Curbing Declining Adult College Enrollment

Kentucky is enacting the 60×30 initiative to curb the declining enrollment in postsecondary education among adult learners. These adult learners are classified as those who are 25 to 64 years of age. They pursue higher education later in life to improve their chances of finding employment, increase their income, and develop in-demand skills and knowledge. The average yearly income difference between households with one or more college graduates and those without graduates is approximately $40,000. Despite these advantages, adult learners face many difficulties that set them apart from traditional students entering college immediately out of high school.

Striking a balance between family, job, and school obligations is very difficult for adult learners. Almost 50% of this population are also parents, which makes sticking to a regular class schedule challenging. Childcare costs, which average more than $6,000 a year, place additional financial strain on individuals who are already trying to pay for college. Many adult learners also require employment in order to sustain themselves and pay for their education, including 60% of full-time and 80% of part-time students. Flexible class schedules, such night classes or remote options, can help relieve this conflict.

The cost of college is another significant barrier. The difference between the cost of tuition and the financial aid received by adult learners, also known as the unmet gap, is $6,000 on average. It can also be difficult for many adults who are returning to school after a long break from academics to acclimate themselves to an academic setting. To provide additional support, remedial classes in topics like math and English can be a huge help. Due to all of these factors, adult learners have a 4x lower success rate compared to recent high school graduates. Kentucky must address these problems if it hopes to raise the state’s adult college graduation rates.

Pathways to Prosperity for Kentucky Adults
Source: Kentucky Student Success Collaborative