Student mobility in higher education has garnered much interest by researchers and institutions alike as enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates continue to be areas of interest and concern. Reverse transfer is a unique type of mobility wherein students begin at a 4-year postsecondary institution and subsequently transfer to a 2-year college. This study provides descriptive analyses about the relationship between a student’s pathway through college and subsequent outcomes. Quantitative results indicate that there is a negative impact on degree attainment and time to degree when students reverse transfer. However, reverse transfer students are more likely than students who begin a 2-year college and vertically transfer to a 4-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree. Reverse transfer students experience less annual average earnings than students who started at a 4-year institution and do not reverse transfer. Qualitative findings suggest that not much has changed over time in the higher education landscape to assist undergraduates who participate in reverse transfer. The students in this study engaged in reverse transfer for a variety of reasons and with diverse goals. Results show that while there were varying experiences at the initial 4-year institution that ranged from students really enjoying their experience to strong feelings of dislike, it was clear students felt the need to make a change in order to continue pursuing their goals. And while the participants did not label their reverse transfer movement as “backward” but rather described how reverse transferring gave them an opportunity to complete general education, figure out their major, or set them on a new career path, it did add time to degree completion or goal achievement.
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