Stopouts Reenroll at Rising Rates as Colleges Offer Support

Scholarships and personalized outreach help adults who left college before finishing return to complete their degrees.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:21pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a student's hands holding a diploma or graduation cap, with a blurred college campus scene in the background, captured in warm, soft pools of light and color.As colleges work to reengage 'stopout' students, scholarships and personalized support are helping adults like Jevona Anderson return to campus and complete their degrees.Baltimore Today

After facing family tragedies, financial struggles, and other life challenges, Jevona Anderson dropped out of the University of Baltimore in 2025 while nearing completion of her bachelor's degree. But with the help of a scholarship program, Anderson was able to reenroll and is now on track to graduate this spring. Her story reflects a growing trend, as colleges and local governments have stepped up efforts in recent years to support 'stopouts' - the 38 million working-age adults in the U.S. who left college before finishing their degrees.

Why it matters

Earning a college degree can significantly boost one's long-term earning potential, yet many students face obstacles that cause them to abandon their studies, even after investing thousands of dollars. Colleges are recognizing the importance of helping these 'stopouts' get back on track, as reenrollment numbers have been rising in recent years, though the overall stopout population remains large.

The details

Small unpaid fees, confusing paperwork, or difficulties balancing work, caregiving, and other responsibilities can be enough to knock students off the path to a degree. In Anderson's case, the grief she experienced after losing relatives and an eviction that left her homeless made it nearly impossible for her to focus on her studies. After a conversation with her student support coordinator, she decided to pause her education. But when she was ready to reenroll, a scholarship program at the University of Baltimore helped cover her remaining credits and housing costs, allowing her to get back on track toward graduation.

  • Anderson first enrolled at the University of Baltimore in 2019.
  • Anderson dropped out of the University of Baltimore in 2025.
  • Anderson reenrolled at the University of Baltimore in late 2025.
  • Anderson is on track to graduate this spring (2026).

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 working in various jobs, including as a substitute teacher.

University of Baltimore

The university where Anderson is enrolled and which offers a scholarship program to help stopouts reenroll and complete their degrees.

Carnegie Corporation

A philanthropic organization that largely funds the scholarship program at the University of Baltimore that helped Anderson reenroll.

James Kvaal

The former undersecretary of education during the Biden administration who now oversees Carnegie's grantmaking in education and democracy.

Richie Ince

The director of enrollment management at Colorado's Pueblo Community College, who launched a stopout scholarship program about a decade ago.

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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, Carnegie Corporation

“We just heard a lot of students say this was the kind of kick in the pants they needed, or that they just needed someone to reach out.”

— Richie Ince, Director of Enrollment Management, Pueblo Community College

What’s next

Anderson is on track to graduate from the University of Baltimore this spring after receiving the scholarship support to reenroll and complete her degree.

The takeaway

This story highlights the growing efforts by colleges and local governments to support 'stopouts' - adults who have left college before finishing their degrees - through targeted scholarships, personalized outreach, and other initiatives. By helping these students reenroll and complete their education, colleges are unlocking the potential of a large population of Americans who are close to achieving their academic goals.