Dive Brief:
- Campus Technology profiles a recent survey from Strayer University and US News & World Report, which breaks down the differences in attitudes among traditional and continuing education students about the importance of higher education.
- More than half of non-traditional students listed getting a better job as their top reason for pursuing higher education, while more than 60% of traditional students listed it as the "next logical step."
- Flexibility was another priority for non-traditional students, who seek evening, weekend and online classes in greater percentages than traditional students.
Dive Insight:
While the data does not reveal anything particularly earth-shattering about who pursues higher education and why, it does underscore several elements about how to more effectively market to different student groups and how to adjust technology and course offerings to better meet student needs.
As more adult learners enter higher education and more high school graduates find working and attending school a simultaneous necessity, colleges will face increased pressure to offer greater course flexibility. This will demand new practices in faculty hiring and technology infrastructure to ensure that a broad section of students are able to access a valuable learning experience on their terms.
