AllMusic editor Leo Stanleyndi found that Back to the World "is proof positive that the teen idol is now a man [...] For the most part, he succeeds in establishing himself as a vocalist of prodigious talents and significant worth [..] No matter how Campbell tries to phase out that sweetness on Back to the World, he retains that appealing quality, which makes the album all the more endearing.

"[1] Billboard's Paul Verna found that the song selection on Back to the World "suggests a more adult approach, despite several hip-hop tracks that give the mostly mellow set a trendy bounce.

Credit is due to label's commitment to artist delevopment which is readily apparent on the project because of the performer's stronger delivery and continually evolving sound.

"[4] Vibe editor David Mills felt that with the album Campbell "maintains versatility, and also seems a lot more comfortable singing in his gutsier, sly-sounding lower register [...] This album is a robust statement about Tevin's vocal transformation, a shrewd departure from his first two [...] Back to the World isn't the yummy teen fluff I'm Ready was.

"[5] Carl Allen from The Buffalo News found that "sounding just short of adulthood is what makes Campbell's work so outstanding [...] This first compact disc since his stirring debut about three years ago is bound to again put him in contention with some of the big boys of popular music.