Stopouts Find Path Back to College with Help

Scholarships and personalized support aid adults who left school before finishing their degrees.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:50pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph in soft, warm colors depicting the blurred outlines of students walking across a college campus, conveying the emotional experience of returning to higher education.Scholarships and personalized support are helping more adults who previously stopped out of college to reenroll and complete their degrees.Baltimore Today

After facing family tragedies and financial hardship, Jevona Anderson dropped out of the University of Baltimore just shy of completing her bachelor's degree. But a scholarship program helped her reenroll and get back on track to graduation. Anderson's story highlights a growing trend of 'stopouts' - the 38 million working-age adults in the U.S. who have left college before finishing - returning to complete their degrees with the aid of targeted support from colleges and local governments.

Why it matters

Earning a college degree can significantly boost long-term earnings, but many students face obstacles like unpaid fees, family responsibilities, and health issues that cause them to stop out. Colleges are increasingly stepping up efforts to reengage these stopouts, recognizing the untapped potential of students who have already invested time and money into higher education.

The details

After losing several family members and facing an eviction that left her homeless, Jevona Anderson's grades at the University of Baltimore plummeted, and she ultimately decided to pause her studies toward a bachelor's in environmental sustainability. When Anderson was ready to reenroll, she learned about a scholarship program at the university that helped cover her remaining credits and housing costs, allowing her to get back on track to graduation.

  • In 2025, Anderson, then 59, was failing classes and falling behind on bills at the University of Baltimore.
  • In late 2022, when Anderson's life had stabilized, she decided to reenroll at the University of Baltimore.
  • Anderson is now on the cusp of graduating this spring 2023 semester.

The players

Jevona Anderson

A 60-year-old student at the University of Baltimore who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental sustainability after previously dropping out due to family tragedies and financial hardship.

University of Baltimore

The university Anderson attends, which offers a scholarship program to help students like Anderson who are close to completing their degrees reenroll and graduate.

Carnegie Corporation

A philanthropic organization that largely funds the scholarship program at the University of Baltimore that assisted Anderson in reenrolling.

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What they’re saying

“It was so easy for someone my age to stop, because I have a lot of professional skills to get a job to continue to just live. It's bigger than that.”

— Jevona Anderson, Student, University of Baltimore

“Higher education continues to have great unmet potential to help people live better lives, and we're talking about a group of Americans that have already started down to that path; they're close to the finish line.”

— James Kvaal, Former Undersecretary of Education, Biden Administration; Education Grantmaker, Carnegie Corporation

What’s next

Anderson is on track to graduate from the University of Baltimore this spring 2023 semester after receiving the scholarship assistance to reenroll.

The takeaway

Targeted support like scholarships and personalized outreach can make a significant difference in helping the millions of 'stopouts' - adults who have left college before finishing their degrees - reenroll and complete their education, unlocking their potential to improve their long-term earnings and career prospects.