How to re-engage and re-enroll stopped-out students at scale: Strategies that work 

Only 43% of students who enter bachelor’s programs graduate within the expected timeframe. (Source). 

This represents a significant global challenge and an unprecedented opportunity for higher education institutions worldwide. 

Stopped-out students aren’t failures; they are adults who faced barriers, made hard choices, and left college with earned credits that can still lead to completed credentials and meaningful life change. For enrollment leaders, registrars, and student success teams, re-engaging them goes beyond filling seats—it supports completion goals, advances equity, and builds a sustainable enrollment strategy that isn’t reliant only on traditional first-time freshmen. 

This comprehensive guide provides actionable, scalable strategies to re-engage and re-enroll stopped-out students—complete with data-driven frameworks, proven messaging scripts, and workflow templates. 

The stopped-out landscape and why it matters now 

Stop-out isn’t randomly distributed across student populations. According to a November 2025 report from the Community College Research Center (CCRC), nearly 40% of community college students do not return for their second year, with disproportionate impact on students of color, adult learners over 25, parents, and those balancing full-time employment. 

The reasons students leave are equally complex. Financial pressures, family caregiving responsibilities, health crises, employment demands, and lack of academic support all contribute—but notably, academic failure is rarely the primary cause. Most stopped-out students leave with good academic standing, which means they’re eligible to return and are positioned to succeed with the right support. 

Why stopped-out students matter to your institution 

For colleges and universities facing demographic headwinds and enrollment volatility, stopped-out students represent a strategic asset: 

• Lower acquisition costs: You’ve already invested thousands of dollars in recruiting, admitting, onboarding, and supporting these students. Re-engaging them costs a fraction of acquiring new students. 

• Higher completion probability: Students with substantial credits earned, are more likely to complete with the right support. They’re closer to the finish line and more motivated to cross it. 

• Revenue stability: Re-enrollment initiatives can offset declining traditional enrollments while diversifying your enrollment funnel beyond the increasingly competitive market. 

• Mission alignment: Serving stopped-out students directly advances equity, economic mobility, and workforce development goals central to your institutional mission. 

Yet despite these compelling reasons, most institutions lack systematic, scalable strategies to re-engage stopped-out students. Ad-hoc outreach, generic messaging, policy barriers, and insufficient tracking leave thousands of potential completers on the sidelines. 

Diagnose before you deploy: Understanding your stopped-out population 

Before launching any outreach campaign, you must understand who stopped out, why they left, when they departed, and what barriers stand between them and re-enrollment.

Poor segmentation leads to generic messaging that fails; precise diagnosis enables personalized, effective engagement.

Segment your stopped-out cohort with precision 

Start by extracting data from all students who left your institution in the past 1–5 years without completing a credential. Then segment this population across multiple dimensions: 

Credits earned: 

• 0–15 credits (exploratory phase) 

• 16–45 credits (mid-progress) 

• 46–75 credits (substantial progress) 

• 76+ credits (near completion) 

Students with 60+ credits should be your highest priority—they’re closest to completion and most likely to respond positively. 

Time away: 

• 1 semester (recent departure) 

• 2–4 semesters (moderate absence) 

• 5–8 semesters (extended absence) 

• 9+ semesters (long-term stop-out) 

Prioritize students who left within the past 1-2 years, as recency significantly impacts re-enrollment likelihood. Then expand to longer-term populations. 

Last enrollment term: 

• Spring leavers (target for fall return) 

• Summer leavers (target for spring return) 

• Fall leavers (target for following fall) 

Timing matters. Outreach should begin 4–6 months before your target enrollment term. 

Stop-out reason (if documented): 

• Financial hardship 

• Academic probation or dismissal 

• Family or health crisis 

• Employment opportunity 

• Transfer intent 

• Unknown/undocumented 

If reasons aren’t systematically captured in your CRM, consider adding exit surveys or post-withdrawal check-ins to future processes. 

Demographics and equity markers: 

• Age (traditional vs. adult learners) 

• Pell eligibility 

• First-generation status 

• Race and ethnicity 

• Part-time vs. full-time enrollment history 

• Parent/dependent status 

Tracking these markers ensures your strategies to re-engage stopped-out students advance equity rather than perpetuate disparities. 

