DENVER — When students drop out of college, it usually doesn't come with a degree — but this isn't always the case. The Metropolitan State University of Denver recently told thousands of students who didn't graduate that earning a degree is still possible, even without having to go back to school.
As a result of COVID, a state law was created in 2021 that allows four-year colleges to award two-year associate's degrees to students who dropped out beyond the halfway point but earned at least 70 credit hours. The law applies to students who stopped going to college as far back as 2012.
This law is one of the things MSU Denver included in a recent email to 3,900 of its former students who didn't earn enough credits for a bachelor's degree.
"The one that we just did was everybody who had stopped out from 2012 to the end of 2021," said Shaun Schafer, MSU Denver's interim deputy provost.
The term Schafer used — "stopped out" — refers to students who haven't been back in school for at least three semesters, counting the summer.
"Those with associate's degrees are making more than those that just have a high school diploma," Schafer said. "And I mean, so right there, it has a value."
About 25,000 students at the following universities are eligible for an immediate associate's degree:
- Colorado State University
- Colorado State University - Pueblo
- University of Colorado - Denver
- Fort Lewis College
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
- University of Northern Colorado
MSU Denver's email also told its former students about a program offering $1,000 in scholarship per semester to come back to finish their bachelor's degree.
"So we sent our initial batch out the other day, and we know from open reports, about 700 people opened up the emails," Schafer said. "And yesterday alone, we had 130 people reach back out to us with, 'Hey, how do I reenroll for spring?'"
Half of the students who opened the email have done nothing yet — but 32% said they want their associate's degree, and 18% asked for more information about going back to school.
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