What Is a Nontraditional Student?

Key takeaways

A nontraditional student is typically one who is not the traditional 18- to 24-year-old enrolled in a four-year program immediately after high school. 

• Over one-third of students (32.3 percent) fit nontraditional criteria [1].

• A nontraditional student is typically one of the following: over 24 years old, delayed enrollment post high school, attends part-time, works full-time, financially independent, a single parent, has dependents, or has no high school diploma. 

• You can still earn a college degree at any age with the right support, financial aid, and work-life balance. 

Learn how academia defines nontraditional students, considerations you may have to take as one of these students, and tips for choosing the right degree program for your unique circumstances. 

What is considered a nontraditional student? Nontraditional student definition

Nontraditional students have become more common at US colleges and universities. But this group of students is impossible to define with a single characteristic. These learners, sometimes referred to as post-traditional or adult students, bring with them a diverse set of experiences and life circumstances.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) defines seven nontraditional characteristics [2]. A student would only need to reflect one of these traits to be defined as “nontraditional” by the NCES: 

• Older than 24 years of age

• Delayed enrollment after high school

• Attend college part-time

• Works full-time

• Financially independent from parents

• Single parent

• Has dependents (other than spouse)

• No high school diploma

Choosing a degree program as an adult student

Completing a degree program under any of the circumstances outlined by the NCES brings with it a unique set of challenges. As you research possible degree programs, keep these factors in mind.

Work-life balance

Adult students often face a more significant challenge when it comes to maintaining a work-life balance than their younger peers. You may be working full-time, raising a family, or balancing other life obligations with your studies. 

What to look for in nontraditional student programs 

Flexibility is key when it comes to maintaining a work-life balance. Consider degree programs that allow you to study part-time. In an online or hybrid program, you’ll typically have the added flexibility to study when and where it’s most convenient for you. Plus, with online programs, you won’t have to relocate or find a new job to pursue your degree.

Paying for school

Financing your education is a significant investment, especially if you’re doing it on your own. Paying for school without accumulating debt might mean:

• Studying part-time while working

• Pursuing employer reimbursement (programs where your company funds some or all of your education)

• Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• Applying for scholarships and grants 

Scholarships for nontraditional students

While some scholarships require full-time enrollment, others specifically target older and nontraditional students. Start your scholarship search with these three sites:

• Scholarships.com: Fill out a profile and get matched with scholarships you qualify for.

• Fastweb.com: This scholarship database will email you matches and deadlines.

• Bold.org: Find smaller, niche scholarships you won’t see on other sites.

Explore these financial tools and resources to help fund your degree.

Transferring credits

If you already have some college credits from a community college, online program, or degree that you didn’t complete, you may be able to transfer them into your new program. Transferring existing credits can save you both time and money. 

Who to call to transfer credits

If you think you might have credits to transfer, call the admissions office at the school where you’d like to enroll and ask to speak with the transfer coordinator. This person should be able to answer your questions about what credits might qualify and might offer a cursory transcript review. 

Read more: How to Transfer Colleges

Educational outcomes

As an adult learner, you may be more concerned with the tangible outcomes of your degree program than your peers right out of high school. Can you apply what you’re learning to your job? Will you qualify for better, higher-paying jobs after earning the degree? Will this degree help you shift into a new field? What kind of career support will you receive through your institution? 

These are all important questions to consider as you evaluate whether a degree program aligns with your professional goals.

Finding the right career and student services

As you research degree programs, find out how the school makes its career and student services available to students studying part-time or off campus. Look for institutions that offer online self-service resources and the ability to meet with career counselors and student advisors on evenings or weekends. If you’re a parent and planning to attend classes in person, find out about any on-campus childcare options.

Explore colleges for nontraditional students on Coursera

If you’re feeling stuck in your current career and empower your career journey at our Career Resource Hub to take quizzes and develop new skills. Then, you can explore our other free career growth resources below:

• Watch on YouTube: Do College Credits Expire? Here's What to Know

• Hear from a fellow learner: Meet the Automotive Tech Exploring New Careers with Coursera Plus

• Explore career fields: Subscribe to Career Chat, our LinkedIn newsletter

Complete your bachelor’s degree or pursue your master’s degree with flexible programs from esteemed university partners on Coursera. 

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