Reverse Transfer

Reverse Transfer is the process of transferring university credits back to a community college for the purpose of fulfilling associate degree requirements. For students who have attended a Maricopa Community College and transferred to a university without first completing an associate degree, coursework can be transferred backward (or in reverse) from a participating Arizona university to Maricopa Community Colleges.

All 10 Maricopa Community Colleges have partnered with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, and Grand Canyon University to help students get their associate degrees.

No. There is no cost for former Maricopa Community College students. There are no fees — if you have been determined to be eligible and opt-in to the process, your university and your former community college provide the necessary transcripts free of charge. Furthermore, there are no graduation application fees.

The Reverse Transfer initiative is a semi-automated process—participating universities identify potentially eligible students two to three times a year. Those students who appear to meet the requirements for an associate degree will have an official degree audit of their accumulated coursework to date. Students will be notified if an associate degree can be awarded. There is no need to enroll or sign up, and there is no interruption of university attendance. You will be contacted by your participating university if you are eligible and will be prompted to opt-in or out of the program. Some students are eligible to earn more than one associate degree and/or certificate.

The Reverse Transfer initiative applies to students who do not yet have an associate's degree (or higher), and who meet the following criteria:

• Completed a minimum of 15 credits at one of Maricopa Community Colleges
• Earned a minimum of 60 cumulative credits between Maricopa Community Colleges and any other universities you have attended
• Met all requirements for an associate degree as outlined in your Maricopa Community College catalog
• Consented to the exchange of transcript information from the participating university and the prior community college for the purpose of a degree audit

Yes. Work at institutions other than those comprising Maricopa Community Colleges or your university can be considered in your degree audit. However, it's your responsibility to request that official transcripts be sent from other institutions outside of the reverse transfer process. Please be sure to submit official transcripts from any additional institutions you attended to your community college. Your course work will be evaluated to determine what can apply for an associate degree.

The "degree-granting institution" awards the student their Reverse Transfer associate degree and will count the student in its annual graduation report. If a student has attended two or more Maricopa Community Colleges with coursework eligible to count for a degree, the student will be asked which institution they would prefer to grant the degree to. The “host institution” is the university the student is attending or did attend, which transfers credits back to the Maricopa Community Colleges degree-granting college. The host institution must identify the student eligible for the Reverse Transfer initiative and inform Maricopa Community Colleges of the student’s desire to participate in the initiative. The host institution agrees to submit all necessary transcripts to Maricopa Community Colleges at no charge to the student.

Having an associate degree or other credentials, such as a certificate of completion, can make a difference in your long-term success! Associate degrees are the nation’s fastest-growing work credential and are very marketable—employers value the associate degree as evidence of your commitment to expanding your knowledge and achieving your longer-term educational goals. Students who have an associate degree may be eligible for better job opportunities and/or internships, and in some cases, higher wages.

Typical degrees include the Associate in Arts (AA) degree, the Associate in Science (AS) degree, the Associate in Business (ABUS), or the Associate in General Studies (AGS), dependent upon the student’s coursework completed to date. Our Reverse Transfer Coordinator will review your transcripts and determine which degree (and any additional credentials, if applicable) matches best with the courses you have completed. The awarded degree is the same degree as the associate degree awarded by Maricopa Community Colleges.

To be considered, contact the Reverse Transfer Department at reverse.transfer@domail.maricopa.edu

If you are not interested in obtaining an associate degree, your university will give you the option to "opt-out" or decline to share transcript information.  Once you have opted in though, and we have determined your eligibility, you will be awarded a degree without additional acceptance or approval.  

Like any other associate degree candidate, students must fulfill all of the degree competencies and requirements. Students lacking degree requirements would not be awarded an associate degree, but would have the opportunity to complete any remaining associate degree requirements should they choose to do so.

Earning an associate degree will not impact your eligibility for state or federal financial aid or military education benefits while you are enrolled at a university and pursuing a bachelor's degree. However, if you are receiving private scholarship money, please check with the awarding organization to ensure that earning an associate degree will not render you ineligible for your specific scholarship.

We highly encourage you to resolve outstanding fees at your current or previous institution(s) to ensure that you can be considered for an associate degree. If you owe money to a college or university, your degree will not be awarded until the debt is paid.

Yes. You may participate in the annual associate degree graduation ceremonies in May, but it is not required. Participation in associate degree graduation ceremonies is known as “commencement." Commencement ceremony deadlines are in the early Spring semester. Furthermore, participating in commencement would necessitate that you purchase or rent a cap, gown, and diploma cover with or at your prior institution. Your previous community college can provide information about graduation ceremonies and cap and gown rental/purchase. You are encouraged to participate in the ceremonies to mark this important milestone in your academic career. However, if you do not attend graduation, your diploma will be mailed to you.