Reverse Transfer

What is Reverse Transfer?

Students who have earned 15 or more credits at CSN and have transferred to a four-year institution without an associate’s degree may “reverse transfer” the earned credits from the four-year institution to complete an associate’s degree. This process makes it possible for students to earn an associate’s degree as they continue to work toward completing their bachelor's degree.

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) reverse transfer agreement allows former students who earned 15 or more credits at CSN and transferred to Nevada State College (NSC), the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), or the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) without completing their degree to earn their Associate of Arts (AA), Business (AB), Science (AS), or General Studies (AGS) from CSN while taking courses at one of these four-year institutions.

Why is an Associate’s Degree important?

An Associate’s degree is an important marketable academic achievement added to your resume and is valued by employers. The completion of an associate’s degree is also the first step to achieving academic success and is recognized by transfer, graduate, and professional institutions.  An associate degree can make a difference in your long-term success:

  • It can provide better job opportunities while completing your bachelor’s degree
  • It is the nation’s fastest growing work credential; employers recognize its value when recruiting and hiring
  • Students who earn an associate degree are more likely to complete their bachelor’s degree
  • There is no risk to you – even though you are applying the hours you have earned at your four-year institution toward an associate degree at CSN, your hours earned at your four-year institution can still apply appropriately toward your undergraduate degree. Some students can get discouraged after they transfer to a four-year institution and see more years ahead of them.  If they are awarded their associate degree while completing their bachelor’s degree, the accomplishment of this helps them stay motivated and on track to a four-year degree
  • Statistics from recent work in this area show retention rates improve by 10% for those students who receive an associate degree through reverse transfer once they are at a four-year institution.

In order to determine if you are eligible for an Associate’s Degree from the College of Southern Nevada, please complete one or both of the following two steps:

  1. Complete and submit the Electronic Reverse Transfer Agreement Release Form. This form is only good for the schools listed below:
    • Nevada State College
    • University of Nevada - Las Vegas
    • University of Nevada - Reno

  2. For submitting a paper request, complete the Reverse Transfer Agreement Release form and Request Your Official Transcript be sent to: 

    College of Southern Nevada
    Reverse Transfer Office
    6375 W. Charleston Blvd
    Las Vegas NV 89146
    702-651-5610

For additional questions, email reversetransfer@csn.edu.