While there is no consistent definition of who is considered an adult learner, there are various factors to consider in determining how you or your institution want to define this student population. If conducting research or implementing a policy, the term should be defined for that particular use. Here are some of the typical characteristics that often apply to many “adult learners”:
- 25+ years old
- Students who do not fit the typical profile of the 18- to 22-year-old full-time undergraduate (Giancola, Munz, & Trares, 2008)
- First-time college student 21+ years old (Davidson & Holbrook, 2014)
- Returning to school after stopping out
- Juggling school with work/family/life responsibilities
- “Any student, regardless of age, who has adult responsibilities beyond college classes, and for whom those adult responsibilities take priority in times of crisis” (NACADA’s Advising Adult Learners Commission)
- Students of any age who are “married, handicapped, racially or ethnically diverse, female, or part-time” (Kasworm, Polson, & Fishback, 2002)
- Unemployed and seeking a new avenue in life (Varney & Peck, 2012)
Common terms to name this population include
- Adult Learner
- Non-Traditional or Post-Traditional Student
- Adult Student
- Returning Adults
- Adult Returners
- Mature Learners