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Online Postsecondary Adult Learners: An Analysis of Adult Learner Characteristics and Online Course Taking Preferences

ABSTRACT This study examines the selection of online course taking by adult learners. Specifically, this study evaluates the relationship between adult learner characteristics and their choice of online, hybrid, or all in-class programs to identify emerging trends in course-taking preferences. Using survey data from 7,861 adult students age 24 and older from 8 institutions in the Midwest, this paper identifies significant differences in adult learner course-taking preferences based on such factors as age, marital status, presence of children, motivation to attend college, and part-time versus full-time enrollment status combined with work. These findings have meaningful implications for promoting adult learner degree completion through online program enrollment, especially in a post-COVID-19 world.