Response: Across the country, students are preparing to head back to school either in person, online, or some combination of the two, for the —21 academic year. Each year, the National Center for Education Statistics NCES compiles back-to-school facts and figures that give a snapshot of our schools and colleges for the coming year. Scroll through below to learn more. Please note that these projections do not account for changes in enrollment due to the coronavirus pandemic. The following resources provide information about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on education:.
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The Rise of Adult Students
According to the report, there are 36 million American adults with some college but no degree. Of those adults, 10 percent or more than 3 million have characteristics of students most likely to return to college and complete their degrees. This helps colleges understand how to best target these individuals. These adults are a prime student population enrollment growth for colleges and universities. However, adult learners have different expectations, motivations, and decision time frames than traditional undergraduates. The new NSC report profiles key statistics and identifies trends since their first report on this topic in , and uses the records of the 29 million students identified in the report to determine which characteristics indicate an adult learner is most likely to complete a degree. Eight years out, one-third have still not graduated. Approximately 2 million students annually enroll for the first time, but eight years later, one-third still have no credential in hand.
Explore more research and solutions for adult learners
Today, adult college students number 6. And the adult student population is expected to grow much faster than that of younger students for the next several years. Little wonder, then, that colleges eager to enroll more students are turning their sights on the booming adult population. And reporters covering that growing competition should focus on at least two big challenges facing students, institutions, and government regulators, according to a panel of adult education experts and college leaders who spoke at the National Seminar of the Education Writers Association. National University, a private nonprofit school established in , is one of the top enrollers of active-duty service members, who sometimes get deployed on short notice. Many colleges aiming at the adult population have focused on online courses, noted former U.
Millions of American adults either have no education beyond high school or have some college but no degree. By , 65 percent of all jobs will require a degree or certificate. Although traditional-age students outnumber adult learners in college, the percent of adults enrolling in college continues to grow. One report found that only about 36 percent of students who enroll in college when they are 20 years or older complete a degree within six years, compared with 59 percent of students who enroll when they are 19 years old or younger.
