Non-traditional Student

Non-traditional student is an American English term referring to a category of students at tertiary educational institutions. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) acknowledges there is no precise definition for non-traditional student, but suggests that part-time status and age are common elements. In a 1996 study, the NCES included anyone who satisfies at least one of the following as a non-traditional student:

• Delays enrollment (does not enter postsecondary education in the same calendar year that he or she finished high school)

• Attends part-time for at least part of the academic year

• Works full-time (35 hours or more per week) while enrolled

• Is considered financially independent for purposes of determining eligibility for financial aid

• Has dependents other than a spouse (usually children, but sometimes others)

• Is a single parent (either not married or married but separated and has dependents)

• Does not have a high school diploma (completed high school with a GED or other high school completion certificate or did not finish high school)

By this standard, the NCES determined that 73% of all undergraduates in 1999–2000 could be considered non-traditional, representing the newly "typical" undergraduate. Therefore, the NCES defines non-traditional on a continuum based on the number of these characteristics present. Students are considered to be "minimally non-traditional" if they have only one non-traditional characteristic, "moderately non-traditional" if they have two or three, and "highly non-traditional" if they have four or more.