Oklahoma Students Stopout: Why Aren't They Coming Back?

In the vast expanse of Oklahoma, a silent crisis brews amongst college students. With over 413,000 adults aged 18 to 65 opting out of their educational pursuits—known as“stopouts”—the state ranks poorly, coming in behind over 40 others in terms of getting these individuals back into class. While initiatives like the Reach Higher program aim to encourage returning students, the numbers tell a stark story of a nearly 14% drop in reenrollment this year.

Angela Caddell from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education emphasizes the importance of targeting this group to boost the state’s educational attainment and workforce. Many of these stopouts are grappling with real-life responsibilities, including childcare and demanding jobs, creating barriers to their return. Programs like ShowWhatYouKnowOK.org offer pathways to explore how their prior college credits can be used, making alignment with degrees a bit clearer.

The success stories, like that of Lynaea McGee, showcase that returning to school as an adult while managing a full-time job and family can be done. With two associate degrees in sight, she embodies resilience in challenging circumstances. It’s clear—Oklahoma’s struggle with stopouts represents both a challenge and an opportunity to reshape the narrative around adult education. When the dust settles, will this call to action be heeded? Or will the trend of stopouts continue to haunt the educational landscape?