New survey data from StraighterLine shows 78 percent of college stop-outs would return if offered free courses, prompting the biggest giveaway in StraighterLine history
ARLINGTON, Va., July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The first ever 'Finish Your Degree Day' will take place on Aug. 6. The day is designed to encourage the more than 40 million American stop-outs—adults who started college but did not finish—to return to the classroom.
StraighterLine CEO Matt Hulett reveals what’s stopping learners from finishing college -- and how the Finish Your Degree movement is helping them finally move forward.
StraighterLine offers a more affordable way to earn college credit online -- on your schedule, at your pace. Credits transfer to 3,000+ colleges, including 180+ partner schools.
50% of college stopouts say not having a degree has cost them over $40K in lost income each year. The Finish Your Degree movement is designed to help change that.
It’s never too late to graduate. Whether you’re picking up where you left off or starting fresh, Finish Your Degree Day is here to help you take that next step -- on your terms.
Most college stopouts still want that degree -- 74% say they’re motivated to finish. Finish Your Degree Day offers them the resources and support to finally make it happen.
A new StraighterLine poll found that cost was the number one contributing factor in college stop-outs not completing their education. A staggering 78 percent of stop-outer survey respondents would reportedly go back to school if offered free college-level credits. StraighterLine is supporting their return by offering the equivalent of a free semester of college to anyone who signs up for their online learning program on 'Finish Your Degree Day'.
"I'm incredibly proud that this campaign will help so many people finish their degrees, many of whom stopped out of college for no fault of their own," said StraighterLine CEO Matt Hulett. "At StraighterLine, we want to help people write the next chapter of their success story, especially given the fact that college graduation is still the single greatest accelerator of wage growth. This campaign has the real opportunity to reignite learners' potential and bring hope to those who may feel that completing college is out-of-reach."
According to StraighterLine's new research, nearly 3 in 4 stop-outs (73 percent) believe not finishing their degree had caused them to miss out on a job they really wanted. Of the stop-outs surveyed, 67 percent said not finishing their degree feels like a personal failure and over a third reported having gone so far as to hide the fact that they did not have a college degree from others.
Dr. Melanie Glennon, Chief Learning Officer at StraighterLine, believes 'Finish Your Degree Day' will empower college stop-outs to reclaim their potential.
"Stop-outs who come to StraighterLine aren't learners who left college because they lacked the will, but rather because life got in the way," explains Glennon. "As someone who has spent my entire career in education, I feel a deep responsibility to these learners. By giving them an accessible and free way to opt back into their education, we're offering stop-outs a meaningful learning experience on their own terms."
First-time StraighterLine students who enroll on Aug. 6 will receive four months of free access to select courses. No credit card is required to take advantage of this offer. To learn more about the giveaway and to claim your free college credits via StraighterLine, visit finishyourdegree.org.
About StraighterLine StraighterLine is the market-leading provider of in-demand online education, empowering learners to achieve their goals faster through flexible, affordable, and high-quality courses. We create opportunities for career advancement through accessible education, serving over 200,000+ learners annually. StraighterLine's portfolio features industry-leading brands providing a wide range of educational solutions, including CCEI and ProSolutions Training, premier providers of early childhood education credentials and professional development; Preppy, a leader in professional certification programs that accelerate career growth; and StraighterLine, the trusted choice for transferable online college courses. For more information, visit: www.straighterline.com.
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