What exactly defines the term "non-traditional student" is a topic of much debate.  Being over the age of 24 years old captures most non-traditional students, although age in itself is insufficient.  Other reasons that students may be categorized as non-traditional include not being enrolled as a full-time student, transferring schools, living off-campus, or returning to finish a degree or obtain a second degree.  There are too many reasons why students are non-traditional to list all of them, but some of the most common reasons are: financial difficulty, having children, needing to care for a family member, military service, uncertainty about career path, or change of career.

Common challenges faced by non-traditional students

The common factor that unites almost all non-traditional students is a feeling of not belonging.  The same system designed to make the transition from high school to college easy for traditional students loudly shouts “You don’t belong” to non-traditional students.  Non-traditional students also report increased stress from environmental factors relative to traditional students.  These environmental factors include (among others): finances, domestic responsibilities, housing, arranging child care, employment demands, and transportation.  Many traditional students have their parents paying for their tuition, housing, and food while non-traditional students often shoulder these burdens themselves.  

In addition, academic skills that were perhaps once sharp are now rusty, and non-traditional students may have to re-learn how to study, write papers, or read academic writing.  Depending on the student there may also be a loss of free time.  For someone who is accustomed to working 9:00-5:00 and then leaving their work at the office, coming home to a mountain of homework can be quite the adjustment.  This homework is often completed by sacrificing other areas of their life such as family time or hobbies.  According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the challenges faced by non-traditional students “interfere with successful completion rate of educational objectives” leading to higher dropout rate and longer time between beginning and completing their degree for non-traditional students when compared to traditional students.

It's not all bad!

• Non-traditional students often have a clear career path, which leads to increased focus on the classes they are interested in and a higher drive to learn the material.

• Having a healthy dose of “real-life” experience, non-traditional students typically struggle less with the daily challenges of being a college student such as meeting deadlines, completing paperwork properly, registering for classes, selecting appropriate classes, or seeking help when needed.

• Priorities are often clearer for non-traditional students. They have less trouble saying “no” than their traditional counterparts.  This helps keep them from becoming overwhelmed by the addition of school work on top of their already full lives.
  

• They are intrinsically motivated to attend college.  Some traditional students attend college for external reasons such as expectations from parents or relatives.  However, non-traditional students are there for their own reasons which leads to increased motivation and often increased performance.

• They know the value of education.  Nothing will show the value of a college degree like being in the work force.  Caps on salary based on level of education, inability to get promoted without a degree, or prevention from specific tasks due to lack of a degree are all common in the workforce.  Non-traditional students have often experienced these firsthand.

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