National University Awards Degrees to Students Who Didn’t Know They Qualified

The initiative launched by the San Diego-based institution identified 146 former students who left the university between 2022 and 2025 with enough credits to graduate. After a targeted outreach campaign, 56 people responded, leading to the conferral of 33 associate degrees. To clear the path for these students, the university erased outstanding balances under $2,000 for 19 recipients, ensuring that financial friction did not prevent the recognition of past labor.

Dr. Mark D. Milliron, president and CEO of National University, emphasized that the institution’s responsibility to its learners persists even after they exit the classroom. By shifting the focus toward identifying and validating existing credits, the university aims to address the "some college, no degree" crisis affecting millions of Americans. Data from Trellis Strategies indicates that most students leave due to financial, family, or work pressures rather than academic failure. For many of these individuals, receiving a long-overdue degree serves as a catalyst for professional advancement or a bridge back to higher education.