Program and major: 

• Currently active programs 

• Discontinued or low-enrollment programs 

• High-demand fields with strong job markets 

Students in discontinued programs need pathway counseling before re-enrolling; students in high-demand fields benefit from messaging that emphasizes career ROI. 

Conduct a rigorous contactability audit 

The best outreach strategy fails if you can’t reach students. Before launching campaigns, audit your contact data quality: 

• Email deliverability: Run a bounce test on your email list. Expect 20–40% invalid email addresses for students who left 2+ years ago. Services like BriteVerify or ZeroBounce can validate emails before outreach. 

• Phone number accuracy: Test cell phone numbers for validity. Mobile numbers change frequently; students who left 3+ years ago may have 50%+ invalid numbers. Consider using data append services (LexisNexis, Experian) to refresh phone data. 

• Mailing addresses: Use USPS address verification tools to update or validate physical addresses. Direct mail remains surprisingly effective for adult learners, with open rates exceeding 70% for personalized, high-quality pieces. 

If your overall contactability rate is below 60%, invest in data hygiene before launching large-scale campaigns. You’ll waste your budget and erode morale by sending messages into the void. 

Establish baseline metrics 

Before you begin outreach, document: 

• Total stopped-out population size 

• Segmented cohort sizes 

• Current contactability rates by segment 

• Historical re-enrollment rates (if any past efforts exist) 

• Estimated revenue per re-enrolled student 

These baselines enable you to measure impact accurately and calculate ROI. 

Build a scalable engine: Strategies to re-engage and re-enroll stopped-out students 

Effective strategies to re-engage stopped-out students require more than good intentions. You need cross-functional collaboration, technology infrastructure, clear accountability, and disciplined execution. Here’s how to build your re-engagement engine. 

1. Assemble your cross-functional re-engagement team

Re-enrolling stopped-out students touches every part of your institution. A successful initiative requires coordinated effort across multiple departments. Use this RACI framework (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) to clarify roles: 

Campaign lead (typically VP of Enrollment or Marketing): 

• Responsible: Overall strategy, budget, timeline, reporting 

• Accountable: President, Provost, Board (for results) 

• Consulted: Student Success, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs 

• Informed: Faculty, Budget Office, Communications 

Data and analytics (Institutional Research or CRM Manager): 

• Responsible: Segmentation, list pulls, dashboard creation, ROI analysis 

• Accountable: Campaign lead 

• Consulted: Registrar, IT, Enrollment 

• Informed: Leadership team 

Outreach execution (Enrollment counselors, advisors, call center): 

• Responsible: Making calls, responding to inquiries, moving students through application process 

• Accountable: Campaign lead 

• Consulted: Advising, Student Success 

• Informed: Financial Aid, Registrar 

Policy and process (Registrar, Financial Aid): 

• Responsible: Removing re-admission barriers, streamlining processes, packaging aid 

• Accountable: Provost, CFO 

• Consulted: Legal, Compliance, IT 

• Informed: Campus community 

Meet weekly during campaign launch, then bi-weekly during execution. Clear communication prevents the “someone else’s job” trap that kills initiatives.

2. Design your technology stack and budget 

Your technology needs and costs scale with campaign ambition: 

Low budget ($5,000–$15,000): 

• Use existing CRM (like LeadSquared) for segmentation and tracking 

• Add SMS capability via Twilio or TextUs ($500–$1,500) 

• Manual calling by existing staff (reallocate 0.25–0.5 FTE) 

• Email through existing marketing platform 

• Free or low-cost design tools (Canva for graphics) 

Medium budget ($15,000–$50,000): 

• Marketing automation platform (LeadSquared, HubSpot, Marketo) for sophisticated nurture sequences 

• Data hygiene services for email and phone validation ($2,000–$5,000) 

• Dedicated re-engagement counselor (0.5–1.0 FTE, $25,000–$50,000) 

• Direct mail for high-priority segments ($3,000–$8,000 for design, printing, postage) 

• CRM enhancements or custom integrations 

High budget ($50,000–$150,000): 

• Predictive analytics platform (EAB, Civitas Learning, HelioCampus) to identify students most likely to respond 

• Dedicated outbound call center support 

• Comprehensive multi-channel campaign with video messaging, personalized URLs (PURLs), and retargeting ads 

• Full-time re-engagement specialist with support staff 

• Professional creative services for premium materials 

Start with a low- or medium-budget pilot targeting 500–1,000 students. Scale investment based on proven ROI. 

