This qualitative study, which uses a narrative research approach informed by Riessman's (2008) work, explores the "college choice" experience of seven adult students, age 25 and older, who pursue postsecondary education at a non-degree granting, less-than-two-year private for-profit institution in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. My…

This longitudinal study examines the perceptions, attitudes, and preferences of the adult learners in higher education institutions in the United States. Based on these aspects, this study allowed for an insight into how higher education institutions can create programs to better meet the needs of their adult learning population. This study was…

How do students and alumni of for-profit colleges feel about their schools and the value of their education? Do they have distinct expectations, priorities, and needs compared with students who choose to study at not-for-profit institutions? Are prospective students effectively weighing their options before deciding to enroll at for-profit…

Higher education has seen significant changes in the student experience in the past 10 years. For the past decade, everything from student attitudes about college to the technology they use every day has impacted their satisfaction with, and perception of, the college experience. This report is a comparison of student satisfaction, separated by 10…

The Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) Satisfaction-Priorities Surveys are the national standard for benchmarking student satisfaction in higher education. Since 1994, more than 2,900 colleges and universities have used the surveys to evaluate students' concerns that influence student success, college completion, student recruitment, strategic planning,…

For more than two decades, the national standard for benchmarking student satisfaction in higher education has been the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Satisfaction-Priorities Surveys. Since their beginning in 1994, these benchmark surveys have been used by more than 2,900 U.S. colleges and universities to evaluate students' concerns that correspond with…

Early college choice models utilized data from high school seniors who were from predominately middle income, White, and continuing generation families. This dissertation focused on first-generation students who entered college between the ages of 35 and 50. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with these students to construct a…

This research report examines the expectations, attitudes and needs of adults who are thinking about earning postsecondary credentials after having spent some or in most cases many years in the workforce. Most of these prospective students hope a certificate or degree will advance their chances in the labor market, but they are greatly worried…

This paper reports the findings of a study involving the selection process that adult graduate students used when choosing to pursue and attain an advanced business degree at Southern Wesleyan University. This study includes a comparison of the initial priorities used in the selection process to priorities that remain important in retrospect. The…

This study attempts to identify the factors perceived to be important in choosing an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) for distance learning. One thousand five hundred questionnaires were distributed to the first year students in the social sciences distance learning programs and 980 valid responses were received of Malaysian public university.…

The 2005 National Adult Learners Satisfaction-Priorities Report presents the responses to the Adult Learner Inventory (ALI) of 20,466 students from 45 institutions, including four-year private and public, and two-year community colleges. The results include adult learner responses over a three-year time period, from 2002 through 2005. Highlights…

Students' reasons for applying for admission to the University of North Dakota for the academic year 1979-80 were studied. Information was obtained from a question appearing on the admission application form completed by all new freshmen and college transfer students. Results revealed that students cited reasons related to academic program 40.2…

A university-based degree completion program for adults conducted focus group research to refine market positioning and promotion. Focus groups averaged five current students and recent graduates who reflected, demographically, the current student population. Results gave insight into reasons for selecting the university, aspects of the program…

Similarities and differences between adult and traditional-aged students were analyzed based on a survey of 13 cohorts of first-year college freshmen. A sample of 172,400 first-year students over the age of 21 who responded to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program's freshman survey between 1966 and 1978 was compared to a nationally…

A survey was conducted in Spring 1979 to determine the characteristics of a scientifically drawn sample of 16,400 curriculum and continuing education students enrolled in 57 community colleges and technical institutes in North Carolina (NC). The study focused on: (1) the demographic and financial characteristics of the students; (2) the major…