Should I Stay or Leave? Exploring the Relationship between Reverse Transfer and Degree Attainment

This research aims to explore the relationship between reverse transfer and degree attainment by addressing the following questions: 1) What are the predictors of reverse transfer? 2) Does reverse transfer affect degree attainment within six years of initial enrollment or college attendance and cumulative loan debt in the sixth year? 3) Is the relationship between reverse transfer and degree attainment different for students who struggled academically, socially, or financially at their original institutions? To answer these questions, I analyzed the Beginning Postsecondary Students data 12:17 using logistic regression models and propensity score matching. Results show that reverse transfer students were academically underprepared in high school and continued to academically struggle in college. Reverse transfer significantly decreased the probability of bachelor’s degree attainment, while increasing the probability of earning a certificate or an associate’s degree within six years, as well as the probability of still being enrolled in college in the sixth year. These results are largely consistent for students who struggled academically, socially, and financially at their original institution. In light of these findings, I conclude that reverse transfer can be a more viable option for struggling students to pursue a college degree and recommend statewide articulations specifically designed for reverse transfer.