According to a recent survey, 72% of Americans with some college experience but no degree say they would think about returning to school if tuition and program fees were lower. The StraighterLine and UPCEA study provides insight into the “some college, no credential” (SCNC) group, which consists of people who attended college but did not obtain a degree.
Financial limitations are a major obstacle, according to the report, with 58% of adult learners in this group believing their present financial circumstances will prevent them from paying for college. This is true even though, prior to enrolling, 84% of respondents thought a degree was necessary to reach their career aspirations. Only 34% of people still think this way, though. Moreover, only 42 percent of those surveyed have faith in universities and colleges.
Jim Fong, Chief Research Officer at UPCEA, said the study reveals a “serious relational disconnect” between SCNC individuals and higher education institutions. Re-enrollment decisions are influenced by a number of factors, such as perceived degree value, institutional reliability, and mental resilience. Despite changing student needs, Fong points out that marketing, enrollment procedures, and programs have mostly not altered in the last ten years.
Key drivers of re-enrollment were found in the survey to be profession change (38%), personal goals (44%), and pay enhancement (53%). Addressing affordability issues is essential since, as of July 2022, there were 41.9 million people living in the SCNC, a 2.9% increase from the year before. Notably, 36.8 million SCNC members are between the ages of 18 and 64. It is encouraging to note that during the 2022–2023 academic year, over 943,000 SCNC adults re-enrolled in universities, a 78,300 increase over the previous year, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. This pattern implies that a large number of people are open to going back to school if there are reasonably priced options available.
Fong stresses that colleges and universities need to change to accommodate the evolving demands of SCNC students. “These students are not the same ones from ten years ago… Colleges and universities can do a lot to improve student engagement and set significant goals for them while they work toward a degree.
Higher education institutions can re-engage SCNC individuals and support their academic and professional goals by resolving cost issues and reviving programs, enrollment procedures, and marketing methods. In order to satisfy the changing demands of this sizable population, institutions must place a high priority on flexibility, accessibility, and relevance as the demand for inexpensive education rises.
The results of the poll highlight how crucial accessible education is to enabling people to fulfill their potential. Higher education institutions can create a more welcoming and encouraging learning atmosphere by closing the affordability gap, which will eventually help people and society at large.
