A Great Look at Adult Student Success

We often talk about adult learners, their challenges and how institutions and organizations can encourage their success. Yet nothing can provide better insight into adult students' needs than to hear their own stories of academic achievement.     

Clarion University recently spoke with one such student. Christopher Blaze, a father, husband and veteran of the Marine Reserves, took advantage of the university's online program to earn his associate degree and, this year, his bachelor's degree.  

Blaze describes how a combination of advising, support, affordable tuition and flexible online courses allowed him to earn two college degrees-and inspired his pursuit for a third. Beginning his college career as an active member of the military, Blaze's responsibilities typified those of student veterans.   

As reflected in Washington Monthly's recent America's Best Colleges for Adult Learners ranking, a growing number of academic institutions are taking large steps to support adult learners. In its assessment of colleges, Washington Monthly considered qualities such as program flexibility, tuition and fees, proportion of students 25 or older and services for adult students.