Measuring Adult Student Gains and Satisfaction After Earning an Undergraduate

Continuing Education Degree

Amanda Mason-Singh, Hobsons

Jim Fong, UPCEA

Objective and Methodology

UPCEA’s Center for Research and Consulting (CRC), in partnership with Hobsons, has conducted multi-year studies on adult student gains and satisfaction after earning a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university. The objective of the research has been to measure how the undergraduate degree has impacted adult learners’ careers and personal lives. The data represents only degree completers.

• Between the two most recent studies, a total of 1,706 individuals were surveyed

• In 2013, a benchmark study surveyed 988 adults interested in completing or starting a bachelor’s degree but had not or could not due to a variety of factors

Summary: Fall 2013 Study

• Salaries reportedly increased, especially after four years of having earned the degree. Smaller but more frequent raises were often found to be hurdles to those considering a degree

• Financial aid and student support/advising were reported as being the most used campus services

• Greater job security, especially after four years of receiving the degree

• Increased probability of receiving a promotion or have a career change

• Improved degree-holder confidence

• More analyses are needed on the impact of degree type and other demographics

Study Demographics: Age and Graduation Year

• Approximately three-quarters of respondents (77%) had graduated in the last five years; 70% were under 45 years old.

Study Demographics: Major

Age Groups by Type of Major

Engineering was dominated by the 25- to 34-year-old age bracket and had the youngest distribution of graduates. Science degree holders were the second youngest group. There is a trend towards younger students in STEM fields, while older students trended more towards business and communication.

Degree Satisfaction

Seventy-five percent of respondents were extremely or very satisfied with their degrees. Overall, people viewed their degree with satisfaction and only five percent of respondents were not very or not at all satisfied with their degrees.

Satisfaction by Type of Major

Nurses were by far the most positive about their degree with fifty-eight percent saying they were extremely satisfied. Satisfaction levels of at least somewhat satisfied were similar across all majors and dissatisfaction was commonly under ten percent.

Life After the Degree

• The most common reason people go to college is to advance in their careers. The type of major they choose is important and affects both the promotions and raises they receive.

• Degrees in engineering and nursing are the most powerful in the workplace, gaining recipients the most career advancements.

Reasons for College and Outcomes

Peoples’ careers changed after earning their degrees, signifying that they had met their goals for going to college. A drive to earn more money most commonly resulted in an individual receiving a raise at their current position. When they wanted to advance their career, they were promoted within the same organization or obtained a better job at a different organization.

Why Adults Go Back to College

Career advancement was the most influential reason for going back to college across all majors. Students who entered engineering saw it as a way to earn more money. Students in the arts and architecture, science and liberal arts saw their degrees as a way to increase their skills and their ability to market them, as well as a personal accomplishment.

Career Advancements by Type of Major

Engineering, communication and technology, business, and nursing were the top degrees to earn a promotion within the same organization. Receiving a raise for the same position was most common for engineering, nursing, and business and science degree earners. Obtaining a better job at a different organization and switching careers was most common among education, arts and architecture, liberal arts and social sciences degree earners.

Choice of Major Impacts Career

Engineers and nurses had more stable and better returns for promotions within the same organization and receiving a raise for the same position than arts and architecture and social science degree earners. It was common for them to stay with the same organization for at least four years. They also changed fields or careers at a much lower rate for at least six years.

Work Experience Effects of Careers

The rate at which individuals received promotions or switched organizations for a better job increased with experience. The likelihood of receiving a raise for the same position leveled off after 5-6 years of experience, presumably due to a promotion after that time. Change if field decreased after 3-4 years, likely because people have settled into their field by this time.

Career Progress Within Types of Majors

On a scale of 1 to 10, where “1” is nowhere near your goals and “10” is on track with your career goals, how would you rate where you are (a) before you enrolled in your degree-granting institution, (b) immediately after earning your undergraduate degree?

Money Defines Success

Impact of Major on Personal Income

How has your personal income changed?

Personal Income Increases by Type of Major

Running a linear regression, there was a $1,067 increase in personal income for every point gained for average progression.

Recap of 2014/2015 Study

Many adults earning their degrees start receiving significant raises quickly, and are often promoted or obtain better jobs.

Older adults returning to college often do not see STEM fields as a possibility for them. A younger adult may be more likely to consider a degree in engineering, science, or arts and architecture.

• Engineers are more likely to earn a raise, as are those in business or nursing. Nurses and engineers are also more likely to believe that they are in their career jobs.

• Those earning a degree in health rather than nursing, social sciences or education are more likely to change fields, careers or employers.

Degree earning adults are generally very or extremely satisfied, but those who undertake degrees in nursing or engineering are more satisfied. These individuals appear to be more directed in terms of the career they want and the advancement possibilities their degree offers.

Actions for Specific Majors

For Nursing: market advancement opportunities

For Engineering: market career opportunities and salary

For Education, Social Science and *Health:• Market opportunity to change fields, careers, or employers• Emphasize the value of these professions• Identify additional career opportunities – specifically higher-

paying positions*Excludes Nursing

Other Actions

When recruiting older students to STEM fields:• Clarify degree requirements• Explore ways to offer courses that support a working

adult schedule• Downplay myths about STEM skills being “fixed” and

promote a growth mindset instead• Clarify benefits of STEM degrees and the types of

careers that can result from such degrees

When recruiting students interested in career change:• Collect feedback from employers on relevant job skills• Explore partnerships with employers to improve the

skills of their current workforce (e.g., emphasize tuition reimbursement programs)

Contact Information

Jim Fong

Questions?