Repeat Non-Completers - Jake New, Inside Higher Ed

Only one third of non-first-time students -- adult learners who re-enroll in college after at least a year away from higher education -- earn a degree after six to eight years, according to a study released today. The study was conducted by the American Council on Education, InsideTrack, NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, and the University Professional and Continuing Education Association. The researchers found that some states are doing a better job at graduating returning students than others. It's not yet clear what differences between states are leading to better outcomes, said Robert Hansen, CEO of UPCEA, but he has an idea why returning students are struggling across the country. While as much as 75 percent of U.S. college students are nontraditional or adult learners, Hansen said, many colleges are still primarily concerned with traditional-age students. Even IPEDS data do not yet contain information pertaining to non-first-time students. "We've only just began to scratch the surface on the data we have," Jarrat said. "But already at this point, there's no denying we have a serious problem said Dave Jarrat, the organizer of the study and vice president of marketing at student coaching service InsideTrack. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/10/07/two-thirds-non-first-time-students-do-not-graduate