Adult learners bring extraordinary skills and knowledge to the classroom, shaped by years of work, military service, community leadership, and personal growth. Yet all too often, higher education systems ask them to start from scratch — ignoring competencies they’ve already mastered.
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) changes that.
By formally recognizing and awarding college credit for learning achieved outside the traditional classroom, CPL helps adult students save time and money while boosting their confidence and momentum.
In a state like Michigan, where working-age adults are a critical part of efforts to raise educational attainment and fill talent gaps, CPL is not just a nice-to-have — it’s a must.
Why CPL Matters
Research shows that adult learners with CPL credits are far more likely to complete a degree than those without them. They save between nine and 14 months on their educational pathway and can reduce tuition costs by as much as $10,000. Beyond financial savings, CPL tells adult learners that their experiences have value and their skills count — a powerful message for students who may feel disconnected from the traditional college environment.
Michigan’s adult learners are often balancing work, family, and community responsibilities. They need pathways that respect what they already know while helping them grow new skills. CPL is a proven strategy to keep them engaged, supported, and moving forward toward completion.
Benefits for Institutions
Far from reducing enrollment, CPL actually supports stronger enrollment. Students who receive CPL credits typically take 17 more credits than those who do not, according to a landmark CAEL/WICHE study of over 230,000 students. These adult learners often become ambassadors for their colleges, sharing stories about how their prior experience was respected and validated. In addition to these enrollment supports, for community colleges, Michigan Reconnect also offers an $80 per CPL credit awarded for Reconnect students to help cover the costs of portfolio reviews or other assessments, making CPL even more accessible to returning adult students.
Institutions also benefit from improved retention, stronger relationships with employers, and greater alignment between educational offerings and workforce needs. In fact, CPL can help colleges build new connections with community-based organizations and businesses, creating a pipeline of motivated learners ready to advance.
But success requires intentional design. Effective CPL programs align with academic standards, connect clearly to program learning outcomes, and maintain a transparent and fair process. Faculty, staff, and campus leadership all play essential roles in making CPL work — and in promoting its benefits to prospective adult students.
Growing CPL Capacity in Michigan
Michigan is making real investments to expand CPL as part of a larger strategy to support adult learners.
First, the Michigan Center for Adult College Success, with the support of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), has embarked on a new initiative helping colleges and universities grow their CPL capacity. The MI-LEARN Design Lab is a collaborative effort to, among other curricular innovations, build consistent, high-quality CPL systems across the state. Through technical assistance, data tools, professional development, and peer learning, MI-LEARN gives institutions a framework for expanding CPL opportunities and aligning them with the needs of adult learners. Participating institutions are able to use CAEL’s proven Adult Learner 360 (AL360) assessment to identify strengths and challenges in serving adult students, including their current CPL offerings. This data-driven approach helps schools design more responsive programs, break down barriers, and improve outcomes.
Second, Detroit Drives Degrees, led by the Detroit Regional Chamber in partnership with CAEL, has also advanced CPL work by engaging employers, colleges, and community organizations in the Detroit region to align learning outcomes and credit for prior learning practices. This regional collaboration has helped identify local skills gaps and connect adult learners with CPL opportunities that shorten their educational journey (Detroit Drives Degrees CPL initiative).
Finally, the Michigan Community College Association, through a partnership with MiLEAP, has supported CPL pilots with Monroe County Community College, Delta College, and Mid-Michigan College. These pilots are testing innovative CPL practices including employer-driven assessments and competency-based approaches (MiLEAP CPL projects).
Building Momentum Through Partnership
Through the MI-LEARN Design Lab, Michigan institutions are gaining practical tools and a statewide community of practice to support CPL and adult learner success. CAEL’s Academy Model, which has been used in other states to drive systemic change, will guide Michigan’s approach, helping colleges build capacity while developing actionable plans for improvement.
Key supports include:
- Professional development for faculty and staff
- Guidance on developing and marketing CPL policies
- Technical assistance to align CPL with program outcomes
- Peer-sharing opportunities to identify and scale promising practices
By connecting these efforts across Michigan, MI-LEARN and CAEL will ensure that adult learners experience CPL as a consistent, fair, and empowering opportunity — not a patchwork system that leaves them frustrated.
To learn more about our resources, visit mcacs.talentfirst.net, email us at thecenter@talentfirst.net, or visit with us during our virtual drop-in office hours.
