Adult Education

Why Institution-Wide Employer Alignment Will Define the Next Era of Higher Ed

Higher education is at an inflection point. Institutions are facing a demographic cliff in traditional-age enrollment, softening international pipelines, and increasing scrutiny around the return on investment of a degree. At the same time, the World Economic Forum reports that 59 out of every 100 workers globally are projected to require reskilling or upskilling…

Career-Connected Continuing Ed: How Upright Education Helps Colleges Upskill Adult Learners in Digital Skills

Higher education is undergoing a quiet shift. While undergraduate enrollments remain in long-term decline, continuing education has emerged as one of the sector’s fastest-growing segments, expanding at more than 11% annually. At the same time, rapid advances in AI, data, and cybersecurity are reshaping nearly every job category, forcing institutions to rethink how quickly…

Finding the North Star for Adult Learning: How UTI Is Redefining Workforce Education for Today’s Talent Needs

In a world where rapid technological change is redefining how we live, work, and learn, the demand for skilled labor and lifelong learning has never been higher. From electric vehicle repair to advanced diagnostics in healthcare, the U.S. faces a widening talent gap in the skilled trades and allied health industries. According to the…

Holistic Support in Higher Ed: Why Non-Traditional Students Need More Than Just Financial Aid

Non-traditional students—adult learners, student parents, veterans, and first-generation college-goers—are carrying heavier burdens than ever. Upswing’s 2024 Ana Insights Report found that nearly nine in ten students intended to complete a FAFSA application, while many also sought help with essentials like food, housing, and bill payments. Perhaps most concerning, students expressed declining confidence in higher…

Creating a Lifelong Learner’s Pathway with Kermit Cook, CEO at Penn Foster (Episode 2)

Artificial intelligence is no longer a fringe concept; it’s at the center of educational innovation. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, public confidence in higher education has dropped from 57% in 2015 to 36% in 2023, largely due to concerns around cost, value, and workforce preparedness. In a landscape where AI tools are swiftly…

Creating a Lifelong Learner’s Pathway with Kermit Cook, CEO at Penn Foster (Episode 1)

Education is in a period of rapid reinvention as technology, economic pressures, and workforce needs redefine how people learn. College costs continue to climb, with average tuition at private nonprofit four-year institutions now exceeding $43,000 a year. Even public four-year colleges average over $11,000 annually for in-state students, and public two-year programs cost more…

How Calbright College Is Using AI, Micro-Internships, and Flexible Learning to Serve Adult Learners in California

At a time when traditional higher education is being reevaluated for its return on investment, institutions like Calbright College are emerging as transformative forces. With roughly 6.6 million students in California having some college experience but no degree, the pressure is on to create alternative pathways that are flexible, skill-driven, and aligned with workforce…

A Skills-First Model Without Student Debt: How MedCerts Is Tackling the Healthcare Staffing Crisis With Tech-Driven Training

A growing healthcare staffing crisis is forcing institutions to rethink how the next generation of clinical talent is trained. A study by Mercer and Lightcast, cited by the American Hospital Association, projects that the U.S. could be short of as many as 100,000 critical healthcare workers by 2028. This urgent gap is pushing innovators to…

Debt-Free and Results-First: ACE Is Rewriting the Rules of Higher Ed

As student loan debt surpasses $1.7 trillion nationwide, cracks in the traditional higher education model are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Meanwhile, the American College of Education is quietly operating with an approach that flies in the face of convention, where 85% of its students graduate debt-free. What does it take to build a…

Changing Lives with the KFC Foundation

How alternative education pathways are opening doors for adults whose lives took unexpected turns

Celebrating National GED Day

Leaders challenge workplace bias against alternative education credentials and unlock workforce potential

How Non-Traditional Education Paths Are Revolutionizing the Workforce

Employers are quietly shifting away from degree requirements as alternative credentials prove equally capable

Breaking the Cycle and Inspiring Others

Adults are increasingly choosing alternative education paths to overcome barriers and reshape their futures despite societal assumptions

From the GED to a PhD to the Board of Directors: A Journey of Resilience and Empowerment

One educator's unconventional path from high school equivalency to executive leadership reveals how alternative education routes can unlock unprecedented opport

Adult Education is Experiencing a Renaissance That is Reshaping the Educational Landscape

Millions of Americans are returning to school, forcing institutions to rethink how they serve adult learners with competing demands

Creating a Future of Supporting Lifelong Learning Will Also Depend on Adult Learners and Their Access to Education

Flexible online education is closing wage gaps by making skill development accessible to adults who missed traditional pathways