More than 36 million adults in the United States have some college experience but no credential. Many adult learners who consider returning encounter persistent affordability challenges that slow or prevent re-enrollment and completion.In a plenary session at the MHEC College Affordability Summit: FAFSA & Beyond, Elizabeth Looker, Joanna Dressel, and Toni-Anne Richards will explore the complex financial and structural barriers that shape adult learners’ educational journeys. Grounded in national and regional data, we will examine trends in adult learner engagement, enrollment, and economic mobility, as well as emerging practices and policy innovations. The session centers on the experience of adults returning to college after stopping out.

Drawing on examples from institutions, states, and regional collaboratives, this session will identify affordability barriers and actionable strategies across four key stages: preparation, enrollment, persistence, and completion.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how affordability barriers compound over time and why collaborative solutions are necessary. The session will highlight how state initiatives, regional partnerships, and communities of practice can create more seamless pathways for adult learners and scale impact.