A new Honor-to-Honor Agreement makes it easier for Bucks County Community College’s top students to transfer seamlessly to Temple University.
BCCC and Temple signed the agreement on June 25 at Bucks’ Newtown Campus.
It allows graduates of BCCC’s Honors@Bucks program to transfer directly into Temple University’s Honors Program, and eventually into what will become the Jane Creamer Sullivan and Thomas J. Sullivan Honors College launching in fall 2027.
What the Agreement Means for Students
For these high-achieving students, they can transfer directly to Temple’s honors program without losing their honors standing or starting over in a general admission pool.
The agreement includes aligned advising, coordinated curriculum planning, and student support services to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Students who take this path gain access to research opportunities, a rigorous scholarly community, and the full resources of a top 50 public university ranked in the top quartile of all national universities.
At the same time, these students benefited from the financial advantage of starting at Bucks.
Bucks County Community College and Temple University already had a 2+2 dual admission agreement in place that allows students to save nearly $30,000 by completing their first two years at Bucks before transferring to Temple for their final two years.
The new Honors-to-Honors Agreement builds on that foundation specifically for the college’s top academic performers.
Each year, Bucks County Community College graduates more than 400 students who earn Latin honors.
For those students, this agreement opens a door that might previously have felt out of reach.
Why This Matters for Bucks County Community College
“The Honors-to-Honors Agreement with Temple University is a testament to the high caliber of the Honors@Bucks program,” said Bucks County Community College President and CEO Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D.
“This partnership with Temple will provide the opportunity for our top academic performers to continue their education as honors students at one of the finest public universities in the country.”
For a two-year institution, having a named honors-to-honors pathway with a major research university validates the rigor of its academic programs in a way that benefits all students, not just those who pursue transfer.
It signals to prospective students, families, and employers that an Honors@Bucks credential carries genuine weight.
The agreement also adds to an already substantial partnership between the two institutions, which includes 15 active degree program-to-program agreements alongside the existing 2+2 dual admission structure.
Why This Matters for Temple University
Temple’s interest in the agreement is equally strategic.
Earlier this spring, Temple announced a historic gift from Jane Creamer Sullivan that will fund the creation of the Sullivan Honors College, expected to launch in fall 2027.
That college will dramatically expand opportunities for top students and reimagine Temple’s honors experience around the university’s strengths, values, and character.
Central to that vision is a principle Temple calls “Access Reimagined,” a flexible model that welcomes top students through multiple entry points rather than a single, traditional path.
“We are delighted to partner with Bucks County Community College to create this new Honors-to-Honors Agreement that will ultimately bring more highly talented, motivated students to North Broad Street,” said Temple President John Fry.
Currently enrolling approximately 2,100 undergraduate students in its honors program, Temple stands to benefit from a structured pipeline of academically distinguished students who have already proven their ability in a rigorous honors environment, students who might otherwise have pursued a different four-year path.
The Bigger Picture
Partnerships like this one matter because they expand what is possible for students who choose community college, not as a backup plan, but as a deliberate, financially smart first step toward an ambitious academic goal.
For a Bucks honors student who graduates with strong grades and a clear direction, the agreement means their hard work is recognized and rewarded at every stage of the journey, not just when they arrive at a four-year institution, but in how they arrive.
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