Minnesota Launches Partnership Creating New Pathways for Stopped-out Students to Earn a College Credential

In partnership with ReUp Education, Minneapolis College, St. Paul College, and Metro State University are establishing new opportunities for Minnesotans to find their way back to college.

MINNEAPOLIS, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ReUp Education, a national leader in reenrolling college stopouts, has launched a new partnership with Minneapolis College, Saint Paul College, and Metropolitan State University to help adult learners in the Twin Cities return to college, complete their degrees, and unlock new career opportunities. This initiative, funded by a grant from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration in the state, bringing together two community colleges and a four-year university to ensure students will not only have opportunities to complete an associate degree, but also pursue a bachelor's degree.

"For full-time workers, parents, first-generation, and adult learners, stopping out doesn't mean they don't want to finish their degree—it means life got in the way," said Carrie Carroll, Associate Vice President of Strategic Enrollment at Metro State University. "With this initiative, we're not just helping students return to college—we're giving them the tools, resources, and encouragement they need to persist, complete their associate degrees, and take that next step toward a four-year credential."

According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the state of Minnesota has more than 600,000 residents who have some college but no credential (SCNC, or "stopouts"). Many of these learners have sunk time and cost into their pursuit of education beyond high school, but have not benefited from the potential of a credential or degree of value. With additional initiatives like Minnesota's North Star Promise, the state has committed to continually provide Minnesotans with innovative pathways, and this new pilot program will further deliver on that commitment.

"Many of these students are juggling jobs, families, and financial responsibilities, making it difficult to get back to school without the right support," said Heidi Aldes, Dean of Enrollment Management at Minneapolis College. "We are excited to partner with ReUp and our other local institutions to provide learners with the coaching and guidance they need to re-enroll and achieve their career goals."

"Re-engaging learners who left college without completing their degree furthers our mission to serve the needs of Minnesotans," said Greg Mellas, Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts at Saint Paul College. "This new program demonstrates the power of combining efforts and expertise across Twin Cities higher education institutions to advance regional prosperity through degree attainment and a well-educated workforce."

Through this partnership, ReUp will provide its market-leading data analytics and technology with dedicated outreach and live coaching to support students who have stopped out of Minneapolis College and Saint Paul College, helping them re-enroll, persist, and earn their associate degrees. From there, students will have opportunities to transition to Metro State University to pursue a bachelor's degree and further align their education with their career and professional aspirations. This collaboration in Minnesota offers a new model for how two-year and four-year institutions can work together to reengage adult learners and improve degree attainment rates.

"This partnership is about more than just bringing students back—it's about helping them move forward," said Terah Crews, CEO of ReUp Education. "This pilot has the potential to create a model for how communities can come together to build stronger, more accessible pathways to higher education for all learners – not just those right out of high school – and we are eager to support them in this new effort."

As the higher education landscape shifts to meet workforce demands and demographic changes, ReUp continues to expand its partnerships with institutions and states across the country. Through personalized coaching and data-driven insights, ReUp specializes in identifying and addressing the unique barriers adult learners face when returning to college. More than 1.3 million stopout learners across ReUp's 140 institutional partnerships have access to ReUp's reenrollment platform and coaching.

For more information on ReUp Education, visit http://www.reupeducation.com.

About ReUp Education
ReUp Education is the industry leader in reengaging and supporting students who have stopped out of college. By combining personalized coaching with data analytics, ReUp partners with institutions and states to bring learners back to higher education and help them successfully complete their degrees. Since its founding in 2015, ReUp has reenrolled over 48,000 learners and helped institutions realize more than $156 million in additional revenue.

About Minneapolis College
Minneapolis College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and offers students more than 100 liberal arts, career, and technical programs designed to prepare them for good jobs in high-demand professions or to transfer to a four‐year college or university. Located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, nearly 10,000 students enroll annually in credit and non-credit programs. For additional information, visit minneapolis.edu.

About Metro State University
Founded in 1971, Metro State University, a member of Minnesota State, is the Twin Cities' public, urban, comprehensive state university providing lifelong learning and competitive academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate programs and more than 25 graduate degrees. In 2022, Metro State ranked 22nd in the nation and first in Minnesota on CollegeNet's Social Mobility Index, which measures colleges' and universities' success in elevating students from low-income strata into the middle class within five years of graduation. To learn more, visit metrostate.edu.

About Saint Paul College
Saint Paul College, a comprehensive community and technical college, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities. Located in the heart of Minnesota's capital, Saint Paul College offers an impressive range of 54 associate degree programs and 74 career-focused certificate and diploma options—accessible, flexible pathways designed to meet diverse needs and goals. Founded in 1910, Saint Paul College is the oldest college in the Minnesota State System. With 65% of the student body identifying as students of color, it is also the most diverse school in the state. To learn more, visit https://www.saintpaul.edu/.

SOURCE ReUp Education