For millions of Americans, the road to higher education is anything but straightforward. Life happens—financial strain, family responsibilities, career shifts—and college dreams are often put on hold. Today, more than 43 million adults in the U.S. have some college credit but no degree.
At Calvin University, these learners aren’t an afterthought. They’re central to the university’s vision for the future.
“Communities with higher adult educational attainment see economic growth, healthier populations, greater civic engagement, and social stability,” said Abbie Lipsker, Calvin’s director of continuing studies. “But beyond the benefits to society, adult learners bring an incredible depth of experience and motivation to the classroom.”
Recognizing the need for accessible pathways back to higher education, Calvin has launched new degree completion programs in applied leadership and human services. These programs, designed specifically for adults who started college but never finished, remove traditional barriers by offering flexible schedules, online coursework, and personalized support.
Calvin’s commitment to adult learners isn’t new. It’s a return to its roots. “We started as an adult-serving institution, so it’s in our DNA,” Lipsker explained. “Expanding degree completion isn’t just about growing enrollment. It’s about living out our mission: welcoming learners of all ages to think deeply, act justly, and live wholeheartedly.”
Unlike traditional students, adult learners come ready to apply their education immediately. “They have hooks on the wall to hang their learning on,” Lipsker said. “They bring lived experience into the classroom and take new knowledge directly into their workplaces, families, and communities.”
Calvin’s expansion into adult education builds on a decade of investment in nontraditional learning. The university’s Calvin Prison Initiative has provided accredited degree programs to incarcerated students since 2015. More recently, Calvin began offering several professional microcredentials to adult learners in the community. One of the offerings equips employers to hire and retain formerly incarcerated individuals. These efforts reflect the university’s belief that education should be accessible, transformative, and lifelong.
For adult learners who thought their chance at a degree had passed, Calvin is proving otherwise. “Education is something no one can ever take away from you,” Lipsker said, “and these programs create pathways for individuals to realize their potential and fulfill their calling.”
With these new degree completion programs, Calvin University is not just breaking down barriers; it’s opening doors, restoring opportunities, and reaffirming that learning is for everyone.
