As recently as 2016, 70 percent of high school graduates were still going straight to college. That figure is now 62 percent. What factors contribute to this new enrollment reality, and how can we guarantee that students continue to have access to opportunities?

On this podcast, policy expert and researcher Terrell Dunn offers her thoughts on today's enrollment picture, the importance of exposing students to diverse career paths, and the potential benefits and challenges of integrating work experiences into the college curriculum.

A new white paper from the Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice highlights the limited potential for community college students and adults with some college credit to obtain a degree because of what it says is a higher education system that has not fully embraced their varied pathways to completion.

In response, some institutions are prioritizing student success by embracing broader transfer credit acceptance and cost-reduction practices, resulting in improved enrollment, retention, and completion rates.

The path to college has not been easy for Marcos Farias. As a first-generation student, he often found himself struggling to navigate college life. During his second semester at a community college, he failed two classes and dropped out.

Despite continued obstacles and challenges, Farias didn't give up on college. Today, he's preparing to graduate and ready to pay it forward.