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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Clearinghouse Reviewers
  • Crisis Resources
  • National Resources
    • National Organizations
    • Federal Agencies
    • Campus Student Groups
  • Publications & Products
    • NCCSD Posters & Products
    • Research Briefs
    • Research Highlights
    • AHEAD Publications

Adult Learners

Picture of Older woman in a classroom looking back over her shoulder at you at a desk
 Going back to college - or going for the first time! - can seem like a huge task.

"Which college is best for me?"
"Will I fit in as an "older" student?"
"Will the school know how to work with an adult student with a disability?"

To be honest, there is a lot to think about up front, but it's not an impossible task.  The most important thing to think about is what your goal is.

Do you want to finish a degree you started years ago? Are branching off into a new interest area or a new career? Do you need a graduate degree to pursue a professional career?
Maybe you need a certificate program where you take just a few classes to help you focus on work skills.

Colleges and universities offer a wide variety of programs for Adult Learners, often through their "Extension" or "Continuing Education" programs. So, it's a good idea to look for those terms when you're searching for a college program. Community and Technical Colleges enroll a lot of Adult Learners, so that can be a comfortable setting for many. Online Education may be another choice, especially if distance, transportation, or work/family responsibilities are factors.

Check out the resources below to help you get started or to learn more about your choices.

Preparing for College

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) has put together tips to help you think about your choices and prepare for college opportunities.

Community College

The American Association of Community Colleges has put together a no-nonsense College Finder that lists the schools and gives you information about each one.

Online Education

There are thousands of online college programs out there, so no one resource will list them all, so check with the colleges or universities that you're interested in. The Peterson's Guide, is helpful for searching by state.

Disability Resources & More

Check out our Paying for College and Current College Student pages for information on attending college as a disabled student.

Information for pregnant students and students with children

Footer-About the NCCSD

NCCSD logo-bold blue letters NCCSD surrounded by green laurel leaves on both sides; beneath this:
Logo for AHEAD Black lettering Association on Higher Education And Disability
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​In 2021, a federal discretionary grant (P116D210002) was awarded via  the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities Program (NCITSPSD) to the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI-UMN), in full partnership with the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and is authorized by Congress in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (777.4). 

The NCITSPSD program grant was originally awarded in 2015 (P116D150005) to the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).

Please see caveats on the home page about not assuming the NCCSD, University of Minnesota, AHEAD or the US Dept. of Education agree with all content on linked pages, and we can't guarantee the accessibility of other sites.

The material on this website is available in alternative formats upon request; questions or concerns about accessibility should be sent to nccsd@ahead.org.  All images are from Bigstock.com or public domain except where noted.

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