Today’s Students—Adult Students
The image of today’s students no longer fits the image from decades ago. Today’s 
students aren’t just fresh-faced 18-year-old teenagers who recently graduated from high school. In fact, 37 percent of today’s students are older than 25.
Many adult students have different responsibilities—including work and family—on their path to a degree or credential. Sixty-four percent of students work either full-time or part-time. One quarter of students are parents, and 49 percent are financially independent.
With different responsibilities, adult students need policies that cater directly to their needs.
Policy Recommendations for Adult Students
Learn more about Higher Learning Advocacy’s policy recommendations here.
Policies for Today’s Students:
EFC
A student’s expected family contribution (EFC) directly impacts whether they are eligible for a Pell Grant, how much aid they may be awarded, and whether an undergraduate student may be eligible for a subsidized student loan.
Policies for Today’s Students:
SAP Reset
Many of today’s adult students face obstacles re-enrolling and receiving student aid due to a federal requirement called Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Policies for Today’s Students:
Pell LEU
Federal law limits the amount of Pell Grant funds students can receive over their lifetime to the equivalent of six academic years of Pell Grant funding—also known as your Pell Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU).
