Kentucky is working hard to educate non-traditional students in higher ed | Opinion
It’s September, and thousands of Kentuckians just headed to college. When you picture these students, who do you see? Eighteen-year-olds unpacking cars, moving into dorms and waving goodbye to their parents?
How about a young mother finding childcare so she can attend class? Or a mid-career professional logging on to his laptop during lunch to finish an assignment?
The reality is that nationwide, nearly a quarter of undergraduates are over the age of 25. Even more have characteristics that make them post-traditional students, like working full-time, having children or being financially independent from their parents.
These adults may have previous experience with college, or they may be stepping onto campus for the first time. Many are training for a new career or seeking advancement. Some are interested in setting a good example for their kids or finishing what they started. All are hoping a college credential will improve their lives and livelihoods.
In Kentucky, there are 1.4 million working-age adults without a college credential. About a third have some college credit, while over two-thirds have no prior postsecondary experience.
Kentucky campuses have done a good job recruiting the traditional-age market. Preliminary numbers show undergraduate enrollment in Kentucky is up five percent over last fall, ahead of national trends. However, there were only 33,928 Kentuckians over the age of 25 enrolled in undergraduate programs in fall 2023. That’s about 22 percent of overall enrollment but only 3% of the 1.4 million who could benefit from additional education and training.
The good news is that Kentucky’s colleges and universities recognize the untapped potential of this adult market and are tailoring programs that are both flexible and affordable.
▪ For those without a degree, the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship provides free tuition for up to 60 hours of coursework in over 2,600 programs statewide, many of these at community and technical colleges. These programs train students for positions in high-demand fields like healthcare, construction and information technology; some certifications can be completed in as little as four months.
▪ Many universities now award credit for prior learning. Kentucky State University, for example, offers a Credit for Life Experience program, where adults earn credit for college-level learning gained through life experiences via work, travel, volunteering, military service or independent study.
▪ There also are programs for adults with some college but no degree. The University of Louisville’s Comeback Cards program allows former UofL students with balances of $4,000 or less to reduce their debt for every semester they complete as a re-enrolled student.
I’m proud to say the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) also is doing its part to diversify the postsecondary pipeline. Our CLIMB-Health (Career Ladders in Mental and Behavioral Health) initiative helps individuals in recovery from substance use disorders gain initial certification as a peer support specialist, with opportunities for stackable credentials culminating in a social work degree. We’re partnering with adult education centers to transition more GED earners to college, and we’re connecting adults in need of food, housing or childcare support to available state and federal resources.
In the past, postsecondary education was not a prerequisite for a middle-class lifestyle, but that reality is changing. By the year 2031, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce predicts that 63 to 66 percent of Kentucky’s jobs will require some training or education beyond high school. Some people argue college isn’t for everyone; whether or not that’s true, college should work for everyone. Kentucky higher education is committed to ensuring Kentuckians of all ages have the skills they need to be successful now and in the future.
Dr. Aaron Thompson is president of the Council on Postsecondary Education.