This blog was co-authored by Sarah Ancel of Student-Ready Strategies, Sarah Pingel of NCHEMS, and Andy Carlson of CollegeAPP.
Nearly two decades ago, states began setting educational attainment goals pegged to workforce needs. These targets were intended to focus elected officials, state agency leaders, and institutions on a common objective: preparing their states with a competitive, educated workforce. As these goals were developed, however, demographic changes sweeping the nation rapidly made clear that there simply were not enough students in the high school to college pipeline to meet these workforce needs. In some states, up to 75% of the new credentials awarded to meet their established goal would need to come from people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.
Since then, higher education leaders have been creating programs and supports to engage what conventional wisdom said was low-hanging fruit — former students who had some college credits under their belt, but never completed their degree. This “some college, no degree” (SCND) group was considered “low-hanging fruit” for two reasons. First, their path to graduation was theoretically shorter since they had already accumulated college credits. Second, they were easier for states and colleges to reach because their contact information was already in their systems.
Of course, the reality became clear that the majority of SCND individuals faced barriers preventing reenrollment and/or success once reenrolled. These barriers, among many, include financial holds, insufficient satisfactory academic progress from prior attempts — often cutting off access to both reenrollment and federal aid and loans — and psychological challenges such as lack of confidence or fear of failing. Many of these students had relocated, changed their long-term career goals, or both, since their first stint in college. This meant that “going back” often meant “going elsewhere,” necessitating cooperation among institutions that were accustomed to more independent recruiting efforts. Recognition of these challenges over time led to both policy changes and altered reengagement tactics for the SCND population, as well as an inward-facing examination of how postsecondary institutions and oversight bodies created, upheld, or exacerbated the barriers that affected this population and drove these outcomes.
Surprisingly, however, this focus on SCND students consistently ignored the more than 60 million adults in the U.S. with no prior postsecondary experience, many of whom would also benefit economically from starting college, persisting, and earning a credential of value. Perhaps this was the result of an assumption that if they did not have college aspirations or the resources to enroll at the age of 18, they never would. Or perhaps it was simply seen as a harder population to reach and serve, which made it a lower priority.
Regardless of the reason, these students must be part of states’ plans to educate and prepare their workforces for well-paying, competitive jobs. Supporting the 60+ million adults in the U.S. with no prior postsecondary experience with the same level of intentionality as we have for the SCND population is crucial for several reasons. Many individuals within this demographic stand to benefit economically by pursuing higher education. Attaining a postsecondary credential, such as a degree or certification, can open doors to better job opportunities, higher earning potential, and increased job security, which benefits families, the state, and local governments. Postsecondary institutions have also improved their connections to local job markets, making the training more relevant today than it perhaps was when potential “no credit no degree” (NCND) students opted against college. In today’s rapidly evolving job market, where skills and education play a pivotal role, helping these adults access and navigate the college system can empower them to adapt to changing workforce demands.
Beyond that, many states have much more progress to make — and urgently — to raise educational attainment to the levels employers need. State leaders cannot afford to continue overlooking the NCND population, as it represents the best untapped opportunity to drive further improvements in postsecondary attainment. College leaders, as well, need to understand that recruitment efforts limited to only those who chose to leave the institution in the past will have limited effectiveness. Imagine what would be possible if those efforts included adults in their service area without prior college experience, or those who were poorly served by a different institution and ready to try again with a new college home.
Here’s what we suggest:
By supporting these individuals in starting and persisting through college, society can unlock their potential, enhancing both individual lives and the overall economic landscape.
This blog can also be found on the Student-Ready Strategies website.
