Reverse transfer rate is the proportion of eligible transfer students who are awarded an associate degree through reverse transfer after enrolling at a four-year institution.
How it works
The four-year institution and community college exchange data, often via the National Student Clearinghouse or a state system. Eligible students are identified and contacted for consent. After credits are evaluated, associate degrees are conferred. The rate is computed for a defined cohort and time window. Results are reported internally or to the state and used to refine outreach.
Example: 500 students transferred from a community college to an online university with at least 45 credits and no associate degree. Within two years 150 received an associate degree through reverse transfer. The reverse transfer rate is 30 percent.
How it differs
Transfer-out rate measures students who leave the original institution for another. Reverse transfer rate measures associate degrees awarded after the student has already left. Award rate in Outcome Measures counts credentials from the reporting institution. Reverse transfer rate is specific to the backward-award process.
Common errors
Including students who already held an associate degree in the denominator. Comparing reverse transfer rates across programs with different consent or eligibility rules. Treating the rate as a federal IPEDS metric (it is not).
References
- 1. Institutional reverse-transfer trackingMeasuring associate-degree recovery
- 2. State reverse-transfer evaluationsImpact on completion metrics
Reverse transfer rate is the proportion of eligible transfer students who are awarded an associate degree through reverse transfer after enrolling at a four-year institution.