A recent college graduate reflects on the challenges faced by nontraditional students in higher education, highlighting how systemic barriers often prevent many from completing their degrees. With only six in ten students earning a degree within six years, the author argues that traditional academic structures fail to accommodate those who enter later in life or under different circumstances. Their personal journey underscores broader inequities in the system, offering firsthand insight into why reform is urgently needed. The piece explores practical ways institutions could better support diverse learners.
When I graduated from college in December 2025, I crossed a stage I once worried I would never see. In the months since, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how many students start but never finish. Just six in 10 students earn a degree within six years. While that number is bad […] The post STUDENT VOICE: Higher education was never built for nontraditional students like me. Here’s why it can and should be appeared first on The Hechinger Report.
