Targeted Support Drives Rise in College Reenrollment Among US 'Stopouts'
Millions of working-age adults in the United States, known as "stopouts," have left college without completing their degrees, often burdened by student loans and lacking the earning potential a credential provides. However, recent initiatives by colleges and local governments are successfully helping these individuals return to education. Enrollment data indicates that over 1 million stopouts reenrolled during the 2023-2024 academic year, marking a 7% increase from the previous year. The article highlights the story of Jevona Anderson, a 59-year-old former student at the University of Baltimore who dropped out in 2025 due to personal crises, including family deaths and homelessness. With the aid of a targeted scholarship, Anderson was able to afford her return to complete her bachelor's degree with aspirations of becoming a teacher. Her case exemplifies how financial assistance and structured support systems are removing barriers for adult learners. This trend suggests a shifting landscape in higher education, where institutions are increasingly recognizing the need to accommodate non-traditional students and provide pathways for them to finish their studies, thereby improving their economic prospects and reducing the national burden of incomplete degrees.
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Targeted Support Drives Rise in College Reenrollment Among US 'Stopouts'
Millions of working-age adults in the United States, known as "stopouts," have left college without completing their degrees, often burdened by student loans and lacking the earning potential a credential provides. However, recent initiatives by colleges and local governments are successfully helping these individuals return to education. Enrollment data indicates that over 1 million stopouts reenrolled during the 2023-2024 academic year, marking a 7% increase from the previous year. The article highlights the story of Jevona Anderson, a 59-year-old former student at the University of Baltimore who dropped out in 2025 due to personal crises, including family deaths and homelessness. With the aid of a targeted scholarship, Anderson was able to afford her return to complete her bachelor's degree with aspirations of becoming a teacher. Her case exemplifies how financial assistance and structured support systems are removing barriers for adult learners. This trend suggests a shifting landscape in higher education, where institutions are increasingly recognizing the need to accommodate non-traditional students and provide pathways for them to finish their studies, thereby improving their economic prospects and reducing the national burden of incomplete degrees.
AP News