For Adult Learners, College Means More Than Just Jobs and Wages

Title: Multiple Meanings of College: How Adult Learners Make Sense of Postsecondary Education & Why It Matters

Authors: Melanie Shimano and Becky Klein-Collins

Source: Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, Stanford Pathways Network, and Strada Education Foundation

When adults decide to go back to college, some people assume their motivations are purely economic—to get a better job, make more money, or move up the corporate ladder. However, a new study by Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, Stanford Pathways Network, and Strada Education Foundation challenges this narrow view. Researchers interviewed 120 adult learners and found that they have many different reasons for wanting a college degree.

While most people said they wanted to advance their careers and make more money, they also had personal reasons that were just as important. For example, they want to:

• Set a positive example for their children
• Push back against racism and discrimination through educational attainment
• Gain skills to better serve their communities
• Fulfill a lifelong ambition and gain a sense of achievement
• Grow as individuals by developing new capabilities and identities

The people interviewed said support from their schools, employers, coworkers, friends, and family was key to their success. Programs designed for adults, caring advisers, and supportive loved ones made it easier to juggle school, work, and life. When asked if college was “worth it,” many said yes because of what they learned, how it helped their careers, and the personal goals they achieved. But some who took on a lot of debt or felt they weren’t learning enough had doubts.

To serve adult students well, institutions should consider all the reasons they go back to school. Here are some key recommendations from the report:

• Craft recruitment messages that resonate with a range of motivations beyond just economic benefits
• Explicitly recognize and celebrate personal, familial, and civic goals in advising
• Provide college credit for completion of alternative credentials to leverage the symbolic power of a college degree
• Assess student success comprehensively, incorporating metrics like community involvement in addition to earnings

While there is growing enthusiasm for alternative educational pathways, adult learners remind us that a college degree still holds significant value for Americans in many ways. As institutions work to create more paths to success, it is crucial to understand and build upon the multifaceted meaning of college for adult learners.

Click here to read the full report.

—Alex Zhao