To re-engage learners who have stopped out of higher education, institutions must create accessible, learner-centered pathways to help them finish their degrees and find economic security.
Today’s learners are navigating many challenges on their path to a degree, and shifting federal policies and politics add a layer of confusion that can prevent them from accessing the help they need. Now is the time to reaffirm our commitment to learners from all backgrounds and ensure that every student has the support they need to access and succeed in higher education. Together, we can unlock economic security for learners everywhere and support workforce needs.
By creating more flexible learning pathways, our higher education institutions can re-engage the 40 million learners with some college but no credential (SCNC). In partnership with the national, bipartisan Today’s Students Coalition, CHEPP has released a new policy brief: Unpacking the 40 Million: Meeting the Needs of Learners with Some College and No Credential.
The brief dives into the unique challenges and untapped potential of the SCNC population and offers a practical framework for designing learner-centered programs that help these learners to re-enroll, persist, and complete their degrees.
The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce estimates that by 2031, 66% of all good jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or higher – underscoring the importance of postsecondary education in the evolving labor market to securing economic mobility and good job prospects.
Who Are SCNC Learners?
Today’s students are juggling work, family, and other responsibilities alongside higher education. Many SCNC learners face unique circumstances that make degree completion difficult.
- 64% work full- or part-time
- 24% are parents
- 3 out of 5 experience housing or food insecurity
- 19% have a disability
- 6% are veterans or active-duty military
- 35% are first-generation college students
Many SCNC learners are people of color and from lower-income backgrounds. The number of SCNC learners continues to grow. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported that the SCNC population grew to 40.4 million in 2021-2022, an increase of 1.4 million in just one year.
Flexible Learning Programs
Why do learners stop out? Often, it’s because life gets in the way. Traditional college programs, with rigid 9-5 schedules and in-person requirements, are ill-equipped to serve students with financial constraints and family responsibilities. One survey of more than 40,000 learners found that the leading reason learners stop out of higher education is because of challenges balancing work and their studies.
To re-engage SCNC learners, our higher education systems must adapt. Flexible learning options, including online and hybrid programs, allow learners to balance education with their other responsibilities. When they do re-enroll, SCNC learner gravitate towards public 2-year colleges and online programs, which are more likely to offer learning programs that meet their need for flexibility and accessibility.
Economic Security Through Degree Completion
Degree completion isn’t just about personal achievement – it’s key to economic security. According to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 66% of all good jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or higher by 2031. For SCNC learners, re-engaging with higher education is essential to secure better job opportunities and long-term financial stability. It can also help them to pay off the burdensome student loan debt they have carried since they stopped out of higher education without a credential.
Designing A Learner-Centered Approach
Re-engaging SCNC students will require more than flexible learning options. Institutions must adopt a learner-centered approach that includes academic support, career-connected learning, and mental health services. By meeting students where they are, institutions can create pathways that help all learners thrive – no matter their background or circumstances.
By adopting learner-centered strategies, higher education can help millions of Americans unlock their full potential, close degree gaps, and create a more equitable and prosperous future for all.
For a deeper dive into SCNC learners, read CHEPP and Today’s Students Coalition’s policy brief here.