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Sarah Nzau, & Tiffany Thai  \nCenter on Education & Labor & Education Policy  \nLast edited on November 26, 2025 at 11:45 a.m. EST  \nAcknowledgments  \nWe would like to thank Iris Palmer for her project leadership and editing, Edward Conroy for his contributions, and our interviewees and external reviewers. We appreciate our Princeton GradFutures Fellow, Jordan Arnold, and her support with interviews and analysis. We thank Sabrina Detlef for her copyediting support and Katherine Portnoy, Amanda Dean, and Natalya Brill for their communication and production support.  \n[newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/ 2](newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/ 2)  \nAbout the Author(s)  \nIvy Love is a senior policy analyst in the Center on Education & Labor at New America, where her work focuses on community colleges, their students, and federal and state policies that support them.  \nSarah Nzau is a Policy Analyst at New America’s Center on Education and Labor.  \nTiffany Thai is a Policy Analyst for the Center on Education and Labor team at New America.  \nAbout New America  \nWe are dedicated to renewing the promise of America by continuing the quest to realize our nation’s highest ideals, honestly confronting the challenges caused by rapid technological and social change, and seizing the opportunities those changes create.  \nAbout Center on Education & Labor  \nThe Center on Education & Labor is dedicated to restoring the link between education and economic mobility by advancing policies that strengthen the key social institutions necessary to connect them.  \nAbout Education Policy  \nWe use original research and policy analysis to help solve the nation’s critical education problems, crafting objective analyses and suggesting new ideas for policymakers, educators, and the public at large.  \nAbout Community Colleges  \nThe New America community college team works to advance racial and gender equity through community-engaged research, storytelling, convening, policy analysis, and advocacy. We believe  \nan equitable community college ecosystem can advance educational access & completion, economic security, and personal fulfillment.  \n[newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/ 3](newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/ 3)  \nContents  \nIntroduction 6  \nResearch Methodology 7  \nStrategies Used by Community Colleges and Third-Party Vendors 9  \nOutreach, Recruitment, and Coaching 10  \nAcademic Support and Flexibility 12  \nFinancial Incentives and Support 14  \nStrategies Used by States 16  \nFunding for Institutions and Adult Learners 17  \nSupport for Adults Navigating Re-Enrollment 18  \nOutreach and Marketing to Adult Learners 19  \nTechnical Assistance for Colleges 20  \nIntegrating Diverse Funding Sources 20  \nBalancing State Coordination and Local Nuance 22  \nSustaining Adult Re-Enrollment Strategies 24  \n[newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/ 4](newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/ 4)  \nContents Cont'd  \nAreas for Further Research 26  \nConclusion 28  \n[newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/ 5](newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/ 5)  \nIntroduction  \nApproximately 36.8 million Americans aged 18–64 have some college  \nexperience but no credential.1 Community colleges, which have faced the  \nsharpest enrollment declines among institutions of higher education since the COVID-19 pandemic, play a critical role in re-engaging adult learners.2","cbCainDfz4AFZal4","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCainDfz4AFZal4","pdf",1163799,34,"English","# Introduction\n# Research Methodology\n# Strategies Used by Community Colleges and Third-Party Vendors\n## Outreach, Recruitment, and Coaching\n## Academic Support and Flexibility\n## Financial Incentives and Support\n# Strategies Used by States\n## Funding for Institutions and Adult Learners\n## Support for Adults Navigating Re-Enrollment\n## Outreach and Marketing to Adult Learners\n## Technical Assistance for Colleges\n## Integrating Diverse Funding Sources\n## Balancing State Coordination and Local Nuance\n## Sustaining Adult Re-Enrollment Strategies\n# Areas for Further Research\n# Conclusion","[{\"question\":\"How many U.S. adults are affected by the “some college experience but no credential” gap?\",\"answer\":\"Approximately 36.8 million Americans aged 18–64 have some college experience but no credential, highlighting a major need for re-enrollment pathways.\"},{\"question\":\"Why do community colleges play a critical role in adult re-enrollment?\",\"answer\":\"Community colleges are described as a primary access point to higher education for adults facing barriers, especially students of color and those from low-income backgrounds.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the Bringing Adults Back project, and what output did it produce?\",\"answer\":\"New America launched the Bringing Adults Back project in 2021 with six community colleges to design and implement re-enrollment strategies, culminating in a playbook with strategies and recommendations to increase adult enrollment.\"}]","Strategies for Re-Enrolling Adult Learners at Community Colleges - December 2025 | PDF",1792057389,86]