Low-income Adults in Profile: Low-income Adults in Profile: Improving Lives Through Higher Education Bryan Cook ACE Center for Policy Analysis

Project Outcomes Report 1: Low-income Adults in Profile. 50-state Policy Audit. Report 2: Campus Programs and Policies for Low-Income Adults. Two Regional Meetings with state policy makers and institutional leaders.

Adults in the U.S. Workforce by Level of Education: 2002

Low-income Working Americans, by Level of Education: 2001

TOTAL UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT AND ADULT UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT, BY SECTOR: FALL 2003 SectorTotal Undergraduate Enrollment (N) Total Adult Undergraduate Enrollment (N) Percentage of undergraduate Enrollment Age 25 or Older Distribution of Adult Student Population (%) Public four-year 5,314,2181,095,42321%24% Private not-for- profit four-year 2,302,733500,95922%11% Public two-year 6,207,2462,680,94443%58% Private for-profit 605,851312,14752%7% All institutions 14,430,0484,589,47332%- Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

Percentage Distribution of Students, by Degree Goal at Entry:

Percentage of Entering Students Who Had Attained Their Degree Goal by 2001

Most Commonly Stated Barriers for Low-income Adult Students Family responsibilities College financing Limited courses offered at non- traditional hours Self-esteem Counseling and advising

Percentage of Students Who Applied for and Received Financial Aid:

Average aid received and cost of attendance by sector SectorLow-income adults (‘03-’04) Other Adults (’03-’04) Traditional age (’03-’04) Cost (’04-’05) Public four- year $8,355$5,294$7,661$5,132 Private not- for-profit four-year $9,702$6,333$13,828$20,082 Public two- year $3,958$2,257$3,208$2,076 Private for- profit $7,967$7,635$9,114$11,503 Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics National Postsecondary Student Aid Study

Average aid received by part-time students and cost of attendance by sector SectorLow-income adults (‘03-’04) Other Adults (’03-’04) Traditional age (’03-’04) Cost (’04-’05) Public four- year $5,340$3,784$4,658$5,132 Private not- for-profit four-year $5,675$5,200$6,022$20,082 Public two- year $2,452$1,762$2,121$2,076 Private for- profit $6,705$6,833$6,761$11,503 Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics National Postsecondary Student Aid Study

Percentage Distribution of Undergraduate Students, by Race/Ethnicity:

Marital Status and Dependents of Adult Students:

Percentage Distribution of Students, by Fall Semester Attendance Status:

Limiting Features of State Programs  Time Limits: Many programs (particularly TANF programs) limit the amount of postsecondary education for which participants can receive work credit (typically 12 months or less).  Attendance Restrictions: Many programs require full time enrollment with no provision for childcare.  Age Limits: Many aid programs effectively limit the age of beneficiaries by requiring that students must have graduated from high school in the year prior to receiving an award.

Exemplary State Programs Arkansas Workforce Improvement Grant: targeting adults who make too much money to qualify for federal Pell Grants but not enough to pay for a college education Minnesota Post-Secondary Childcare Grant: established to help low-income single parents pay for childcare while attending postsecondary classes Vermont Non-Degree Grants : Designed for students enrolled in non-degree course that improve employability or encourage further study.

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