Nearly 42 million Americans have attended some college without earning a degree, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. These students paused their studies for a patchwork of reasons, including academic challenges, family obligations, and financial instability. ACE member Morgan State University is dedicated to helping as many of these learners as possible return to school and graduate.Morgan’s College of Interdisciplinary & Continuing Studies (CICS), launched in 2022, serves adults returning to higher education through an initiative called Morgan Completes You. CICS offers 18 degree programs—eight bachelor’s, five master’s, and five doctoral programs. Rather than adapting its traditional programs, Morgan built these programs from scratch to meet adult learners’ needs. Enrollment in CICS reached 162 students in fall 2024, and leaders of the college hope to see it grow to 350 students by this fall.
“Ensuring the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible is more than a commitment; it is the bedrock of who we are as an institution,” Morgan President David K. Wilson said when announcing the initiative. “Morgan Completes You presents a navigable path to degree completion for so many adult learners who are negotiating real life in the real world.”
Flexibility is the essence of Morgan Completes You. Courses are offered online and in person, with options at night and on weekends. Students apply for free and pay in-state tuition regardless of where they live. Morgan accepts up to 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree and also awards credit for work experience. All programs in CICS are interdisciplinary, which means students can receive credit for a broader range of prior learning and coursework than they would in a traditional program.
Students completing bachelor’s degrees must enter with at least 60 credits and a 2.0 GPA, while master’s students must have a bachelor’s degree, at least 15 master’s-level credits, and a 3.0 GPA. Morgan Completes You PhD programs are for students who have completed their doctoral coursework but not their dissertation.
Every student in CICS is matched with an advisor who helps them design and follow a personalized degree path. Advisors help students develop a schedule that fits their life and a curriculum that suits their interests and goals. They provide a critical layer of support for learners who are often juggling school, work, and family.
“We have advisors trained in and passionate about working specifically with adult students,” Nicholas Vaught, former assistant dean for academics and student success at CICS, told The EvoLLLution. “And we keep the advising caseload pretty low for advisors, which allows them to check in on students repeatedly throughout the semester to ask about academics, kids, family, jobs to really support the whole student.”
The interdisciplinary nature of CICS’ programs not only expands flexibility for students academically—it also expands their professional opportunities. The programs encourage students to blend knowledge and skills from multiple spheres, an increasingly vital skill in an interconnected world. CICS’ degree offerings also align with employers’ needs, preparing students to amplify their contributions at work and transition into high-demand roles.
Michael Brice, who is studying interdisciplinary technology services while running a business and serving as a full-time pastor, is grateful for CICS’ versatility.
“The program gives me options, and that’s what we need—more choices for our futures,” he told Morgan.
Programs like Morgan Completes You, which produces more confident and versatile learners and workers, exemplify how higher education builds America.