Bridge programs offer adults support for return to college

At 18 years old, Donovan Brendler found himself struggling to find his path in college and grappling with poor academic performance. Eight years later, in 2024, and with a greater sense of direction, he felt prepared to return to college. 

Donovan Brendler

That’s when Brendler learned about Badger Ready, a UW–Madison bridge program that provides a pathway to degree completion for adult students with academic barriers to traditional transfer admission. This discovery gave him a sense of empowerment and a renewed belief in his academic potential.

“Badger Ready was a gift that just fell in my lap,” Brendler said. “I didn’t know that the program existed, but an advisor suggested that I apply after realizing my grades would not allow me to be admitted directly as a transfer student.”

A story shared by millions of people

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s September 2025 release of Educational Attainment in the United States: 2024, approximately 40 million adults age 25 and older in the United States have some college credit but no degree. Many of these students, like Brendler, struggled academically in college earlier in life. Others dropped out due to financial or health challenges or because of personal or family circumstances. 

Bridge programs — also known as re-entry programs — provide personalized support and resources to help adult students overcome barriers to returning to college. While they share general similarities, they may vary in their specific academic goals and the barriers they aim to address. Students can find flexible bridge programs to fit their particular needs by searching online or connecting with admissions counselors or advisors.

UW–Madison’s Badger Ready program, for example, primarily serves local students who can attend courses in person. Participants must be 25 or older — or a veteran of any age — who have earned at least 24 college credits and have had a break in education of at least two years. The program also offers 1:1 enrollment and advising services to students before and during the program, as well as orientation and community-building events.

While Florida International University’s Adult Learners program also serves students 25 and older and offers customized advising, it also awards college credit to students for prior knowledge and expertise acquired through life and work experiences. Another bridge program, National University’s Fresh Start, specializes in supporting reentry students, as well as military members and veterans. This program also offers multiple options for debt management and forgiveness. 

Transforming lives, one student at a time

For Brendler, the transformation he’s experiencing through Badger Ready is inspiring — and fueling his academic journey.  

“The practical benefit for me is that a bachelor’s degree from UW–Madison allows me to become a licensed landscape architect,” said Brendler. “The personal impact has been much wider. I feel significantly better prepared to take on these academic challenges than I did the first time I attempted college. It feels rewarding to be learning and succeeding at UW and, honestly, healing to the kid who struggled so hard at 18 to figure out what he wanted to do.”

The Lifelong Learner is a monthly feature written by UW–Madison’s Continuing Studies staff. Autumn Sanchez, academic advising manager, can be reached at [email protected].

This post was originally published on the Wisconsin State Journal on October 19, 2025.

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