Who are Adult Learners?

Institutions have traditionally struggled to support adult learners (Darnell et al., 2022). Once called “nontraditional learners,” adult learners are typically students 25 years or older who are first-time or returning students entering community colleges while juggling responsibilities like work, full-time parenting, or even parole.

In 2009, the Illinois P-20 Council made a commitment to ensure 60% of adult learners have a college degree or postsecondary credential by 2025. The Illinois Education and Career Success Network estimates that Illinois hovers around 55%. This is not the full story when the data is broken down, however. The Illinois Board of Higher Education reports that over 70% of the State’s African Americans ages 25 or older have less than an associate’s degree and this number is over 80% for Latinx. This data points to the need for targeted support and initiatives for Illinois’ adult learners.

According to 2023 data from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), at least 34% of Illinois community college students are adult learners ages 25 or older. In Fall 2023, 50% of enrolled students were recent school graduates while the other half delayed their enrollment, pointing to potential growth in the future. Other data shows that half of enrolled Hispanic students in Illinois community colleges are age 25-44. [1]