Reverse transfer is for students who have already transferred to a SUNY four-year campus after attending a SUNY community college without earning the associate degree. Reverse transfer allows students to transfer the credits they have earned at a SUNY four-year campus back to a SUNY community college. The community college will review courses that have been taken at the four-year campus, and determine if the combination of credits will meet the requirements for an associate degree.
Please review a collection of common questions and answers below to learn more about the SUNY Reverse Transfer process.
SUNY Reverse Transfer is for students who have already transferred to a SUNY four-year institution without having earned an associate degree at a SUNY community college. Reverse transfer allows students to transfer the credits they have earned at the SUNY four-year institution back to the SUNY community college, which can then review the courses that have been taken at the four-year institution and determine if the combination of credits earned at the community college and credits earned at the four-year institution meet the requirements for an associate degree.
Any student who previously attended a SUNY community college and is currently enrolled at a SUNY 4-year institution may apply. In order to be eligible, you must meet the credit-in-residence / residency requirement at the SUNY community college. The community college reviewing the record will determine if you are eligible based on campus requirements.
The minimum requirements that must be fulfilled to receive an associate degree through the reverse transfer process are:
(1) Students must have attended a SUNY Community College previously as a matriculated student.
(2) Students must be currently enrolled at a SUNY four-year institution.
(3) Student must meet the minimum campus credit-in-residence / residency requirement at the community college.
(4) Course credits earned at a SUNY four-year institution must equal the minimum number of credits that are still needed to complete the associate degree at the SUNY community college.
(5) The courses completed must equate to, or meet the requirements for, the courses still needed to complete the associate degree at the SUNY community college. The SUNY community college will determine if courses earned are applicable.
(6) Students must complete any graduation or commencement requirements or applications at the SUNY community college.
Please keep in mind that each campus has local graduation requirements and procedures. In addition, requirements may vary by major or program.
Each SUNY community college has a credit-in-residence / residency requirement that must be met. This means that a certain number of credit hours must be completed and passed at the community college to be eligible for their degree. Please contact the community college you attended to learn about campus requirements. Each SUNY community college has the ability to determine their own credit-in-residence / residency requirement.
If you transferred from a community college to a four-year institution without completing your associate degree, reverse transfer allows you to apply your earned credits towards that degree. This gives you a recognized credential that can enhance your resume and job prospects even after you complete your bachelor's degree. Reverse transfer is also a way to provide a pathway to a degree, even if your educational journey takes an unexpected turn. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, having an associate degree can increase your annual earnings by approximately $4,600 to $7,200 compared to those who attended college but did not complete any degree. 1
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If you attended college at a non-SUNY community college, you must work directly with that college or system to complete a reverse transfer process. A growing number of community colleges and state systems of higher education take part in reverse transfer. Your current SUNY 4-year institution can help you by sending transcripts and records to the community college at your request.
Here are some links to policies and programs that are often used by SUNY students who attended community college in nearby states or systems. Please consult these resources to learn about their reverse transfer policies and criteria.
While the SUNY Reverse Transfer policy and online tool is exclusively for SUNY-to-SUNY transfer, most of our SUNY Community Colleges also accept reverse transfer credits from other institutions. To take part in reverse transfer, you must have attended the community college previously as a matriculated student and meet the courses-in-residence (residency) requirements. Please contact the community college directly for policies and procedures.
Please directly contact the community college you have applied to. You will be able to reach specific contacts by reviewing the campus contacts listed, and/or by sending a message through the portal. If you have any trouble reaching a campus representative, you may also contact the SUNY Transfer and Articulation Office for support.
If you are approved for SUNY Reverse Transfer, the community college will provide you with diploma details and any applicable application requirements. You will usually receive your diploma via U.S. Mail from the community college. Many community colleges will also allow you to participate in commencement activities and the graduation ceremony. Please contact the campus directly for details.
Please feel free to contact us if you did not find answers to your questions using the tools above.