Foster Effective and Efficient Journeys to Postsecondary Thriving, Including Reengagement and Nonlinear Pathways

For many years, the common assumption has been that students attend high school, graduate, and then enroll at a four-year college or university to receive a bachelor’s degree. That assumption is outdated. The Commission finds that multiple avenues exist for learners to pursue higher education. For some, a well-designed direct-admission program encourages the pursuit of higher education simply by eliminating the application requirement. For those who choose a two-year college, dual or concurrent enrollment with a four-year college or university, as well as a clear path for transferring credits, should be available. The goal is for learners to gain better visibility into their higher education opportunities and to have maximum transparency about how to use the credits they earn.

In today’s labor market, a postsecondary credential provides an incredible boost to a person’s lifetime earnings, employer-provided benefits, career stability, and various well-being indicators.1 In recognition of this reality, forty states have set goals to increase the percentage of adults with postsecondary credentials.2 Additionally, at the start of the 2023–2024 school year, more than 43 million Americans had earned some college credit but no degree.3 We must find ways to reengage these learners in pursuing postsecondary credentials and honor their prior learning, work experience, and valuable skills.