3. Implement the 8-step CRM cadence: Strategies to re-enroll stopped-out students

This proven sequence combines multi-channel persistence with strategic timing to maximize response and conversion rates. Implement it over 60–90 days before your target enrollment term: 

Day 0: Segment and load 

• Load segmented cohort into CRM with all personalized fields populated (first name, credits earned, last term enrolled, program, advisor) 

• Create custom fields for tracking each touch point 

• Assign ownership to specific counselors or teams 

Day 1: SMS #1 – The opening 

• Send brief, affirming text message 

• Include personalized element (name, credits, institution) 

• Clear, simple call-to-action 

• Track delivery and response rates immediately 

Check out LeadSquared’s Higher Education Text Messaging Platform 

Day 3: Email #1 – The invitation 

• Personalized email from a real person (advisor, dean, enrollment counselor) with photo 

• Acknowledge their credits and progress 

• Highlight flexible options and support available 

• Include clear next steps and multiple response options (reply, call, click) 

• Link to success stories and FAQs 

Helpful resources: 

Using CRM To Power Highly Personalized Marketing Campaigns   

Personalizing Higher Education Marketing Campaigns At Scale 

Day 7: Phone call #1 – The human connection 

• Live call from counselor, or professional voicemail drop if no answer 

• Reference previous messages 

• Ask open-ended questions, listen for barriers 

• Offer to answer questions without pressure 

• Log outcome in CRM (connected, voicemail, wrong number, etc.) 

Day 14: SMS #2 – The incentive 

• Time-sensitive offer (application fee waiver, priority registration, free transcript audit) 

• Create urgency without desperation 

• Direct link to simple next action 

Day 21: Email #2 – The social proof 

• Feature re-enrolled student success story with photo and quote 

• Address common concerns and objections through FAQ format 

• Provide financial aid overview and payment plan options 

• Include advisor contact information and calendar link for appointments 

Day 30–35: Direct mail (optional but powerful) 

• Personalized letter from president, dean, or program chair 

• Include credit summary or degree audit showing path to completion 

• High-quality design and paper stock (this stands out in a digital world) 

Day 45–60: SMS #3 and Phone call #2 – The final push 

• Final text message emphasizing deadline and expressing genuine hope they’ll return 

• Second phone call attempt 

• For engaged-but-not-yet-applied students, offer dedicated support to complete application 

Throughout this sequence, any student who responds immediately exits the automated cadence and enters a personalized, one-on-one nurture track with an assigned advisor. Speed to response matters—aim to contact responsive students within 2 hours during business hours. 

3. Create a decision tree for response handling 

When students respond, your team needs clear protocols for next steps: 

Interested and ready to apply: 

• Fast-track to simplified re-admission application 

• Assign dedicated advisor within 24 hours 

• Provide application completion support (upload transcripts, FAFSA status check) 

• Set expectation for decision timeline 

• Send congratulatory message when admitted 

Interested but has barriers: 

• Financial concerns → Route to financial aid counselor for emergency aid evaluation, payment plans, scholarship search 

• Academic concerns (probation, low GPA) → Route to academic advisor for fresh-start policy, course planning, academic support resources 

• Logistical concerns (schedule, childcare, technology) → Route to student success team for resource navigation 

• Program discontinued → Route to academic advisor for pathway exploration and credit transfer evaluation 

Maybe later / need more time: 

• Move to long-term nurture campaign (quarterly check-ins) 

• Share resources and success stories 

• Invite to campus events or virtual information sessions 

• Tag in CRM for future targeted outreach 

Not interested / do not contact again: 

• Honor preference immediately 

• Suppress from future automated campaigns 

• Update CRM with reason if provided 

• Maintain respectful tone in final acknowledgment message 

Messaging that moves adults to action

Adult learners are motivated by different factors than traditional 18-year-olds. Your messaging must reflect their lived realities, speak to their aspirations, and remove psychological barriers that make re-enrollment feel impossible. 

Core messaging principles

• Lead with empathy, not guilt: Shame doesn’t work. Messages like “Finish what you started” or “Don’t be a quitter” trigger defensiveness. Instead, try “Life happens. You’re not alone—and you’re closer than you think.” 

