The National Center for Education Statistics released an issue brief yesterday that details the participation of adult learners with different levels of formal education. Of the adults surveyed, more than half had completed some sort of formal learning activity in the previous 12 months. But participation rates in college courses or personal interest or work-related courses increased by education level. Adults with higher levels of education were far more likely to enroll in college, personal interest, or work-related courses.

The issue brief notes that students with low levels of education are more likely to have financial barriers that prevent them from participating in higher education courses. Of all participants, more than 50 percent of adults paid some of their own expenses for personal interest courses and 24 percent paid for work-related courses. Those out of pocket expenses create significant barriers for nontraditional students who generally have other "life" expenses to manage on top of trying to pay for college. Further, those who took work-related courses to sharpen their skills often had their course work covered by an employer, something that employers of adults with lower levels education might be reluctant to do.

The findings come as no surprise, but underscore the need to provide sufficient need-based aid for adult learners with low levels of income and education. With economists placing the odds of a recession around 50 percent, there are indications that many adults - in the face of job loss - may turn to colleges for help in retooling and honing their skills. The NCES report shows that adults with low levels of education will be less likely to enroll in college due to financial barriers.

By Justin Draeger
NASFAA Assistant Director for Communications

Posted 01/30/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.