four-year institutions in the fall semesters from 1981 to 1985 are examined, along with the extent to which community colleges have contributed to the pool of students who transfer. Also considered are characteristics of students who transferred to state colleges. Overall, the trend is one of declining numbers of incoming transfer students. New Jersey community colleges contributed 44% of the students who entered as transfers in 1981 and 47% in 1985, although the actual number of transfers dwindled during the 5-year period. Additional findings include the following: transfers from New Jersey community colleges were 29% of the total transfers to private institutions in 1981 and 33% in 1985; incoming transfer students are predominantly full-time students (65%); about half of the transfer students enter as freshmen; 13% of incoming transfers were nonwhite; the median age for all incoming transfers to the eight public senior colleges studied was 21 years; slightly more than one-fourth were 25 years old or older at the time of enrollment as transfers; and while 85% of full-time students are 24 years old or younger, 67% of part-time students are 25 years old or older. (SW)