Adding on to the largest national survey of prospective adult students. An updated view of demand, motivations, and barriers shaping postsecondary enrollment. The report finds:
Intent to Enroll is Widespread
Just over one-quarter of adults intend to enroll in education or training within the next two years. The opportunity is broader than the familiar “some college” narrative: meaningful intent shows up across every attainment band, and growth is accelerating among Black adults, older learners, and parents with children at home.
Demand tilts toward shorter, workforce-aligned pathways
Vocational, technical, and community college options collectively edge out four-year institutions, and interest in hybrid learning remains exceptionally strong.
Career goals lead, learning follows
Intent to enroll is typically driven by career-related motivations, with patterns that shift meaningfully by employment status and household income.
Conversion is constrained by structural friction
Cost and time dominate, while child care and enrollment complexity surface as acute, segment-specific barriers that disproportionately affect single parents and lower-income adults.