Introduction
During the COVID recession, policymakers, educators, and employers face unprecedented challenges as they attempt to rebuild the labor market. Under these unique circumstances, displaced workers would benefit enormously if they could earn college credit for the skills and experience they’ve accumulated in the workforce. This analysis examines the impact of prior learning assessment (PLA) on the educational outcomes of adult students.
Findings
We examined data from 72 colleges and universities about the enrollment, credits, and degrees earned by nearly a half-million students of all ages, focusing on adult learners. Among our findings:
- PLA is associated with better student outcomes, including higher rates of credential completion, cost savings, and time savings.
- PLA students were more likely to complete college credentials than non-PLA students. This was true for adult students of all races, ethnicities, and income levels.
- PLA could help produce more equitable outcomes in college attainment, provided it’s made more accessible to students who could benefit the most.
- Because PLA students were more likely to persist and complete, they earned more credits through regular course-taking at their institutions than did non-PLA students.
- Veterans and other service members used PLA at high levels, with a significant completion benefit.
While this report provides compelling evidence that PLA can help support adult students, there is still much work to do. Critically, PLA programs must be made more accessible to adult students, who have traditionally lacked such access. Institutions must do more to encourage low-income adult students and adult students of color—particularly Black adult students—to take advantage of PLA.