New research from Trellis Strategies identifies what most commonly keeps students from returning after stopping out—and what helps bring them back. The report finds that while most stopped-out students still believe a degree pays off, financial strain, life demands, and weak institutional connections reduce return rates. The findings point to a balance institutions may need to strike: maintaining academic value messaging while also addressing practical barriers that affect enrollment timing, credit momentum, and the ability to re-enroll. For student-success teams, the most actionable angle is the role of institutional ties—support structures, advising touchpoints, and re-entry pathways that keep students engaged and supported after they pause. The story adds to growing evidence that stop-out recovery programs need both financial and relationship-based components to convert intent into re-enrollment.