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Voices of Adult Learners

The student quotes below resulted from focus groups, conducted by MDRC and the American Council on Education on topics concerning adult learners.

The Value of a College Education

The Challenges of Work and Family

Availability and Access to Financial Aid

Student Support Services

Flexibility in Balancing Work and School




Most participants viewed a college education as a good investment for their careers and earning potential. They also said they wanted to set a good example for their children.

I look at a college education as a parachute. I mean you get a job - obviously, there's a changing world out there. You know, just because you get yourself a job, you're not guaranteed that that business is going to be open forever. But at least with a college degree, if that job ever closes down, you still have that backing with you that will - yes, you will free-fall but you're not going to fall flat on the ground because you didn't have that paper. (MDRC)

They're (my children are) going to finish high school even if I have to sit next to them in high school, and they're going to college even if I have to work three jobs…I don't want them to go through what I have to go through. I want better for my kids. (MDRC)






Work and family obligations many times were overwhelming for these students. Many cited difficulty in obtaining satisfactory childcare, and even when they could get this care it was too costly, hours weren't flexible, or students felt guilty about the time their children spent in daycare while they worked and went to school.

Some of us have children, and the classes that we want to go to are at night. And there is no daycare that can take care of children from 8 to 10 at night.
(MDRC)

I go to classes in the morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then I have the kids until bedtime. And (I) try to get the house clean, but then I'm dead (tired), but it's time for homework. (ACE)

…Working and going to school is real hard. I was working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. My lunch hour was my class. … My other two classes were…after work. Then I had to rush to get the kids from daycare, and I was going to be late because my class would go over my daycare time. (MDRC)

I don't want to work all day and then go to school at night or work all night and go to school all day.  Then, my kids are asking "Who are you? (MDRC)






Financial aid to help pay for tuition and books was essential to low-income adult students*. Because many adult students attended college less than half time, many traditional financial aid sources were not available to them. Even when financial aid was available, students said they didn't know about the grants, scholarships and loans for which they could qualify, and they didn't know how to obtain the information to apply. In addition, many reported they had an "income gap" caused by reducing work hours so they could attend school. For single-parent adult students, this income gap at times caused them to be unable to meet their children's basic needs.

You know, there is a ton of money out there, or so they say. But, when it comes down to it, how do you find it? There's a huge wall there. (ACE)

The paperwork is incredible. There are so many little questions that you have to fill out. And it's like, 'If you answered yes to this question, skip to question 9, but make sure you answer question 10.' Then they send it back to you (for being incorrect). They are doing that so you won't want to get financial aid. They make it difficult for you so you just say, 'You win. I'll pay (for school) out of my own pocket.' (ACE)

If I went full time, they (financial aid) would pay for most of it - 90 percent they would pay. … But then I couldn't go full time, work full time, and go to school full time. It was just too hard. So I couldn't afford to take one or two classes, because then I would have had to pay for that out of my pocket. (MDRC)

I'd like to go back to school … because I make $9 an hour now. If I had my certificate here, I can work in the hospital and make $15 to $20 an hour, which is a big difference - good medical (benefits), good everything. They make it really hard for single parents because they can't give you any financial aid, so it's like you can't work, have the kids, and pay for school, and keep your house. It just doesn't work. (MDRC)






Students said they needed a combination of support services on campus including academic and personal counseling and advice about financial aid. In addition, many said they needed to take remedial courses to meet prerequisites or improve their basic English language skills.

I went to a career counselor at the school. I walked in and the man said, 'What do you want to do?' Well, if I (had known) what I wanted to do, I wouldn't (have been) there. I spent many (unproductive) hours with him. (ACE)

I never met my adviser. The office hours don't fit with my hours. (ACE)

It was very hard to get in with a counselor who I felt really understood what I needed. I mean, I really needed someone to line it out for me. I needed someone to say, 'what are your hours of availability and what are you thinking right now?' … And, actually help me, not just for that semester, but give like a year overview to sort of line it out so I could have positioned my classes more wisely. … I was just kind of floundering and I needed a little bit more direction, and every single time I would go back to the counseling office, I didn't really get that. That's nice; they want you to think on your own … but with children and with working and all the other things, … it was just too much. (MDRC)






Students noted that flexibility - both by their instructors and their employers - was essential for them to balance work and school obligations.

(My employer) is really flexible. They understand and they help. … Sometimes if I have a test or something and I am not sure of something, I'll ask them. … They are really nice about it. They understand especially around finals. Instead of working five days, I work four days, or take afternoons off, or some mornings off.

One time my kid was sick with the flu. And then I got the flu. And that was two weeks out of my math class. Well, all of a sudden, I'd wiped out of math. There was no way I could make it up. There was no leeway.

We were going through … a little tragedy. We were homeless and stuff. My teachers were very supportive. They made sure we had food, clothing, a place to stay. They were my backup after I had explained what had happened because I had to drop out during the semester and they were there backing me up to make sure that I didn't fall behind and when I did have to drop, they were there the next semester to support me.