• Quantify the finish line: Vague encouragement fails. Specific, personalized data motivates. “You’re just 18 credits away from your degree” is exponentially more powerful than “Come back and complete your education”. 

• Eliminate institutional jargon: Replace “matriculation”, “reinstatement” and “good standing” with plain language. Use “re-enroll”, “simple steps to return”, and “eligible to start classes”. 

• Emphasize flexibility and relevance: Adult learners need to know how you’ll accommodate their work schedules, family responsibilities, and financial constraints. Highlight online options, evening and weekend classes, accelerated formats, and competency-based programs. 

• Use affirming, asset-based language: Frame students as capable, valuable, and worthy—not as problems to be fixed. Acknowledge their credits, skills, and life experience as strengths they bring to completion. 

• Make ROI crystal clear: Adult learners invest in education when they see clear returns. Include data on salary increases, job placement rates, and career advancement tied to credential completion. 

Sample outreach scripts 

SMS #1 (160 characters): “Hi [Name], you earned [X] credits toward your degree at [Institution]. We’d love to help you finish. Reply YES to learn about flexible options.

SMS #2 (time-sensitive): “[Name], we’ve waived your $50 application fee—just for you. Re-enroll by [date] and get priority registration for fall classes. Questions? Text or call [number].” 

SMS #3 (final outreach): “[Name], fall classes start [date]. You have everything you need to succeed—and we’re here to help. One quick call: [number]. Hope to see you in class.” 

Email #1 body: 

Hi [Name], 

Life took you in a different direction a few years ago—but your [X] credits at [Institution] are still here, waiting to work for you. 

Since you left, we’ve helped hundreds of students just like you finish their degrees with flexible schedules, one-on-one advising, and financial support. Many were surprised to learn they were just [Y] credits away from graduating. 

Here’s what happens next if you’re interested: 

1. Reply to this email, call me at [phone number], or schedule a 15-minute call here: [calendar link] 2. We’ll review your transcript together and create a personalized completion plan 3. You can apply for free (we’ve waived the application fee) by [date] 

You’ve already done the hard part—starting. Finishing is closer than you think. 

I’m here to help, 

[Advisor name] 
[Title] 
[Email] | [Phone] 

P.S. Check out [Student name]’s story—she came back after 3 years and graduated in 18 months while working full-time: [link to video or written story] 

Email #2 subject line: “How [Alumna Name] finished her degree while raising two kids” 

Email #2 body: 

Hi [Name], 

I wanted to share a story I think you’ll relate to. 

[Alumna name] left [Institution] in 2019 with 54 credits. She had a full-time job, two young kids, and $800 in unpaid balances. She thought finishing was impossible. 

But in 2022, she came back. We cleared her balance, she took evening classes online, and she graduated last spring with her [degree name]. Today she’s [new job title] earning [X% salary increase]. 

Here’s what she said: “[Quote about how returning was the best decision and how the support made it possible].” 

You can read her full story here: [link] 

If you’re wondering whether you can do it too, the answer is yes. Let’s talk about your path. 

[Advisor name]

[Contact information] 

Voicemail script (30 seconds): 

“Hi [Name], this is [Advisor name] from [Institution]. I see you earned [X] credits with us back in 2026—you’re more than halfway to a degree. I’d love to help you explore flexible options to finish, whether that’s online, evenings, or a custom schedule. No pressure, just possibilities. Call me back at [number] or text YES to [shortcode]. Thanks, and I really hope to hear from you soon.” 

A/B test everything

Don’t assume you know what resonates. Test: 

• Subject line tone (formal vs. conversational) 

• Call-to-action language (“Schedule a call” vs. “Let’s talk” vs. “Reply YES”) 

• Email length (short and punchy vs. detailed and comprehensive) 

• Sender (individual advisor vs. institutional role like “Dean” or “Registrar”) 

• Visual elements (photos, videos, infographics vs. text-only) 

Policy and financial levers that remove barriers 

Even perfect messaging fails if policy barriers block re-enrollment. Audit and fix these friction points before launching outreach. 

Streamline re-admission processes 

Eliminate or waive re-application fees: Charging stopped-out students to reapply sends the message that you don’t really want them back. Waive fees for all stopped-out students, or at minimum for those who left in good academic standing. 

