Philippine E-Journals

Factors Influencing Non-traditional Students’ Decision to Return to College: A Qualitative Study

Rene M. Nob | Alexandra Nuñez

 

Abstract:

We intended to learn about the reasons why non-traditional students return to college to attain a degree. A qualitative study was undertaken on five non-traditional students. From the interviews, we found that non-traditional students return to school and persist toward attaining a college degree because of facilitating conditions such as social comparison, their aspirations for better work opportunities and for their children’s better life conditions, the drive to amend a neglected aspect of the self, social support, and the desire to meet the educational aspirations of their family. All themes reflected utility and attainment values. Future research direction is also discussed.