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
SAP should be reset for students who have not been enrolled in any postsecondary education in the prior five years. To remain eligible after such a reset, students should be required to prospectively maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete 2/3 of credits attempted.
Pell LEU should be reset for students who have reached the maximum amount of Pell Grants, already hold a degree or credential, and have been employed in the workforce for the majority of the past ten years. A student who receives a Pell LEU reset will only remain eligible for Pell Grants for a maximum of four additional semesters’ worth of credits.
Amend the EFC in the Higher Education Act to allow more accurate and generous exemptions for independent students and student parents. In addition, certain assets of independent students should not be included in EFC calculations, such as assets in 529 plans when students are also saving for their dependent’s college education. Lastly, today’s students should have the ability to easily appeal their EFC to have it reconsidered.