Mills is committed to providing students of all backgrounds access to a college education. Currently, only 4 percent of community college students in California successfully transfer to four-year colleges after two years.* To help students achieve their dreams of earning a four-year degree, Mills is partnering with select California community colleges and community college districts to offer a guaranteed pathway to a bachelor's degree. Students who meet the requirements below will be guaranteed admission to Mills. You’ll be on a path to complete your degree quickly so you can start your future sooner.
Why Choose the Mills Pathway? | Admission Requirements & Process | Frequently Asked Questions
You're eligible to transfer as a Mills Pathway student if all of the following statements are true:
If this doesn’t sound like you, see our application instructions for transfer or resuming students.
The Mills Pathway Program simplifies the transfer process, providing you with a clear, straightforward path from your community college to Mills. If you meet the admission criteria outlined below, you'll be guaranteed admission to Mills and on track to complete your bachelor's degree in four years.
While you're attending community college, Mills admission counselors will help set you up for success by providing:
Guaranteed admission to Mills is within your reach. Select your community college or community college district below for detailed admission requirements and step-by-step instructions for completing the admission process:
If you have any questions about the Mills Pathway requirements or process, please contact us at 800.87.MILLS, 510,430.2135, or admission@mills.edu.
To ensure guaranteed admission to Mills, Pathway students must:
*Students who do not have 60 transferable semester credits are not eligible for the Pathway program, but can apply for admission through our traditional transfer process.
**Students who achieve a cumulative GPA between 2.5 and 2.79 are not guaranteed admission, but will receive priority consideration.
Step 1. Complete and submit either the Mills Application or the Common Application. Please note that, for the Common Application, the College Official’s Report and Final Report forms are not required for transfer students.
Step 2. Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities that you have attended. Transcripts must include courses currently in progress. Ask your school’s registrar to send your official transcripts directly to the following address:
Mills College
Office of Admissions
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94613
Step 3. Ask an academic professor who knows you well to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Letters may be submitted electronically via the Mills Application or the Common Application, or sent directly to the Office of Admissions at Mills at the address above.
In addition to the completing admission process, international students must show proof of English language proficiency and submit required financial documentation as outlined below.
English Language Proficiency Requirement
To ensure your academic success at Mills, all non-native English speakers or students
who have lived in a non-English speaking culture for three or more years must show
proof of English language proficiency. Mills accepts the following tests and certificates:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | Minimum of 550 paper, 213 CBT, or 80 IBT |
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | Minimum score of 6.5 CBT |
English Language School (ELS) | Level 112 Certificate |
Please note that the English language proficiency requirement may be waived for international students who score 600 or above on the critical reading portion of the SAT.
Your scores/certificates must be submitted by May 15 for fall enrollment or November 15 for spring enrollment.
Certificate of Finances
In accordance with US government regulations, all international students should have
sufficient funds to meet the costs of tuition, fees, and living expenses in the United
States. As part of the Mills admission process, you will need to submit a completed
Certification of Finances form (PDF) and official supporting bank documentation. Bank documentation must include
an official English translation and show available funds in US dollars. Photocopied
or faxed documentation is not considered official and cannot be accepted.
The certificate of finance should be sent to Admissions by April 1 for fall enrollment and by November 1 for spring enrollment.
If you have any questions about supporting documentation, please contact the Office of Admissions at 800.87.MILLS (in the US), +1.510.430.2135 (outside the US), or admission@mills.edu.
To ensure guaranteed admission to Mills, Pathway students from the Peralta Community College District must begin the admission process four semesters before their intended Mills entry term. Students must have:
*Students must submit an official transcript for confirmation of transferable semester credits.
Step 1. After enrolling at the Peralta College of your choice, meet with your transfer counselor to create your official academic plan. With help from your counselor, you’ll:
Step 2. Your transfer counselor will submit your completed plan to the Mills College Office of Admissions.
Step 3. Once we’ve reviewed and approved your academic plan, we'll provide you with our Undergraduate Application Intent Form to declare the term (fall or spring) and year when you intend to enroll at Mills. Submitting this form completes the admission process and officially holds your spot at Mills. You’ll be guaranteed admission as long as you fulfill the academic requirements included in your academic plan.
In addition to completing the admission process, international students must show proof of English language proficiency and submit required financial documentation as outlined below.
English Language Proficiency Requirement
To ensure your academic success at Mills, all non-native English speakers or students
who have lived in a non-English speaking culture for three or more years must show
proof of English language proficiency. Mills accepts the following tests and certificates:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | Minimum of 550 paper, 213 CBT, or 80 IBT |
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | Minimum score of 6.5 CBT |
English Language School (ELS) | Level 112 Certificate |
Please note that the English language proficiency requirement may be waived for international students who score 600 or above on the critical reading portion of the SAT.
Your scores/certificates must be submitted by May 15 for fall enrollment or November 15 for spring enrollment.
Certificate of Finances
In accordance with US government regulations, all international students should have
sufficient funds to meet the costs of tuition, fees, and living expenses in the United
States. As part of the Mills admission process, you will need to submit a completed
Certification of Finances form (PDF) and official supporting bank documentation. Bank documentation must include
an official English translation and show available funds in US dollars. Photocopied
or faxed documentation is not considered official and cannot be accepted.
The certificate of finance should be sent to Admissions by April 1 for fall enrollment and by November 1 for spring enrollment.
If you have any questions about supporting documentation, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 800.87.MILLS (in the US), +1.510.430.2135 (outside the US), or admission@mills.edu.
As the first women's college in the country to adopt a transgender-friendly admission policy, Mills considers self-identified women and people assigned to the female sex at birth who do not identify with the gender binary for admission to our undergraduate programs.
When you're ready to transfer, official transcripts from all colleges or universities that you have attended must be sent directly to Mills. The transcripts need to include any courses currently in progress. We may also request midterm grades as part of the confirmation process.
Ask your school's registrar to send the transcripts directly to the following address:
Mills College
Office of Admissions
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94613
When reviewing multiple college transcripts, we will take into account the GPA from each institution you attended and consider factors such as the dates and duration of your attendance and your GPA trends.
We encourage you to schedule a meeting with your transfer counselor as soon as possible after you enroll at the Pathway-eligible community college of your choice. You should prepare for this meeting by reviewing:
Yes, you can attend part time, but the majority of students attend Mills on a full-time basis. Most Mills scholarships are not available for part-time study.
Yes, undocumented, AB 540, DREAMer, and DACA students are invited to apply for admission to Mills. All applicants to Mills are considered for our merit scholarships and are eligible to apply for need-based scholarships. Visit our admission and financial aid information for undocumented students page for details.
Have a question? We're here to help. Just contact us at 800.87.MILLS, 510.430.2135, or admission@mills.edu, and we'll get you the answers you need.
*The Transfer Maze: The High Cost to Students and the State of California, Campaign for College Opportunity, September 2017
**Mills College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, marital status, age,
religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or disability in our
admission policies, in our scholarship and loan programs, or in the educational programs,
cocurricular activities, and residential facilities which we operate. Students of
all genders are eligible for admission to our graduate programs. Self-identified women
and people assigned female sex at birth who do not identify with the gender binary
are eligible for admission to our undergraduate programs.