The Student Transfer Destinations by State database, located on the Interstate Passport website, contains transfer data provided by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center on all 50 states. Data for the 2014 cohort was added to the database this fall, bringing the total number of cohorts to five.
The database contains information on the number of students at public institutions who transferred in the United States and its territories both in state and out of state for the 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 cohorts. Each cohort of students is made up of first-time students of any age who began their postsecondary studies in one of these years. Cohorts include both full-time and part-time students and exclude students who received any degree or certificate from a two- or four-year institution prior to 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, respectively. By design, the data are intended to provide a snapshot of student transfer patterns in the U.S. and its outlying territories. While many students may transfer more than once, this database only tracks the first transfer.
Users are able to query which states their students transferred to, as well as which states incoming students transferred from, and if the sending and receiving institutions are two-year or four-year institutions. Data on in-state transfers are provided as well.
The database is a useful tool to determine patterns of transfer between states that may foster recruitment and cooperative efforts among institutions. NSC reports that 45 percent of transfer students will transfer more than once so the database offers important information to states and institutions on transfer students’ sending institutions or destinations.
Check out the movement of transfer students in your own state here.