With Help, 'Stopouts' Are Returning to College

Colleges and local governments are assisting adults who left school before finishing their degrees.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:50pm

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus photograph of a college campus scene, with blurred figures of students walking across a grassy quad, conveying a sense of warmth, community, and the potential for second chances in higher education.As colleges work to reengage 'stopouts' - adults who left school before finishing - the path back to campus is often paved with small acts of support and encouragement.Baltimore Today

After experiencing personal and financial challenges, Jevona Anderson dropped out of the University of Baltimore in 2025 while nearing completion of her bachelor's degree. She is part of a growing group of 'stopouts' - working-age adults who have left college before finishing. However, with the help of scholarships and support services, the number of stopouts reenrolling has been on the rise, reaching over 1 million in the 2023-2024 school year. Anderson was able to return to the University of Baltimore with the assistance of a scholarship that covered her remaining credits and housing costs.

Why it matters

Earning a college degree can significantly improve one's long-term earnings, but small obstacles like unpaid fees, confusing paperwork, or balancing work and family responsibilities can knock students off track. As the stopout population continues to grow, states and colleges are making more efforts to help these students reenroll and complete their degrees, recognizing the untapped potential of this group.

The details

Anderson first enrolled at the University of Baltimore in 2019 to pursue a bachelor's in environmental sustainability, with the goal of becoming a teacher who could share her passion for the environment with children. However, she struggled to juggle her studies with life responsibilities, including the grief of losing family members and an eviction that left her homeless. After her grades began to suffer, Anderson decided to pause her studies. When she 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.

  • Anderson first enrolled at the University of Baltimore in 2019.
  • In 2025, Anderson dropped out of the University of Baltimore while nearing completion of her bachelor's degree.
  • In late 2023, Anderson was ready to reenroll at the University of Baltimore.
  • The 2023-2024 school year saw over 1 million stopouts reenroll, a 7% increase from the previous year.

The players

Jevona Anderson

A 60-year-old student at the University of Baltimore who dropped out in 2025 due to personal and financial challenges, but was able to reenroll with the help of a scholarship program.

University of Baltimore

The university where Anderson was pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental sustainability and where she was able to reenroll with the assistance of a scholarship program.

National Student Clearinghouse

The organization that provided data showing the growing number of stopouts and the increase in reenrollment in recent years.

James Kvaal

The former undersecretary of education during the Biden administration who now oversees education and democracy grantmaking at the Carnegie Corporation.

Richie Ince

The director of enrollment management at Pueblo Community College in Colorado, who launched a stopout scholarship program to help former students reenroll.

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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

The University of Baltimore plans to continue offering the scholarship program that helped Jevona Anderson reenroll, and other colleges and states are expected to expand their efforts to target and assist stopouts in the coming years.

The takeaway

This story highlights the growing issue of 'stopouts' - working-age adults who have left college before finishing their degrees - and the progress being made by colleges and local governments to help these students reenroll and complete their education. By providing financial assistance, personalized support, and removing bureaucratic hurdles, more stopouts are finding their way back to campus and closer to earning the credentials that can significantly improve their long-term earnings and career prospects.