By Freda Kpodo and Alea Akers

ADULT LEARNERS
In Higher Education
Adult learners are defined as individuals returning to
college at the age of 25 or older

FACTS ABOUT ADULT LEARNERS

DEMOGRAPHICS
WOMEN REPRESENT 53.2% OF
ADULT LEARNERS WHO HAVE
COMPLETED A COLLEGE DEGREE
MEN REPRESENT46.9% OF ADULT
LEARNERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED
A COLLEGE DEGREE

41.9% OF THE WHITE POPULATION

28.8% OF THE BLACK POPULATION
61.0% OF THE ASIAN POPULATION
20.6 % OF THE HISPANIC POPULATION
ALREADY HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE
BY THE AGE OF 25
WHERE AND HOW DO ADULT LEARNERS GO TO SCHOOL
ADULT LEARNS MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY
15% OF ALL FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENTS ADULT LEARNS MAKE UP THE MAJORITY
OF STUDENTS ATTENDING PRIVATE FOR-
PROFIT INSTITUTIONS

52% OF ADULT LEARNERS ENROLL

PART-TIME

51.5% OF ADULT LEARNERS ATTEND

PUBLIC TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS

CHALLENGES FOR ADULT LEARNERS

ADULT LEARNERS FACE UNIQUE
ADULT LEARNERS
CHALLENGES; MORE WORK
ARE MORE LIKELY
RELATE RESPONSIBILITIES AND
TO BE WORKING
MORE FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES
WHILE ENROLLED IN
THAN THEIR YOUNGER
SCHOOL
CLASSMATES
OUTCOMES FOR ADULT LEARNERS

OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE NUMBERS

OF ADULTS WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREES
OR HIGHER HAS INCREASED FROM 30.4%
TO 37.9%

ADULT LEARNERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO

COMPLETE THEIR DEGREES

SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES FOR ADULT LEARNERS

MANY SCHOOLS OFFER ADULT
EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE
PRIMARILY COMPRISED OF EVENING
COURSES

DISTANCE LEARNING OPTIONS AND

ONLINE COMPETENCY BASED
PROGRAMS PROVIDE FLEXIBLE
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULT
LEARNERS
 References

Census Bureau Releases New Educational Attainment Data (2022). Retrieved 29

September 2022, from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-
releases/2022/educational-attainment.html

Effective Practices that Support Adult Learners. (2022).Retrieved 29 September 2022, from
https://www.acenet.edu/Research-Insights/Pages/Student-Support/Effective-Practices-
Adult Learners.aspx

Hittepole, C., (n.d.) Nontraditional Students: Supporting Changing Student Populations.

https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/Hittepole_NASPA_Memo.pdf

Hunte, R., Mehrotra G., Mosier, M., Skuratowicz, E., Sanders, K., Cherry, K., & Gooding, A., (2022).
Retrieved 29 September 2022, from
https://www.oregon.gov/highered/research/Documents/Reports/HECC-Adult-Learner-report-
2020.pdf

National Center for Education Statistics. (2022, May)

https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/csb/postsecondary-students