"Nearly half of adult students believe the value of education has increased over the last year due to the economic crisis, according to a survey released this week by Eduventures Inc., an education-consulting firm," The Chronicle of Higher Education reports. "Twenty-five percent of respondents said the value had not changed significantly. And only 20 percent said the value of additional education had decreased, meaning that they believed it was less likely to earn them a raise or better job. At the same time, the survey found that the economy had affected the plans of prospective adult students in different ways. Thirty-six percent of respondents said the economy had caused them to 'slow down or delay' plans to pursue education, while 31 percent said the economy had had little or no effect. Meanwhile, 18 percent said the economy had prompted them to think about furthering their education although it had not previously been a priority, and 12 percent said the economy had led them to pursue educational goals sooner than they had planned."