Nontraditional might be the new traditional for university students. According to a 2018 NPR article highlighting a research study, there has been a nation-wide increase in nontraditional student enrollment at universities. Nontraditional students at the University are increasing at a slow but steady pace and facing unique challenges in their campus and personal lives.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, most researchers use the following criteria to define nontraditional students:
- Parents don’t have a bachelor’s degree
- Having one or more dependents
- A single caregiver
- Financially independent from their parents
- Not having a traditional high school diploma
- Delayed college enrollment
- Working full-time
