Special Student Populations

 

Much as there are many flavors of ice cream to choose from in an ice cream shop, there is no one-size-fits-all definition of today’s students. There are many different kinds of students with a variety of needs. From a policy perspective, it is important to report on these special populations of students, and to describe how their outcomes and situations may vary.

Adult Learners

About a quarter of Minnesota undergraduates are aged 25 or older. This population, also known as “adult learners” typically has a postsecondary experience that is distinct from that of students who enroll in college immediately following high school graduation. As Minnesota seeks to boost the state’s overall attainment rate, it is important for the state to understand the unique demographics and needs of this group of students.

Reports

• Minnesota’s Adult Learners: Examining First-Enrolled and Stop-Out Adult Learners in Minnesota [14 pgs; release date December 2022]

Student Parents

Roughly 10% of Minnesota undergraduates who apply for a Minnesota State Grant are student parents. This unique population of students is distinct from both students who enroll in college immediately following high school graduation and from other adult learners.

Reports

• Undergraduates with Children, 2016-2017 [release date: 2018]
• Undergraduate Student Parents in Minnesota [6 pgs; release date: April 2020]

Special Populations Interactive Dashboard

The State of Minnesota is working to increase the accessibility of higher education to all learners in order to pursue the educational attainment goal as dictated by the Minnesota State Legislature in 2015: by 2025, 70% of Minnesotan adults age 25-44 will have attained a postsecondary certificate or degree. As an important step towards this goal and increasing educational accessibility for traditionally underserved populations, this so-called "Special Populations Dashboard" visualizes data related to the trends in educational enrollment that these populations have been showing from the academic years 2016 through 2023. In understanding current trends, there will be a better understanding in how higher education in Minnesota can better recruit, retain, and overall serve these populations in ways that fit their needs. The information on this dashboard will hopefully benefit members of the State Legislature, faculty of the Office of Higher Education and other government agencies serving students, academic institutions, and students themselves.

Reports

Minnesota’s Special Student Populations Dashboard [release date: 2023]