ED402857 HE029784
Title: Nontraditional Undergraduates: Trends in Enrollment from 1986 to 1992 and Persistence and Attainment among 1989-90 Beginning
Postsecondary Students. Postsecondary Education Descriptive Analysis Reports. Statistical Analysis Report.
Author(s): Horn, Laura J.; Carroll, C. Dennis
Author Affiliation: MPR Associates, Berkeley, CA.(BBB21249)
Pages: 78
Publication Date: November 1996
Sponsoring Agency: National Center for Education Statistics (ED), Washington, DC. (EDD00004)
Report No: NCES-97-578
ISBN: 0-16-048914-8
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
Availability: U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328.
Language: English
Document Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data (110); Reports--Research (143)
Geographic Source: U.S.; District of Columbia
Journal Announcement: RIEMAY1997
Government Level: Federal
This report presents tables and narrative that detail enrollment and persistence trends in postsecondary education participation of nontraditional students. The report uses data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Studies of 1986-87, 1989-90, and 1992-93; and from the second followup of the 1989-90 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study which was conducted in the spring of 1994. A nontraditional student is defined as possessing one or more of the following characteristics: delayed enrollment into postsecondary education; attended part time; financially independent; worked full time while enrolled; had dependents other than a spouse; was a single parent; or did not obtain a standard high school diploma. Among major findings are: (1) a majority of undergraduates in all three surveys were at least minimally nontraditional; (2) while nontraditional students were concentrated in two-year institutions, their numbers also grew at four-year institutions; and (3) nontraditional students were much less likely to earn a degree within 5 years and more likely to quit school than their traditional counterparts. Enrollment trends are presented in tables and narrative according to each individual characteristic and according to whether students are minimally (1 characteristic), moderately (2 or 3 characteristics), or highly (4 or more characteristics) nontraditional. Appendices contain a glossary and technical notes and methodology. (MAH)
Descriptors: *Academic Achievement; *Academic Persistence; Access to Education; *Enrollment Trends; Higher Education; Nontraditional
Education; *Nontraditional Students; Tables (Data); *Trend Analysis; Undergraduate Students
Identifiers: *Beginning Postsecondary Students Long Study; *National Postsecondary Student Aid Study
