Home: Newsroom: Newsletter: March 2004: Helping low-income adult students succeed in college

Project launched to help low-income adult students succeed in higher education

If low-income adults can succeed in postsecondary education, they are likely to improve not only their own lives but also the lives of their children and grandchildren. They are more likely to be employed, less likely to rely on government programs, and more likely to participate in community service and vote.

That's why it's important to help low-income adult students — about 2.5 million individuals — overcome the barriers they face when they consider college, says Jacqueline King, director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the American Council on Education (ACE). Just this month ACE released a report that examines the challenges low-income adults face in seeking higher education. The report is the first part of a three-year project undertaken by ACE and Lumina Foundation for Education. The goal: to develop a compelling case that will move college administrators and policy-makers to develop programs and implement changes to help low-income adults succeed.  The project will also help light the path by providing fresh survey research, documenting best practices and developing policy recommendations.

"Many low-income adults say they are going to college to be role models for their children. They believe if they go to college, their children are more likely to go to college," King said. "So the experience is not just about transforming an individual's life, it is also about transforming the lives of all the family members."

Some of the key findings of the report, Low-Income Adults in Profile: Improving Lives Through Higher Education (PDF), include the following:

• Fifty-four percent of low-income adult students are single parents.  Among middle- to upper-income adult students, the figure is 21 percent.


• Fifty-seven percent of low-income adult students work full time.


• Forty-five percent of low-income adult students are enrolled half time or less.


• Fifty-three percent of low-income adult students attend community colleges.


• In 1995-1996, 47 percent of low-income adult students aspired to earn a bachelor's degree, and, by 2001, 7 percent had succeeded. During the same time, 20 percent of low-income adults said they desired an associate's degree, and by 2001 8 percent had reached their goal.


• Forty percent of adult students, about 2.5 million, made less than $25,000 in 1999-2000.

"It's a challenge for any adult to go to college, but it's especially challenging for low-income adults," King said. "With less income, things that may be an inconvenience for middle-class people can become a huge challenge (for low-income adults)." The report defined a low-income adult student as one who has an income of 200 percent below the federal poverty level and one who lacks even one parent who earned a bachelor's degree.

Included in the report is an essay by economists Anthony Carnevale and Donna Desrochers of the Educational Testing Service.  They outline how society benefits when low-income adults succeed at college, and they also highlight public policy changes that can help these students achieve their goals. Learn more...

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Seeking a degree can present major challenges

As part of the research about the barriers low-income adults face when seeking postsecondary education, the American Council on Education (ACE) sponsored four focus groups of adult students.

The students discussed family and work obligations, college financing barriers, course selection, self-esteem and confidence issues, and counseling and advising services. Their comments are included in the report, Low-Income Adults in Profile: Improving Lives Through Higher Education (PDF).

Here's a sample of what the students had to say:

"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."

"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."

"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.' "

"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."

"I never met my adviser. The office hours don't fit with my hours."

Learn more...