Simplify re-admission applications: If a student was making satisfactory academic progress when they left, allow immediate re-enrollment with minimal paperwork—ideally a one-click “I’m ready to return” form that confirms contact information and intended major. 

Grant automatic good standing: Unless a student was dismissed for academic or conduct reasons, presume they’re eligible to re-enroll without petitions, committee reviews, or waiting periods. 

Clarify academic forgiveness policies: Publish clear, accessible information about: 

• GPA amnesty or fresh-start programs that allow students to retake failed courses 

• Academic bankruptcy policies that exclude old grades from GPA calculations 

• Grade replacement options 

• Requirements to exit probation 

Accelerate financial aid packaging 

Auto-package preliminary financial aid: Generate an estimated financial aid offer in your first outreach email. Even a rough estimate (“You may be eligible for up to $X in grants and $Y in loans”) reduces financial uncertainty that prevents students from engaging. 

Offer emergency grants and balance clearance: Small debts create massive barriers. Consider: 

• Institutional grants of $500–$2,000 to clear balances blocking re-enrollment 

• Payment plan options with zero interest 

• Last-dollar scholarships that cover the gap between financial aid and total cost 

Lumina Foundation research found that emergency grants of $1,000 can resolve outstanding balances for 60% of stopped-out students, removing their primary barrier to return. 

Create flexible payment plans: Partner with third-party providers (Nelnet, Flywire, Sallie Mae) to offer: 

• Zero-interest installment plans 

• Deferred payment options 

• Employer tuition reimbursement coordination 

Communicate policy changes clearly 

Create a downloadable “Your Return Checklist” that students can reference: 

• No application fee – We’ve waived it for returning students 
• Your credits still count – All credits earned here transfer to your degree 
• Flexible formats available – Online, evening, weekend, and accelerated options 
• Financial aid is ready – We’ll help you file FAFSA and package your aid 
• Academic advisor assigned – You’ll have dedicated support from day one 
• Balance assistance – If you have an outstanding balance, let’s talk about options 

Make this checklist prominent in all outreach materials and on your re-enrollment landing page. 

Stackable credentials and milestone certificates 

Allow students to earn meaningful credentials on the path to a degree: 

• Certificate after 15–18 credits (employable skill) 

• Associate degree after 60 credits (significant credential) 

• Bachelor’s degree after 120 credits (ultimate goal) 

Market these milestones in outreach: “Earn a career-ready certificate in just one semester, then keep going toward your degree.” 

This approach: 

• Provides psychological wins and motivation 

• Gives students a credential to put on their resume immediately 

• Reduces perceived risk (“I can start small and see how it goes”) 

• Creates natural commitment escalation points 

Reverse transfer partnerships 

Work with community colleges to retroactively award associate degrees to students who transferred to your institution before completing 60 credits at their original school. This: 

• Provides students with a meaningful credential 

• Boosts their confidence and motivation 

• Demonstrates institutional collaboration and student-centeredness 

• Often unlocks additional financial aid eligibility 

If you’re a community college, partner with universities to ensure your stopped-out students receive their associate degrees after transferring, creating momentum for bachelor’s completion. 

Conclusion: Turn stopped-out students into your strategic advantage 

Stopped-out students aren’t lost to higher education—they’re waiting for an institution that will meet them where they are, honor their prior learning, remove barriers, and provide real support for completion. 

With proven strategies to re-enroll stopped-out students at scale, your institution can: 

• Increase enrollment without the high cost of acquiring brand-new students 

• Advance equity by prioritizing underserved populations 

• Fulfill your mission of credential completion and economic mobility 

• Build sustainable enrollment pipelines independent of volatile traditional markets 

• Generate strong ROI that funds further expansion 

The data is clear: institutions that invest systematically in re-engagement see measurable results within a single term. What’s missing is institutional will and strategic execution. Start with a focused pilot. Measure rigorously. Scale what works.  

LeadSquared’s higher education CRM gives you the tools to do exactly that: automated multi-channel campaigns, real-time student tracking, customizable workflows for the 8-step cadence outlined in this guide, and dashboards that measure every KPI that matters. From segmentation to re-enrollment, LeadSquared helps enrollment teams turn stopped-out students into graduates. 

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