The Decision-Making Behavior of Post-Traditional Students

THE DECISION-MAKING BEHAVIOR OF POST-TRADITIONAL' STUDENTS An analysis of coaching data from InsideTrack THE STATUS QUO (15 MILLION) OF THE UNDERGRADUATE 85% STUDENT POPULATION IS NOW POST-TRADITIONAL YET ONLY Prospective post-traditional students 23% of programs DO NOT GET ADEQUATE INFORMATION UNDERSTAND CAUSES to make an informed decision of post-traditional student attrition WHY ARE THEY HERE? Online and female students are more likely to be starting a career than their campus-based and male counterparts. ONLINE STUDENTS 64% 23% ONLINE GROUND 14% more likely to be career starters FEMALE STUDENTS 57% 22% FEMALE 14% MALE more likely to be Takeaway.. Consider differentiating marketing messages by modality and gender career starters WHAT WORRIES THEM? Older students are more aware of (concerned about) the time management issues associated with getting a degree online. STUDENTS AGE 40+ NEARLY as likely os students under age 25 to cite "time monagement" 26% concerns O 45% < 25 yrs old 25-40 yrs old 40+ yrs old Takeaway... It's important to proactively address time management with younger, less self-aware prospects WHY DO THEY DROP OUT? Women are more likely to leave due to health and support issues than men. FEMALE STUDENTS 83% 7% more likely to drop due to Health and SCHOOL COMMUNITY 8% 6% 11% Support HEALTH AND SUPPORT 10% 10% ACADEMICS 10% COMMITMENT TO GRADUATION 16% EFFECTIVENESS/FOLLOW-THROUGH 14% 18% 17% FINANCES 23% 20% EXTERNAL COMMITMENTS Takeaway.. Back-up plans for elder and child care reduce female student attrition To learn more about post-traditional students InsideTrack regularly publishes research related to the success of post-traditional students. Please see our www.insidetrack.com/research for more information. InsideTrack works with college and universities to improve student and institutional success. Their one-on-one student coaching, process expertise, analytics and technology have been proven to increase graduation rates by an average of 15 percent and enhance the student experience. For more information, visit www.insidetrack.com insidetrack Citations: 1. "Post-traditional" refers to students who are non-first-time, non-full-time, working adults, active/retired military service members, online learners or others not renerally meeting the definition of a traditional college studernt. 2. "Insidetrack Coaching Data" refers to the data drawn from records of in-depth coach:student interactions with 140,000 prospective and enrolled post-traditional students 3. "POST-TRADITIONAL LEARNERS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION: A MANIFESTO FOR COLLEGE LEADERS" Louis Soares; January 2013. American Council on Education. N.p. Web 30 tainguiries from prospective adult students" Inside Track; Winter 2012. Inside Track. Na., Web 8 Sept. 2013. 4. "A look at how colleges and universities respond www.insidetrack.com/research/inquiry-analysis 5. "Measuring Past-Traditional Student Success: Institutions Making Progress, but Challenges Remain' The University Professional and Continuing Education Association Center for Reseach and Consulting In partnership with InsideTrack; 2013 Insidetrack. N.p. Web 8 Sept. 2013. www.insidetrack.com/research/post-traditional 6. Career advancement is the primary reason among post-traditional students for pursuing a degree. Other key reasons include career changing and fulfillment of a personal goal