National University in San Diego launched its Dissertation Completion Pathway program Wednesday to help community college faculty, staff and administrators complete their doctoral degrees and shed their A.B.D.—all but dissertation—status.

An estimated 40 to 50 percent of doctoral students in the United States don’t complete their degrees, which comes at a cost to students and their institutions.

Students who take on debt and devote years to studying their topics but don’t finish their dissertations don’t have the earnings and opportunities that come with a doctoral degree, including a 25 to 35 percent earnings premium compared to master’s degree holders. For institutions, high noncompletion rates mean lost talent and a smaller pool of research and teaching professionals.

NU’s new dissertation pathway aims to close that gap by recognizing prior academic work and offering bridge courses, faculty mentorship and personalized support to help students make a plan to finish their dissertation, according to a news release from the university. Upon completion of the bridge courses, students are eligible to enroll in one of NU’s doctoral programs, including in the fields of education, psychology, business administration, health administration and cybersecurity. 

The university has partnered with multiple two-year institutions, including City Colleges of Chicago, Maricopa Community Colleges, San Diego Community College District and Dallas College.  

“We see ABD students as scholars-in-waiting who simply need the right scaffolding and encouragement to finish,” Gerardo de los Santos, vice president for community college relations at National University, said in the release. “For many, especially community college educators, staff, and administrators, the barriers to completion—balancing work, family, and financial pressures—mirror those faced by their students. Helping them complete their dissertations is about closing the final gap in a journey they’ve already invested years in—and ultimately strengthening the colleges and communities they serve.”