The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees voted in January to revive the Complete 2 Compete program, which helps adults who have completed some college courses but did not graduate. The program was originally launched in 2017 and ended in 2025 due to funding issues.
Under the new plan, the program will operate under a decentralized structure. Some of the state’s eight public universities will develop and run their own versions of the adult degree completion initiative. These universities will set their own requirements, curricula, and student recruitment strategies. Adults who complete the program will earn a bachelor’s degree, officials said.
The revival comes as Mississippi lawmakers and colleges seek ways to increase degree and credential attainment among residents. About 12% of Mississippi residents have some college experience but no degree, according to officials.
Melissa Temple, director of nursing education at the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, told trustees that Complete 2 Compete helped 4,119 adult learners finish their degrees. The program initially received $3.5 million in funding from the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The funds provided grants of $500 per semester, later increased to $1,000, to help cover tuition, supplies, and prior student debt.
In fall 2024, community colleges withdrew from the program, leaving only public universities participating, officials said. The courses are primarily offered online to accommodate adult learners, said Lisa Rieger of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Experts note that degree completion benefits society. However, Josh Wyner of the Aspen Institute emphasized that the value of degrees varies. A 2024 report found that more than half of recent bachelor’s graduates are underemployed one year after graduation, and nearly half remain underemployed after a decade.
Wyner stressed the importance of aligning degrees with labor market needs. Programs that help students choose courses linked to job opportunities tend to be the most successful, he said.
