A traditional student is a category of students at
colleges and universities.
In the United States, it is used to refer to
post-secondary
Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank, for example, defines tertiary education as including univers ...
students under 25 years old who enroll directly from high school, attend full-time, and do not have major life and work responsibilities (e.g., full-time job or dependents). Historically, traditional students made up the majority of students. However, these students are now a minority in the United States. It is frequently observed that traditional higher education programs and policies are geared toward, and the outcome of, the previous era when traditional students were the main market for higher education.
Traditional students are contrasted with
non-traditional students
A nontraditional student is a term originating in North America, that refers to a category of students at colleges and universities.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) notes that there are varying definitions of nontraditional s ...
, which typically refers to adult students who are not participating in higher education immediately after high school, are 25 years old and older, and/or have major life and work roles and responsibilities.
National Center for Education Statistics. "Nontraditional Undergraduates", Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. (pp. 2-3) Accessed 10 July 2017
References
{{reflist
Higher education
Students in the United States