Colleges with a lot of older students

January 23, 2012

According to U.S. News & World Report, approximately 25 percent of college freshman do not return to school after their first year to finish their degree.

The reasons they decide to stop or put their education on hold vary and can include burn-out, lack of motivation, financial problems, a job offer or entering the military. However, many decide to return to school to finish their degree program later on after they've started a family, gotten some work experience and decided what they really want to do "when they grow up."

The thinking that most college students start to pursue their degree immediately after graduating from high school and finish in four years simply isn't the norm anymore.

According to USA Today, three-quarters of today's college students aren't "traditional." Instead, the National Center for Educational Statistics reports that about half of today's students are financially independent, 49 percent are enrolled part-time, 38 percent work full time and 27 percent have dependents of their own.

In addition, FinAid.org reports that "nontraditional" students between the ages of 24 and 29 represent 13.8 percent of undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Those over the age of 30 make up 14.4 percent of undergraduates.

And the number of students who can be considered nontraditional is expected to continue to grow. According to U.S. News & World Report, the U.S. Department of Education reports that the overall number of undergrads over the age of 25 is expected to increase 35 percent by 2017.

Some older students may be hesitant to start or go back to college because of fears that they'll be the oldest person in their class or unable to relate to their peers. This thinking is one of the reasons why many nontraditional college students choose to pursue a degree via an online program.

However, there are many brick-and-mortar schools that boost high numbers of older students, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The publication recently compiled a list of the U.S. colleges and universities with a large percentage of students over the age of 25. They include Missouri Southern State University (91 percent of undergrads are aged 25 or older), Mid Continent University (81 percent), Wells College (79 percent), Davenport University (67 percent), Mount Olive College (67 percent), Regis University (67 percent), University of Maine - Augusta (67 percent), Upper Iowa University (65 percent), Post University (64 percent), Regent University (63 percent) and Warner Pacific College (63 percent).

Whatever college or university you choose, it's important to remember that student parents often qualify for various grants for parents, scholarships for adults and other financial aid to make paying for an education realistic.
 

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