WASHINGTON – A significant financial and educational challenge facing the U.S. workforce is the substantial population of working-age adults who have attended college but never completed a degree. This group, often termed “stopouts,” numbers approximately 38 million individuals across the nation. They frequently carry the burden of student loans without the crucial credential that typically boosts earnings, creating a complex economic hurdle.
However, recent data indicates a positive shift in reengagement. In the 2023-2024 school year, more than 1 million stopouts reenrolled in higher education, marking a 7% increase from the previous year, according to enrollment data. This uptick suggests that targeted efforts by colleges and local governments are beginning to yield results in helping these individuals return to their academic pursuits.
The Economic Imperative of Degree Completion
For many, earning a degree remains the most effective long-term strategy for improving one’s earnings. Yet, the path to completion is fraught with obstacles. Jevona Anderson, for instance, was 59 and nearing the completion of her bachelor’s degree in 2025 when a series of personal crises—including several family deaths, an eviction, and subsequent homelessness—derailed her studies. She found herself failing classes and struggling with bills, ultimately leading her to drop out of the University of Baltimore.
Anderson’s experience is not isolated. College is inherently time-consuming, expensive, and complicated. Students often face a myriad of challenges, from small unpaid fees or confusing administrative forms to the demanding task of balancing caregiving responsibilities, work, health issues, and transportation. Nina Diggs-Pindell, another University of Baltimore student, has stopped out multiple times due to parenting and work responsibilities, underscoring that “Life is always changing. Everybody is going through something.” For Anderson, the compounding grief and financial struggles made focusing on her studies “all but impossible,” leading to a sharp decline in her grades before she decided to pause her education.
Despite the annual increase in reenrollments and a decline in new stopouts, the overall stopout population continues to grow, as the number of individuals leaving college in recent years still far outpaces those who have successfully reengaged, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse.
Targeted Interventions Driving Reengagement
The recent rise in reenrollments is largely attributed to intentional strategies designed to address the common barriers faced by stopouts. These efforts often involve providing financial assistance and removing bureaucratic hurdles, such as account holds that can prevent former students from accessing their transcripts or reenrolling.
For Jevona Anderson, a scholarship proved to be the critical factor enabling her return. When her life stabilized, advisors informed her about a university scholarship program, largely funded by the Carnegie Corporation, specifically for students close to finishing their degrees. This financial aid covered her remaining credits and housing costs, placing her on the cusp of graduation. James Kvaal, who previously served as undersecretary of education during the Biden administration and now oversees Carnegie’s grantmaking in education and democracy, emphasized that “Higher education continues to have great unmet potential to help people live better lives, and we’re talking about a group of Americans that have already started down to that path; they’re close to the finish line.”
States are also seeing progress through partnerships with companies like ReUp, which facilitates reenrollment through coaching and data tools. These tools enable schools to refine their outreach methods and match students with college programs aligned with their academic history, life circumstances, and employment goals. Many colleges are leveraging data to identify individuals with a high number of credits, offering specific supports to help them complete their degrees. While reengaging stopouts can be challenging—ReUp found it takes an average of 24 touchpoints (texts, emails, meetings) before a stopout reenrolls—colleges are increasingly viewing it as a worthy investment. Jennifer Latino of the education research firm EAB notes that it is a “light lift” compared with recruiting students “from scratch.”
Pueblo Community College in Colorado, for example, launched a stopout scholarship program a decade ago. Richie Ince, the college’s director of enrollment management, observed that many former students left due to “life happens moments.” A combination of social media ads, personalized outreach, and a scholarship now worth approximately $2,000 has proven effective. To ensure the investment translates into degrees, participants receive the scholarship money only after passing their first semester back with a C grade or better. Staff also provide crucial support with financial aid applications and regular check-ins.
Realizing Career Aspirations
The impact of these reenrollment efforts is profound for individuals seeking to advance their careers and improve their financial stability. Melody Blair, 55, found the Pueblo Community College scholarship to be the impetus she needed to return to school for an associate’s degree in health information management. After decades of working nights at a call center, a job she describes as wearing her down, Blair is now pursuing a career in the genomic registry field, driven by a desire to help others access their medical histories. “It’s one of those jobs I know I can wake up and look forward to doing,” she stated.
Jevona Anderson, who initially pursued environmental sustainability and substitute taught, aims to become a teacher to share her environmental passions with children. Despite a bittersweet moment realizing she couldn’t afford graduation regalia, the University of Baltimore’s student center offered to lend her a cap and gown. For Anderson, the prospect of working with children again is what matters most. Her determination is clear: “Me and God made a pact — I am graduating this spring.” The increasing reenrollment numbers underscore a growing recognition among institutions of the immense, untapped potential within the stopout population, representing both an educational and economic opportunity for millions of Americans.
