More Nontraditional Students than Ever Before

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- With more and more students turning to online services like Universities.com to find the right college education for their lifestyle, it is apparent that the undergraduate population looks much different today than it did a generation ago. Many students are going to school part time rather than full time, attending two-year colleges instead of four-year colleges, or studying online as opposed to on campus.

This leading guide to on-campus and distance learning universities and colleges has some interesting statistics to share about how people are getting their higher education. Between 1970 and 2000, the undergraduate student population grew 72 percent, and in the last decade it has continued to grow by leaps and bounds. This is partly because students have more options than ever before. The traditional four-year bachelor's degree completed through full-time campus study directly following high school and with full financial support from parents is definitely not the only option anymore.

Here is a snapshot of the undergraduate population of today***:

• 39 percent of students are part-time
• 44 percent of students attend two-year colleges
• 56 percent of students are women
• 39 percent of postsecondary students are 25 years of age or older
• 73 percent of students defy the stereotype of an undergrad that earns a high school diploma, enrolls in college full-time directly afterwards, depends on their parents for financial support, and doesn't work more than part-time

***According to information from the National Center for Educational Statistics.

Students seeking their Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree often prefer the "college experience." For the professional, the online Masters Degrees are commonly the next step. Some may choose to continue advancing to one of the online PhD programs. Online universities are popular due to the flexibility of hours and location of coursework.

To learn more about all of today's higher education options, visit www.universities.com.  

About Universities.com:

Universities.com is the authoritative guide to on-campus and distance learning universities and colleges. Since 1995 more than 30 million individuals have found information about online universities and schools through this site.

SOURCE Universities.com