Data visualization of "The decision-making behavior of Post-Traditional Students". An analysis of coaching data from InsideTrack. Read Report http://www.insidetrack.com/research/inquiry-analysis

1. The decision-making behavior
of post-traditional1 students
An analysis of coaching
data from InsideTrack2
The status quo
85%
YET
Prospective post-traditional students
do not get adequate information
64% online students
online
more likely to be
career starters
only
23% of programs
understand causes
What worries them?
57% female students
Older students are more aware of (concerned about) the time management
issues associated with getting a degree online.
Why do they drop out?
Women are more likely to leave due to health
and support issues than men.
7%
commitment to graduation
10%
effectiveness/follow-through
finances
school community
health and support
16%
To learn more about post-traditional students
students age 40+
2x
nearly
female students 83%
17%
11%
8%
10%
InsideTrack regularly publishes research related to the success of post-traditional students. Please see our
www.insidetrack.com/research for more information. InsideTrack works with college and universities to
improve student and institutional success. Their one-on-one student coaching, process expertise,
analytics and technology have been proven to increase graduation rates by an average of 15 percent and
enhance the student experience. For more information, visit www.insidetrack.com
Citations:
1. “Post-traditional” refers to students who are non-first-time, non-full-time, working adults, active/retired military service members, online learners or others not
generally meeting the definition of a traditional college student.
2. “Insidetrack Coaching Data” refers to the data drawn from records of in-depth coach:student interactions with 140,000 prospective and enrolled post-traditional
students
3. “POST-TRADITIONAL LEARNERS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION: A MANIFESTO FOR COLLEGE LEADERS” Louis Soares; January 2013.
American Council on Education. N.p., Web 30 Aug. 2013.
4. “A look at how colleges and universities respond to inquiries from prospective adult students” InsideTrack; Winter 2012. InsideTrack. N.p., Web 8 Sept. 2013.
www.insidetrack.com/research/inquiry-analysis
5. “Measuring Post-Traditional Student Success: Institutions Making Progress, but Challenges Remain” The University Professional and Continuing Education Association
Center for Research and Consulting In partnership with InsideTrack; 2013 Insidetrack. N.p. Web 8 Sept. 2013. www.insidetrack.com/research/post-traditional
6. Career advancement is the primary reason among post-traditional students for pursuing a degree. Other key reasons include career changing and fulfillment of a
personal goal.
more likely to drop
due to Health and
Support
external commitments
academics
20%
14%
9%
23%
18%
10%
6%
Takeaway...
Back-up plans for elder and child
care reduce female student attrition
as likely as students
under age 25 to cite
“time management”
concerns
26%
37% 45%
< 25 yrs old 25-40 yrs old 40+ yrs old
Takeaway...
It’s important to proactively address
time management with younger, less
self-aware prospects
Why are they here?
Online and female students are more likely to be starting a career6
than their campus-based and male counterparts.
Takeaway...
Consider dierentiating marketing
messages by modality and gender
ground 14%
23%
female
14% male
22%
more likely to be
career starters
(15 million) of the undergraduate
student population is now
post-traditional3
to make an informed decision4 of post-traditional student attrition5