-- Approximately 36.8 million U.S. adults aged 18-64 hold some college credits but no credential, a population that continues to grow each year according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Addressing this overlooked opportunity, Newman University has released a guide that examines the financial and career benefits available to working adults who complete their degrees, particularly those who already have transferable credits. The guide arrives at a moment when only 2.7 percent of this group re-enrolls in any given academic year, leaving millions of Americans without access to the earnings premium and job security that credentials provide.
More information is available at https://newmanu.edu/academics/adult-studies.
The earnings gap between stopping out and finishing is substantial and immediate. Adults aged 25 and older with some college but no degree earn a median of approximately $1,020 per week, while bachelor's degree holders earn $1,543 weekly-a difference of roughly $520 each week, or $27,000 annually, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the course of a year, that gap compounds into a significant financial penalty for those who left college before completing a credential, even though many invested considerable time and money in their education.
When viewed across a full career, the financial stakes become even clearer. The median college graduate earns about $1.2 million more over a lifetime than someone with only a high school diploma, even after adjusting for typical age-earnings patterns, according to research from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Economic analyses estimate that the annual return on investment for a bachelor's degree is about 10 percent, outpacing the roughly 7 percent long-run return of the stock market. Newman University's guide helps adults understand this return on investment in practical terms, breaking down how finishing a degree functions as one of the most competitive financial decisions available to working learners.
Averages, however, mask important variation that matters for individual decision-making. Earnings premiums differ significantly depending on program choice, field of study, institution quality, and personal circumstances such as remaining years in the workforce and existing debt. The guide addresses these nuances by helping adults evaluate whether finishing is worthwhile for their specific situation; it considers factors such as program cost, the likelihood of completion, alignment between their chosen major and labor market demand, and access to flexible learning formats. Newman University emphasizes strategies that maximize return on investment: credit transfer policies, part-time and online program options, and pathways to use employer tuition support.
Beyond weekly paychecks and lifetime income, degree completion offers measurable improvements in career stability and access to professional opportunities. Bachelor's degree holders face an unemployment rate of just 2.5 percent, compared with 3.8 percent for those with some college experience but no credential, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Completing a degree also provides access to roles in healthcare, education, and management that require credentials, along with greater likelihood of employer-provided health insurance and retirement benefits. Newman's guide acknowledges that working adults value more than earnings alone-confidence in their skills, the ability to serve as role models for their families, eligibility for professional licensure, and alignment with personal missions all factor into the decision to return to school.
The guide is now available from Newman University as a practical resource designed specifically for the 36.8 million adults in the some college, no degree category. It covers essential topics including strategies for transferring existing credits, field-specific earnings data to inform major selection, cost-benefit frameworks for evaluating program options, and descriptions of support services tailored to adult learners balancing work and family responsibilities. Newman University representatives note that finishing a degree remains both achievable and financially worthwhile for working adults, particularly those who can build on credits already earned and choose programs aligned with strong labor markets.
For more details, visit https://newmanu.edu/.
Contact Info:
Name: Clark Schafer
Email: Send Email
Organization: Newman University
Address: 3100 McCormick , Wichita, Kansas 67213, United States
Website: https://newmanu.edu/
Release ID: 89198729