Illustration: Chloe Cushman

Richard Fishburn wants to finish his college degree. But those dreams are on hold until he pays an overdue tuition bill that has ballooned to thousands more than he originally owed.

Public colleges have sent hundreds of thousands of students around the country to private debt collection agencies, and the spiraling debt held there now totals more than half a billion dollars. For many students, the financial burden makes it impossible for them to return to college and earn degrees that could get them good jobs. 

More than 36 million Americans can claim some college but no degree. Luke Evans is one of them. With more than 60 credits to his name, Evans’ story illustrates many of the pressures—and some of the solutions—to college attrition.

There are many reasons why students stop short of completing their degrees, but colleges can take steps to help their students make it to graduation. This includes early career guidance, clear transfer pathways, accessible gateway courses, and more flexible degree plans.   

Community colleges have long been seen as an opportunity for students of all backgrounds to earn a degree or credential. But those same students, especially students of color, have been some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. And many have had to drop out.

Now, college administrators are hoping to get these students back on track, connecting them to free tuition programs, transportation, financial assistance for child care, mental health counseling, and more.