Adult Learning Process

Adult Learner Demographics

The majority of adult learners work, most full-time
Adult students are extremely well educated; 85% have some college education
80% of adult students are between the ages of 25 – 44
More women than men study as adults
Most adults seek degree programs
About 70% of the courses taken by adults are in their career fields
About 40% receive some level of tuition assistance from employers
The majority of adults do not learn for the sheer pleasure of learning
Adults learn in order to cope with change in their lives
Every adult who learns because of a transition can point to a specific event that triggered the transition, and thus, learning
Trigger events occur unevenly in several arenas of adult life

Adults seek greater involvement in decisions involving their education
The maturity level of adults indicates that they can accomplish more learning in less time
Adults place great value in education that offers convenience
Adults prefer goal directed learning orientations
Adults are looking for the acquisition of useful and relevant knowledge