The adult learning population is burgeoning on college campuses across the country. As of 2020, about 37 percent of students enrolled in postsecondary institutions were adults over the age of 25, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) research.
Higher education institutions might want to devise or fine-tune their strategies for dealing with this significant student subset. Universities may want to look at the supports they can build into their programs to attract these learners and help these students succeed.
These students have very different needs from their younger classmates. They may have vastly differing demographic profiles and approaches to higher education, for instance. Adult learners experience some challenges that 18- to 22-year-old students don’t typically face. For instance, adults may have to juggle other responsibilities like a home, family or career, in addition to attending classes. They typically commute, and may appreciate the option to take courses online or in-person. And adult students also may have more trepidation about enrolling and succeeding in a higher education program than a teenaged student. Some may have finished part of a bachelor’s degree but dropped out for any number of reasons, others are starting fresh with a high school diploma but no postsecondary program experience.
According to a survey commissioned by Champlain College Online that polled more than 1,000 U.S. adults without degrees on their perception of higher education and online learning, about 60 percent of respondents said that they’re considered returning to school to complete a certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree. More than seven out of 10 who have considered returning to school said they have completed some college or an associate degree.
Here are four ways higher education institutions can support adult learners and help them deal with their challenges.
Help with funding a college program. The Champlain College Online study found that the top reason adults found for not going back to school is fear of being burdened by student debt. In fact, three-fourths of adults cited student loan debt as a significant barrier to returning to the classroom. Your school might offer scholarships or financial aid for this group. Alternatively, there are several grant sources for adult learners, according to collegescholarships.org. Federal education grants for adult students include the Federal Pell Grant, and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant programs. Many states fund targeted education grants for adults returning to college as well. In New York, for instance, the New York State Education Services Corporation, offers the College Access Challenge Grant for low-income adult learners.
Offer a dedicated department to help adult learners attain their academic goals. Purdue University, for instance, offers its Span Plan Nontraditional Student Services to meet the needs of student parents, adults who have delayed college enrollment and married students. Among the supports in place through this department is an academic scholarship and childcare assistance scholarship for nontraditional learners, information on the state’s Adult Student Grant and help selecting a major.
Give credit for life experience. Research from The Lumina Foundation found that giving college students credit for what they’ve already learned in life and from their jobs – prior learning assessment (PLA) – can save adult students up to $10,000 in tuition and a year of study. This kind of arrangement can help students complete their degrees faster and for less money. And this program also benefits institutions: On average, according to the research, adults who received PLA took 17.6 more credits on average at their institutions than those without, so there’s actually a net tuition gain. The University of Main at Augusta’s PLA program accepts credits by examination, portfolio review or external training review, for instance.
Offer flexible scheduling. Adult learners often have family responsibilities or jobs that can make it difficult to fit their life into a typical academic calendar. Flexible course schedules and compressed hybrid courses, as well as online courses, can help students navigate both their education and their lives.
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