How ReUp Education Helps Students Return to College and Complete Their Degrees

For millions of Americans, the dream of a college degree remains just out of reach. Life often intervenes, leading many to "stop out" of higher education before earning a credential. This leaves them with college debt, but without the increased earning potential a degree can provide. If you're one of the over 40 million adults with some college and no degree, you might wonder: is there a way back?

The good news is, there are dedicated organizations working to bridge this gap. ReUp Education is a leading force in this effort, specializing in helping adult learners re-enroll, persist, and ultimately graduate. But how exactly does ReUp Education help students return to college? This article will explore ReUp's comprehensive approach, from personalized support to navigating complex financial and academic hurdles, demonstrating how they empower individuals to achieve their educational and career goals.

The Challenge of Stopping Out and the Need for Support

Why do students stop out of college? The reasons are as diverse as the individuals themselves, but common factors include financial constraints, family responsibilities, health challenges, and work obligations. Many adult learners juggle multiple responsibilities, making the traditional college experience difficult to navigate. These "some college, no credential" (SCNC) learners represent a significant investment in education that hasn't yet yielded its full return, both for the individual and for the economy.

The benefits of returning to complete a degree are clear:

• Increased Earning Potential: Workers with a bachelor's degree earn significantly more over their lifetime compared to high school graduates.
• Career Advancement: A degree can unlock better-paying jobs and new career opportunities.
• Personal Fulfillment: Completing a long-term goal can lead to immense personal satisfaction and serve as a powerful role model for family members.
• Economic Impact: Re-engaging these learners helps close skills gaps and strengthens local and state economies.

Recognizing these challenges and opportunities, organizations like ReUp Education step in to provide the specialized support adult learners need.

What is ReUp Education? A Partner in Your Return Journey

Founded in 2015, ReUp Education is an organization dedicated to helping college students who have stopped out to re-enroll and graduate. Their mission is to empower adult learners to thrive in higher education and shape the future of higher education itself. ReUp focuses exclusively on engaging and re-enrolling the millions of U.S. residents who have "stopped out" and supporting them through to graduation.

ReUp Education partners with universities and state systems to identify and engage these "lost learners." They leverage technology, including patented predictive scoring, to pinpoint students who are most likely to re-enroll. However, their approach goes beyond just data; it combines technology with a crucial human touch to provide personalized support.

How ReUp Education Helps Students Return: Key Strategies and Support

ReUp Education's success lies in its multi-faceted approach, offering tailored support that addresses the unique barriers adult learners face.

Personalized Outreach and Engagement

One of the initial hurdles for stop-out students is simply knowing that returning is an option and how to begin. ReUp utilizes proactive, personalized outreach to connect with these individuals. They interact with learners through various modalities, including phone, email, and text, meeting them wherever they are in their life's journey.

This isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. ReUp's success coaches are trained to actively listen, exploring educational and career goals and developing personalized plans. They understand that adult learners often have complex lives, and their engagement strategies are designed to be empathetic and flexible.

Navigating Financial Aid and Debt

Financial concerns are often the biggest barrier to returning to higher education for adult learners. Many are unaware of the financial aid options available to them or find the application process overwhelming. ReUp Education provides crucial guidance in this area.

They assist students with:

• FAFSA Completion: Guiding learners through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the first step for many federal loans, grants, and scholarships.
• Scholarships and Grants: Helping identify and apply for scholarships and grants specifically available to adult learners, single parents, or first-generation students.
• Understanding Work-Study Options: Explaining how federal work-study programs can help cover costs while gaining valuable experience.
• Addressing Prior Debt: In some cases, ReUp works with institutions to address small institutional debts that might prevent re-enrollment and transcript release.

Academic Advising and Program Selection

Returning to academia after a break can be daunting. ReUp's success coaches work alongside academic advisors to provide comprehensive support. This often includes:

• Holistic Advising: Going beyond just course registration, coaches address learners' personal, financial, and professional realities, ensuring they feel fully supported.
• Credit for Prior Learning: Guiding students through processes like credit for prior learning, which can help them get credit for past experiences or coursework.
• Career-Focused Advising: Connecting academic paths to career goals, helping students understand how their degree will lead to professional advancement.
• Personalized Academic Plans: Assisting students in choosing a major and developing strategies to meet graduation requirements.

Overcoming Personal and Logistical Hurdles

Life doesn't stop when an adult learner returns to school. ReUp recognizes that ongoing personal and logistical challenges can derail progress. Their success coaches provide continuous, one-on-one support via phone, email, or text, from simple questions to overcoming major barriers and fears. They act as a resource guide and accountability partner, offering encouragement and checking in at pivotal moments.

This human connection is vital, as coaches understand what it's like to return to school as an adult and are committed to providing support when it's needed most.

Connecting with Partner Institutions

ReUp Education doesn't work in isolation. They partner with over 90 schools and learning providers, as well as state-and-system-networked institutions, to facilitate student returns. These partnerships are crucial because ReUp coaches are educated on the specific processes and procedures of these universities, helping students navigate institutional complexities.

By acting as an extension of the university's enrollment team, ReUp helps institutions re-engage their "stop-out" population at scale, leading to thousands of re-enrollments and significant tuition recapture for their partners.

The Impact: Success Stories and Outcomes

The effectiveness of ReUp Education's model is evident in its results. To date, ReUp has re-enrolled nearly 28,500 students, recapturing over $139 million in tuition for their university partners. They have helped thousands of adults succeed in their journey to continue their education, with case studies highlighting individuals like Shawanna, a single mother who returned to pursue her dream of becoming a physician's assistant, and Leon, who recovered from setbacks to get back on track with his college education.

These outcomes underscore ReUp's commitment to empowering individuals and contributing to a more skilled workforce and resilient economy.

Conclusion

Returning to college after a break can be a life-changing decision, but it's often fraught with challenges. ReUp Education stands as a beacon of support for the millions of adult learners with some college credits but no degree. By combining data-driven insights with empathetic, personalized coaching, ReUp helps individuals navigate financial aid, academic planning, and personal hurdles, ensuring they have the resources and encouragement needed to complete their degrees.

If you are an adult learner considering a return to higher education, or know someone who is, exploring resources like ReUp Education could be the key to unlocking a brighter future. Their commitment to making higher education accessible and equitable empowers individuals to achieve their full potential, benefiting not only themselves but also their families and communities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Who does ReUp Education primarily help?

A1: ReUp Education primarily helps "stop-out students" – adult learners who have some college education but have not yet obtained a degree or credential. They focus on those who wish to return to complete their education.

Q2: What kind of support do ReUp Education coaches provide?

A2: ReUp Success Coaches provide individualized, one-on-one support that includes personalized outreach, guidance on financial aid and FAFSA completion, academic advising, help with program selection, and support in overcoming personal and logistical barriers. They offer support via phone, email, or text.

Q3: Does ReUp Education charge students for their services?

A3: ReUp Education partners with universities and state systems to provide their services. Their goal is to help students re-enroll and graduate at no direct cost to the student.

Q4: How effective is ReUp Education in helping students return?

A4: ReUp Education has a strong track record, having re-enrolled nearly 28,500 students and recaptured over $139 million in tuition for their university partners. They are recognized for being highly effective in engaging and re-enrolling the "some college, no credential" population.