Returning to college can open new professional and personal possibilities at any stage of life
CHARLESTON, IL (08/31/2026) For many adults who began college but did not complete a degree, leaving school was less about academics than it was about everything else happening in life at the time. A new national survey offers a reminder that stepping away from college does not have to mean closing the door permanently.
Study.com‘s 2026 Finish Your Degree: New Survey on College Stopouts found that 80% of adults surveyed who left college without earning a degree attributed their decision to full-time work, cost, or family responsibilities. Academic challenges accounted for just 2% of respondents’ reasons for stopping out. So for adults who have thought about returning, the message is simple: It may be worth starting the conversation.
“Finishing a degree is not simply about receiving a diploma,” said EIU Interdisciplinary Studies Program coordinator Kimberly Redfern. “For many returning students, it is about expanding professional possibilities, gaining confidence, accomplishing a long-held personal goal or creating new options for the future.”
Study.com‘s survey found that 55% of adults who returned to college said the desire for higher pay was a reason for reenrolling, while 41% cited a personal sense of unfinished business. Another 26% said encouragement from family influenced their decision to return.
Redfern shared that the professional advantages associated with higher levels of educational attainment are well documented. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, full-time workers age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree had median weekly earnings of $1,578 in 2025, compared with $966 for workers whose highest credential was a high school diploma. Bachelor’s degree holders also had a lower unemployment rate in 2024 than high school graduates.
“These figures represent national medians, not guarantees,” Redfern noted. “Earnings vary considerably by occupation, industry, experience, location and individual circumstancesbut it’s clear a bachelor’s degree is a monumental factor that can influence a person’s career and lifetime earning trajectory.”
Importantly, Redfern noted, the potential benefits of education extend far beyond a paycheck. Higher educational attainment is associated with a range of positive health and social outcomes as well. Federal data consistently show an association between educational attainment and general health and safety, with recent CDC data indicating lower rates of chronic health conditions among adults who have earned bachelor’s degrees.
“These relationships are complex and reflect many factors-including income, employment, access to resources and community conditions,” Redfern said, “but they reinforce the broader value of educational opportunity, and point to why expanding access to education can be valuable for individuals, their families, and their communities.”
For adults considering a return to college, the research is clear: The sooner, the better. Waiting indefinitely can make the returning to college more difficult. Study.com‘s survey found that 60% of respondents who returned to college did so within one to three years of stopping out, while only 3% returned after being away for 10 years or more. The survey also found that 69% of returning students lost at least some previously earned credits when they returned or transferred institutions.
“These findings don’t suggest there’s a deadline, or that it’s ever ‘too late’ to return-they simply illustrate why exploring available options sooner can be worthwhile,” Redfern said.
“Eastern Illinois University’s Interdisciplinary Studies program works with students to explore degree-completion options that connect previous college coursework with individual interests, professional goals, and educational needs,” she advised. “Previous college experience can be an important part of that conversation. So can past professional experience, military service, family responsibilities, and the knowledge gained through years of work and life outside the classroom. Based on their individual backgrounds, EIU’s Interdisciplinary Program allows students to create their own degree path by choosing courses that most closely align with career, professional, and personal needs and goals. That type of functional flexibility is a standout feature of EIU’s IDS program.”
For adults who have wondered whether returning to college is still possible, EIU invites them to start the discussion.
“We want these conversations to be an opportunity for people to explore their options, ask questions and gather information – not make a commitment,” Redfern said. “Ultimately, the decision is theirsour goal is to help adult learners understand what’s possible and determine whether returning to college is right for them, their families, and their futures.”
Anyone interested in learning more about Eastern Illinois University’s Interdisciplinary Studies program can visit EIU Interdisciplinary Studies or call (217) 581-5618.
##
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, community-based services and opportunities, visit Eastern Illinois University or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.