This is the first in a series of MPR Research Briefs published on the outcomes and experiences of California community college students. California Community Colleges (CCC) enroll roughly two-thirds of all California college students and nearly one-fourth of all community college students in the nation. Their low fees and open-admission policies provide critical access to many students who otherwise might not attend college. Yet recent research reports have concluded that students who enroll in California community colleges complete a degree or transfer at relatively low rates. For example, Sengupta and Jepsen (2006) from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) reported that about one-quarter of "transfer-focused" students had transferred to a 4-year institution, and Shulock and Moore (2007) from the Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy (IHELP) reported that about one-quarter of "degree-seekers" had completed college, either through transfer (18 percent) or earning a formal credential (6 percent). In light of the scrutiny these studies have received and to better understand who should be counted in determining transfer rates, the authors examine transfer rates in the context of different course-taking patterns and illustrate how rates have changed over time. The purpose of this research is to provide empirical data and a broader context for ongoing policy analyses and discussions. (Contains 4 figures, 2 tables, and 12 footnotes.)