New Research Shows Some 1 Million College Dropouts Returned To School In The Past Five Years And Earned Degrees

New Research Shows Some 1 Million College Dropouts Returned to School in the Past Five Years and Earned Degrees

A significant number of individuals who dropped out of college have actually returned years later to complete their degrees, mostly earning two-year associate’s degrees. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center recently released a study, called the "Some College, No Degree" study, which revealed that in the past five years alone, 1 million students have returned to college to pursue and obtain degrees. An additional 1.1 million former students are currently enrolled and actively working towards their degrees.

This study is crucial for multiple reasons. Firstly, it provides evidence contradicting the belief that college completion rates are low among first-generation college students. Many of these students were previously labeled as dropouts, but they have managed to revive their educational pursuits.

For example, community college graduates are considered successful graduates three years after completing high school, while successful bachelor’s degree-earners are recognized six years after high school. However, what about those individuals who dropped out and returned ten years later?

Doug Shapiro, the executive director of the research center, stated that the returning students and new completers identified in this report deserve recognition. Previously, they were disregarded as dropouts when they left and ignored upon their return. Yet, their successes now are not only beneficial to themselves but also to their states and the nation as a whole.

The National Student Clearinghouse is the only organization in the country capable of tracking the progress of individual students throughout their college journey. By matching the names and identifiers provided by high schools with information given by college registrars, they can accurately monitor a student’s status.

Furthermore, this report sheds light on additional strategies to improve the underwhelming college success rates for first-generation, predominantly low-income and minority students. Presently, only a mere 11 percent of low-income, first-generation students manage to earn bachelor’s degrees within six years, compared to over 60 percent of students from high-income families.

"The B.A. Breakthrough: How Ending Diploma Disparities Can Change the Face of America," a book authored by the same writer earlier in the year and published by , outlines various ways to enhance these success rates. It highlights the positive outcomes among alumni from major charter school networks, the growing presence of independent college advising groups providing data-driven counseling to high-need schools, and the intensified efforts of colleges and universities to better support first-generation students, including facilitating community college transfers.

Moreover, the report emphasizes the significance of the millions of students who dropped out of college without earning degrees. It reveals that not only are they more likely to attempt returning to college, but even those individuals with some college experience but no degree should be considered an important group to support.

Earlier this year, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute published a report on non-completers, illustrating the economic advantages of having some college education. Attending college, even without obtaining a degree, led to a 20 percentage point increase in employment and a 6 percent rise in earnings after 15 years.

The Clearinghouse report highlights that these often overlooked students have achieved success with minimal assistance from states and universities. It suggests that America could significantly advance its attainment goals by proactively re-enrolling students from the 36 million "Some College, No Degree" population. This can be achieved through tailored programs and policies that cater to their specific needs, as informed by the evidence presented in the report.

So how can this be accomplished? The report authors offer some suggestions. Many of these returning students have completed their degrees online, primarily due to the lack of support and flexibility offered by traditional college campuses. Traditional colleges need to prioritize student support services, childcare options, credit transfer procedures, class scheduling, and financial aid to better accommodate these students, according to the report.

The potential to bring back students who have yet to complete their degrees is enormous. Out of the 36 million Americans with some college experience but no degree, approximately 10 percent are labeled as "potential completers" because they had accumulated at least two years’ worth of academic credits before discontinuing their studies.

Once these students re-enroll, they tend to persist until they obtain their degrees. Typically, these completers finish their programs within two years of re-enrollment without transferring or dropping out again.

The report cites Indiana’s "You Can. Go Back" program as an example of how states can support more of these students. This initiative involved 30 private and public colleges in the state and provided 5,000 grants to adult students. They offered increased online education options and recognized work experience and military service for academic credit. As a result, Indiana has successfully attracted a higher number of college returnees compared to other states.

Considering the anticipated decrease in the quantity of individuals completing high school in various states, as well as the ongoing disparities in educational opportunities for students from low-income, first-generation, and minority backgrounds, along with the discrepancies in educational achievements across different regions, utilizing this demographic should be a fundamental aspect of each state’s approach to expedite and achieve its educational goals.