INDIANAPOLIS - The road to a college degree isn't always a direct path, and new research suggests adult students who are "giving it another go" are finding it worth the effort.

A report from think-tank New America and the Graduate! Network examines so-called "comebackers " - returning college students who get back on track, preserve their credits and earn their degree.

Report co-author Iris Palmer - senior advisor for higher education and workforce with the Education Policy program at New America - said their return to campus is driven by deeply intrinsic and personal reasons beyond career advancement, including finishing what they started, and showing their family what they're capable of.

"A significant number of these 'comebackers' re-enrolled in college and graduated immediately because the hurdles that they were presented with were administrative and financial," said Palmer. "This is an incredibly capable group of people; they have a system that has been stacked against them in a lot of ways."

Palmer said the researchers discovered that stops throughout their college career were actually a sign of perseverance in a comebacker, as they were often waiting for a more opportune time to resume their education.

Common barriers to returning are obligations, financial challenges and administrative hurdles.

Of the comebackers who got back on track and then graduated, 69% stayed continuously enrolled until they finished. And Palmer said a majority who have graduated said the support from faculty and their family was crucial.

"Some of the things that were most helpful were having a really strong relationship with their faculty," said Palmer. "And having those teachers help show them through their college experience and honor their experience outside of the classroom - particularly in the world of work, but also with their families."

Indiana's 'You Can. Go Back.' campaign is highlighted in the report for encouraging adults to complete their unfinished degrees. Commissioner of Higher Education Teresa Lubbers said state leaders have recognized that increasing the number of workers with degrees and credentials is critical to meet the needs of the future economy.

"But what became clear is that we also had a significant number of people who did not have a quality credential at all that was aligned to the needs of the economy, or the opportunity for them to earn more than minimum wage,"said Lubbers. "And so, this Next Level Jobs program was started, focused on quality credentials and certificates."

The report also recommends targeted outreach to potential comebackers, streamlined application and enrollment processes, embedding certifications into degree programs, and more flexible financial aid.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation

New Mexico is taking a deep dive into its funding of public colleges and universities to determine if inequities need to be addressed. The Higher Education Sustainability Study will review and recommend changes to the formula used to fund higher ed.

Gerald Hoehne, director, Capital Outlay Division with the New Mexico Higher Education Department, said it will look at possible inequities among the full range of sectors - from colleges and universities to research institutions, independent community colleges and branch campuses.

"The differences between community colleges and research institutions - those differences have come into how they're funded. So, this study gives us an opportunity to look at that in more detail," he said.

Community colleges disproportionately serve low-income students and students of color, but New Mexico is among the majority of states where two-year institutions receive thousands of dollars less in education revenue per student enrolled than four-year institutions, according to a 2020 study by the Center for American Progress.

Hoehne expected study results to be available by mid-October ahead of the 2025 legislative session, so lawmakers have insight and can make changes they feel are needed. The Legislature earmarked $187 million for higher education in 2024 - more than double last year's investment and one of the largest investments in higher education in state history. Hoene said an initiative within the study will look at how New Mexico's funding compares to other states.

"To understand if there is different ways in which other states are addressing the different types of institutions and how we potentially may be able to incorporate any changes to our process to address those differences," he continued.

The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems is conducting the equity study on behalf of the state.

New York's 2025 budget creates universal access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program.

School districts statewide will have the resources to help high schoolers complete the application. Those who do not fill it out must sign a waiver stating they know of the available aid but are not pursuing it.

Sen. Andrew Gounardes, D-Sunset Park, the bill's sponsor, said FAFSA's required information can be daunting.

"Some students or some families are well-prepared and well-equipped to review that document and provide that information; some students might not be," Gounardes acknowledged. "Some students might not even know where to turn to get that information, especially if they're the first in their family to pursue college if they're the first generation here."

Some schools have moved closer to charging $100,000 a year for tuition, which Gounardes said can deter students from considering college. But through the FAFSA process, scholarships and grants can provide enough to shave the number down to a more reasonable figure. A Sallie Mae report showed college spending is up as families spend close to $28,000 each year on college.

Feedback for the proposal was positive, considering most high school seniors who complete the FAFSA are likely to go to college after graduation. Gounardes argued the state can build on the progress by reviewing admissions practices to ensure they are fair and do not exclude students from certain backgrounds.

"In particular, I think it's high time we end legacy admissions," Gounardes emphasized. "There's no reason why we should have affirmative action for privileged kids in New York state, especially from institutions that receive significant public dollars either for grants or construction or awards or this or that or whatever."

He introduced a bill ending legacy admissions, which is still in committee. Among public and private colleges in New York, 42% still consider legacy applicants for admissions.

More than 70% of adults with student loans report having delayed at least one significant life event because of their debt situation, yet a new Lumina Foundation-Gallup poll shows few Americans seem to understand the cost of obtaining a bachelor's degree.

During the 2021-22 academic year, the average cost of attendance ranged from $10,000 per year at public two-year institutions to more than $56,000 per year at private four-year nonprofit colleges.

Michele Scott Taylor, Ph.D - is president of College Now Greater Cleveland, a nonprofit that works to increase higher education accessibility.

She said for students who are potentially first-generation college goers or from lower socio-economic backgrounds, the conversations around college affordability can be overwhelming.

"The issue for that subset of the population is really around helping them understand what college costs, but then more importantly, how do I afford it?" said Taylor. "What are the ways in which that I could afford whatever that cost might be? "

The poll found that more than half of never-enrolled and previously enrolled adults say cost is a "very important" reason why they have not enrolled or re-enrolled in college.

Unenrolled adults across race, age and first-generation potential students consistently rate tuition cost as the most important factor in their decision to not pursue a college degree.

Taylor said more efforts should also go toward helping students persist and complete their degree, once they've signed up for those loans.

She said higher-education institutions could work better with college access organizations to communicate their programs and offerings in ways that are enticing to get students to want to enroll.

"We want them to show better their return on investment," said Taylor. "We want them to be a little bit more transparent about the cost and what the costs entail."

Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that in the 2022-2023 academic year, the number of undergraduate degree earners nationwide fell for the second year in a row.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.




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