Helping students earn credit where due
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, CollegeSource kicked off another year of the Let’s Talk Transfer community discussion series, where all transfer professionals (regardless of whether they use CollegeSource products) are invited to share their expertise and ask questions on transfer-related topics. Over 193 staff from institutions of higher education joined the discussion live.
Topic of discussion: Reverse transfer
This month’s discussion centered on reverse transfer. This type of transfer is usually facilitated through state or institution initiatives and involves the transfer of credits a student earned at a university to a previously attended two-year institution to fulfill that school’s degree requirements. Students opt into reverse transfer through questions in admissions applications, targeted email communications, etc. As students complete courses, updated transcripts are sent to and from the participating institutions until either the student graduates from the four-year program or a degree is awarded at the two-year level.
Thumbs up all around. Reverse transfer sparked strong engagement in our discussion on January 20, 2026.
Myths about reverse transfer
In the discussion, attendees quickly focused on dispelling myths about reverse transfer, such as the notion that it benefits only two-year institutions. Students receive significant benefits from reverse transfer, ranging from waiving general education requirements to receiving job promotions. It was noted that life events may prevent a student from completing their four-year degree. In these instances, reverse transfer can be a powerful tool to help students achieve degree milestones. The phrase “Credit When It’s Due”—the name of a 2012 multi-state reverse transfer initiative—reminds us that students have invested significant time, effort, and money earning college credit and deserve the recognition and award of their achievements.
Reverse transfer resources
Resources such as the National Student Clearinghouse Reverse Transfer Knowledge Base were shared to help institutions learn more about reverse transfer and how to start implementing it at their campuses. Included in these resources is information on how to participate in the Clearinghouse’s free reverse transfer data exchange service.
Key takeaways
The session provided a space to examine both the promise of reverse transfer and the persistent barriers that prevent it from reaching scale. Although reverse transfer is often supported in principle, its value is not always clearly understood or effectively communicated to students. Inconsistent institutional practices, fragmented policies, and complex data-sharing requirements further limit participation. Addressing these gaps creates a clear opportunity to expand associate degree attainment, more fully recognize student progress, and support stronger momentum toward bachelor’s completion.
Breakout rooms
Following the group discussion, attendees headed into smaller breakout rooms hosted by the CollegeSource Client Advisory Board and CollegeSource staff to discuss the following topics:
- State initiatives
- Institution initiatives
- Other “reverse transfer”
- General discussion (Main room)
Watch the recording
Register now to access the January 2026 recording, including the transcript, chat log, and breakout session recordings.
Upon accessing the recording, please see the sidebar transcript for the link to view breakout videos.
Join us again in March
The next Let’s Talk Transfer will take place on March 17, 2026, and focus on using technology to support transfer evaluation.
If you previously registered for the series, the Zoom link provided can be used to access this session. If you haven’t yet registered, see the link below. Recordings will be available for those unable to attend.
Help shape the 2026 series
Tim and Sarah are looking to you to help shape the future of the series. We invite you to suggest a topic for discussion or volunteer to be a guest speaker and share your experience.
We look forward to seeing you throughout the year!
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