Demographic Shifts, Aids, and Academic Outcomes of the New "Average" College Students: The Story of Nontraditional Students in the 21st Century

• In Event: Exploring Access Opportunities for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education

Abstract

In the eyes of educators, the average college student is 18-24 years old, pursues his or her degree full-time, does not have dependents or a spouse, relies on family for financial assistance, and, if he or she works, only works part-time to fulfill a work-study allotment (Choy, 2002). However, the majority America’s college students do not fit this conception. Though the extant literature on student persistence examines outcomes of students who exhibit single nontraditional characteristics, there has been strikingly little investigation into those students who exhibit several characteristics on the risk index. Our work examines this largely unexamined group of postsecondary students by examining the prevalence and kinds of nontraditional students, their demographic characteristics, and their financial aid needs.

Authors

• Tuan D Nguyen, Vanderbilt University - Peabody College

• Jenna Weber Kramer, Vanderbilt University - Peabody College