In 1981 a study conducted at Northern Illinois University focused on students who left a university, transferred to a community college, and subsequently enrolled at NIU. The study sought to determine the size of the reverse transfer population attending NIU, the academic characteristics of their college attendance, their success at NIU, and possible factors in their success. Of the total number of transfer students who entered NIU during 1975-76, 15% (N=269) met the criteria of the study, i.e., had been a reverse transfer student prior to NIU attendance and had earned at least six semester hours at the senior institution and 12 hours at the community college. Data were collected on the following variables: sex, age, American College Testing Program score, high school class rank, and senior and two-year institutions attended; semester hours attempted and earned, honor points earned, and grade point averages (GPA's) at the original senior institution, community college, and NIU; associate degree earned; academic status; and major. Selected findings include the following: (1) 45% of the students had been in academic difficulty at their initial senior institution, raised their GPA at the community college, and maintained a 2.0 GPA or higher at NIU; (2) students in academic difficulty were more likely to complete an associate degree; and (3) by 1981, 61.3% had completed a bachelor's degree. The study report details methodology and findings, presents a discriminant analysis of variables in relation to NIU success, and offers conclusions and recommendations. (AYC)