Rise in students with incomplete credentials underscores the need for additional support

student texting
Jason Fife

April 28, 2023

Some College, No Credentials on the rise

A new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reveals that the “some college, no credential” (SCNC) population — which represents students who ‘stopped out’ without earning a degree or credential — is up 3.6% over the previous year. To further complicate matters, the report states that fewer students enrolled, returned to complete a credential, or persevered to a second year during the same time period.

 

Full report: Some College, No Credential (SCNC) Student Outcomes: Annual Progress Report

This trend highlights an opportunity for institutions to reengage a growing number of learners already on their way to earning credentials. Even though 944,200 SCNC students re-enrolled this year, only 53.9% of them persisted to complete a credential. And among SCNC students who re-enrolled, there is a stark contrast in perseverance rates between those who returned to a community college compared to those who returned to a four-year institution. According to the report:

“Students re-enrolling at public four-year and private non-profit four-year institutions fared better with the success and progress rates above 70 percent, while all other sectors had rates below the national average (60.3%).” 

This may come as no surprise given that four-year institutions tend to have more available resources committed to counseling and student success. However, it underscores a growing reality for community colleges – enrollment has fallen 37% since 2010 as students weigh the benefits of more affordable learning against the risk of failure.

A recent issue of The Hechinger Report outlines some of the major factors that have influenced community college enrollment, including the pandemic, but also lack of advising, a strong job market, and degree inflation. In the issue, one student reflecting on her experience said, “I’ve had to go out of my way to find people, and if they didn’t know the answer, they would send me to somebody else, usually by email.” 

While these may be contributing factors to the decline in reenrollment, which saw a 5.5% decrease in students returning to college after a break, it’s important to consider how some communities may be adversely impacted by this shift. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, this decline was most pronounced among Black and Hispanic students, who are already underrepresented in higher education.

Reengaging the SCNC population

The report highlights the importance of addressing the needs of students with incomplete credentials to improve overall degree completion rates. As Dr. Doug Shapiro, Executive Director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, notes, “It’s important for colleges to recognize that completion is not just about their own students getting a degree or certificate. It’s about the larger economy and our society needing people with postsecondary credentials.”

In addition to financial support, colleges and universities need to focus on providing academic and social support for all students, especially those with incomplete credentials and those re-enrolling after a break.

The rise of generative AI is also changing the landscape of higher education by providing innovative solutions to support student success. AI chatbots, for instance, can help to fill some of the gaps that interfere with completion today, such as advising. Institutions can leverage AI to communicate with students proactively, helping to navigate the complex college application and enrollment process, select courses and programs that align with their interests and career goals, and receive academic and social support throughout their educational journey.

As Dr. Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, notes, “AI can help us better understand each student’s individual learning journey and personalize their learning experience to help them achieve their goals.” For example, AI can analyze data on student performance and identify areas where they may need additional support or resources, allowing colleges and universities to intervene early and improve student outcomes.

However, there are also concerns about the potential biases and limitations of AI in higher education, particularly in the areas of equity and access. As AI-powered tools become more prevalent in higher education, it is important to ensure that they are designed and implemented in an ethical and equitable manner, and that they do not perpetuate existing inequities.

Overall, the rise in incomplete credentials and decline in reenrollment highlight the need for greater support and resources for students in higher education. Today, we have the opportunity to leverage existing and emerging tools to improve student success.

Explore Mainstay’s unique approach to re-engagement — and how we can help you get more students back on track to graduation.

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