Understanding Enrollment Trends Among Older Learners in Higher Education

• In Event: Understanding Enrollment Patterns Across Educational Levels

Abstract

Middle aged and older adults represent an increasingly important segment of the U.S. labor force. Lifelong learning is necessary to improve employment outcomes among these workers, who face rising demands for new and improved skills. Despite these trends, little is known about their patterns of enrollment at community colleges. We use data from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to examine enrollment trends by part-time and full-time status for students enrolled in Ohio’s public postsecondary institutions from 2005 to 2015. Unlike previous research that considers all age 25+ students as a homogenous group, we divide older learners into two age groups: 25-39 and 40-64. We discuss the implications of these trends and their relevance to education, employment, and retirement.

Authors

• Phyllis A. Cummins, Miami University

• Nader Mehri

• J. Scott Brown, Miami University - Oxford

• Peter Riley Bahr, University of Michigan