AN UPDATE ON REVERSE TRANSFERS TO TWO‐YEAR COLLEGES

Abstract

Reverse transfers, students who transfer from four‐year to two‐year colleges, now make up 20% of the two‐year college enrollment. This paper will describe reverse transfers in terms of demographics, educational goals, and academic performance. Data from thirteen two‐year colleges includes official student records on a 1984 class of newly enrolled students and a survey of this same cohort. Reverse transfers differ significantly from two‐year natives in terms of race and other demographic characteristics. Reverse transfers were older, more likely to be married, employed full‐time, and had higher socioeconomic status indicators. Reverse transfers’ parents were more likely than native students’ to have earned a college degree. Two‐year students who had already earned a college degree had short‐term occupational goals aimed at upgrading job skills or making themselves more employable. Those who had not yet earned a degree were most likely to aspire to the bachelors degree. Reverse transfers earned significantl...