The Country’s Growing Some College, No Credential Population is a Bigger Problem Than Ever
How big is the country’s population of Americans with some college and no credential (SCNC) compared with other populations? In April, the National Student Clearinghouse released new data revealing the number of adults in the U.S. who didn’t finish college soared to an astonishing 40.4 million — about the same number of people living in California.
And, when you actually look at the numbers and the data, the historical growth of the SCNC population is even more shocking.
This record-breaking figure not only highlights a distressing trend but also exposes a profound failure of our higher education system to meet the needs of today’s students, especially returning adults. While the SCNC population has increased by roughly 9 million (or 28.5%) since 2014, much of what we knew then about the population remains true today, and thanks to new data, we know even more:
- Adults with SCNC earn a tiny bit more than high school graduates but far less than those who attain a postsecondary credential;
- Adults with SCNC are less likely to be employed than those who earn a postsecondary credential (A fact we saw exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic); and
- Hispanic and Black students are overrepresented among adults with SCNC, collectively making up 43% of the total SCNC population.
The fact that 15% of America’s population started college but hasn’t finished is too glaring of a statistic to write off as a result of a lack of personal responsibility. It is an unavoidable sign of common themes within our higher education system surrounding unmet basic needs, competing family commitments, childcare obligations, transportation access, and of course, the cost of college. But reform can happen with a bipartisan effort on the part of our federal policymakers and a diverse coalition of advocates calling for a higher learning system that works for students, not against them.
For years, Higher Learning Advocates has worked with students, higher education leaders, workforce partners, and policymakers to craft a policy agenda to fix the system. By taking steps to #WidenThePath, federal policymakers can ensure they address the needs of today’s returning adult students. For starters, allowing Pell grants for short-term workforce training programs, providing students with an automatic two-year reset of their satisfactory academic progress for purposes of federal financial aid, and more consistent recognition of credit for prior learning (CPL) are all critical tools in creating more pathways to success for returning adults.
As evidenced by our #40MillionReasons campaign, each of the 40 million adults has a reason behind why they left college, and sharing these stories is critical in underscoring the need for change in higher education. As we continue to advocate for these students, we hope that you will add your voice to the conversation. Whether to share your story as one of the 40 million or join the growing call to policymakers, through a concerted effort, we can bridge the divide between higher education and work by calling for federal policy change.
