Reverse transfer
Credit Where It’s Due

Overview

Through reverse transfer, students who transfer from a two-year to a four-year college combine credits to collect an associate degree while working toward a bachelor’s degree. With the student’s permission, the college reviews transcripts from both institutions to assemble credits for the associate degree.

The strategy is highlighted as a promising one in in report for the SREB Commission on College Affordability, College Affordability: Promising State Policies and Practices.

Benefits

  • Students with an associate degree are much more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree when they transfer to a four-year institution.
  • Students don’t walk away empty-handed if they stop out of college before to finishing their bachelor’s degree.
  • More associate degrees mean a better graduation rate for the college and a higher attainment rate for the state.

The National Student Clearinghouse identified 2 million U.S. potential completers who might qualify for an associate degree through reverse transfer. The NSC Reverse Transfer Service, a standardized and technologically enhanced process to enable institutions to transfer student credits efficiently and securely.

National Student Clearinghouse Reverse Transfer Service

College Affordability: Promising State Policies and Practices offers several examples of programs in SREB states that make reverse transfer easier for students.

Georgia

Go Back. Move Ahead.

“Go Back. Move Ahead” is targeted to the the 1.1 million working-age Georgians with some college but no degree. The program simplifies the process and provides a personal academic advisor, plus connects students to course scheduling options and flexible ways to transfer credits.

Kentucky

Project Graduate

Project Graduate helps former Kentucky students with at least 80 credit hours return to college, at any age, to finish their degrees.

Texas

Texas Reverse Transfer Initiative

Working with the National Student Clearinghouse, Texas Reverse Transfer Initiative proactively identifies and reaches out to students who have earned credits for an associate degree.