Autonomy in learning is obtained through an active process, in which students set learning objectives, monitor, regulate and control their knowledge, motivation and behavior, guided by the characteristics of the educational environment. We chose this topic because we believe that one of the objectives of universities is to train autonomous, emotionally and psychologically mature students, prepared for all the problems encountered in all areas of life. University lays the foundations for life skills. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the differences between the ways of self-regulation in learning depending on age. An instrument for measuring controlled regulation was applied, namely the SRQ-L questionnaire, which refers to the reasons why people learn. 144 female high school students and college students, aged 15 and 16, respectively 20 and 21 years old, both categories following a humanistic profile. The results showed statistically significant differences between the means of the groups of 15, 16, 20 and 21 years. Our results can be used in the education system in the teaching-learning process based on the students' needs.