Four-year institutions have long regarded the “Some College, No Credential (SCNC)” market as a potential boon to enrollment. Headlines boast its potential: 37.6 million adults under age 65 — nearly one in six American adults — have completed some college courses but hold no credential.
But recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) forces a reality check. Of this enormous population, just 2.7% re-enrolled last year. Additionally, these adults are increasingly credential-agnostic: only 28% of SCNC re-enrollees pursued bachelor's degrees, while many opted for shorter, career-focused options.
The question for institutions seeking a greater share of this market isn’t market size but whether their programs and outreach strategies truly align with what these learners actually want.
New Data From National Student Clearinghouse
According to NSC, the overall “Some College No Credential” population grew 2% from 2022-2023, reaching 37.6 million in 2023-2024. A majority (58%) are adults aged 25 to 44 — prime career years when education decisions are tied directly to work and family realities.
Stopouts declined across nearly all sectors except private for-profit four-year and online institutions. Community colleges and online providers play a large role in the SCNC market due to their accessibility, flexibility, and affordability.
One million SCNC adults re-enrolled in 2023-24, a 7% jump from the year prior — encouraging momentum but still 8% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Despite economic uncertainty and job insecurity, these numbers suggest a growing readiness to return, but perhaps on new terms.
Notably, 52% of re-enrollees in 2024 opted for associate degrees (52%), while just 28% pursued bachelor’s degrees. For many, the end goal isn't necessarily a four-year degree — it’s a credential that offers a clear and quick path to career advancement.
Some College No Credential Re-Enrollment
Figure 1 shows how re-enrolled students navigate credential pathways — often sticking with their original credential but with meaningful shifts that reveal how adults reassess goals once they return.
Figure 1.
According to Figure 1:
- 57% of those who previously pursued a bachelor’s degree re-enrolled in another bachelor’s program—showing persistence in long-term goals.
- 31% of bachelor’s degree stopouts shifted down to associate degrees—suggesting pragmatic recalibration around time, cost, or career needs.
- 67% of associate degree stopouts typically remain in associate pathways, making up 53% of the total re-enrollment in 2023-24.
Undergraduate certificate stopouts (a relatively small market at 130,000 re-enrollments in 2024) are the most mobile: 47% shifted to associate programs and 15% advanced to bachelor’s degrees. This underscores the need for flexible pathways and effective transfer of credits as certificate programs can serve as stepping-stones rather than endpoints.
This indicates that much of the SCNC market doesn’t want a second chance — it wants a streamlined route. Institutions that simplify re-entry, clarify credit transfers, and connect credentials directly to job outcomes will win.
SCNC Prospect Credential Preferences
The Eduventures Adult Prospect Research™ adds context by capturing future intent among SCNC adults who say they’re committed or strongly likely to enroll in the next three years (Figure 2).
Figure 2.
According to Figure 2:
- Associate degrees remain the top preference, holding steady around one-third of prospects.
- Bachelor’s degree interest rebounded to 26% in 2024—welcome news for four-year institutions after several years of decline.
- Vocational/Technical training dropped sharply (from 27% to 13%), while noncredit and certificate interest more than doubled (from 9% to 19%).
Taken together, this suggests a complex story: Degree completion remains important, but flexibility, speed, and career linkage are decisive. For returning adults, the credential of choice is increasingly one that fits into adult life.
The Bottom Line
While the size of the SCNC market makes it enticing, the data shows it is no quick fix. Only a fraction of these adults re-enrolls each year — and even fewer complete. They are not all looking for a bachelor’s degree, but their motivations are clear: They seek affordable, short, stackable pathways with obvious career payoff. We also know that these prospects overwhelmingly choose online for its flexibility.
Institutions that want to grow this population must rethink the experience from the ground up:
- Make it easy to return. A streamlined and transparent credit transfer policy is a prerequisite, along with dedicated support in the enrollment process.
- Offer flexible and affordable pathways. Address financials by offering affordable tuition, credit for prior work and life experience, and even free online introductory courses.
- Build stackable credentials. Don’t force SCNC students into existing program silos: Design stackable pathways that allow students to progress from certificates to associate to bachelor’s degrees.
- Consider strategic partnerships. Consider partnering with firms like ReUp Education or myFootpath that specialize in reconnecting stopouts with institutions by providing students with coaching and personalized outreach—an investment that can pay off quickly.
Ultimately, winning in the SCNC market means meeting adults where they are with distinct strategies. The opportunity is real, but it demands realistic expectations and a specialized approach.
