The advising needs of a student fresh out of high school look nothing like those of an adult returning to school after years away. Yet many institutions still rely on a one-size-fits-all advising model.

With more than 43 million Americans holding some college but no credential, adapting your advising approach isn’t optional, it’s essential. Failing to recognize adult learners’ distinct needs, motivations, and life circumstances means missing a critical opportunity to boost persistence and completion.

Understanding the traditional student

Advising for traditional students is built around a familiar profile: typically 18 to 22 years old, enrolled full-time, living on or near campus, with education as their primary focus and limited external responsibilities.

Their advising needs center on academic planning, course selection, and navigating campus life. This model has served its purpose, but it falls short when applied to today’s adult learner.

Understanding the adult learner

The adult learner profile looks quite different. At ReUp, 86% of the learners we work with are 25 or older. They bring significant life and professional experience to their studies — but they also juggle immense responsibilities. They are parents, employees, and community members first, and students second.

Their motivations are deeply personal. ReUp data shows that while 58% of stopped-out learners surveyed express a desire to return, their reasons vary:

• 38% want to “finish what I started”
• 18% want to “build a better life”
• 13% want to “advance their career”

Adult learners aren’t just seeking a degree. They’re looking for a clear path to a better future, and their advising needs reflect that.

Key differences in advising approaches

Supporting adult learners effectively isn’t about minor tweaks. It requires rethinking the entire support structure.

1. Flexibility and accessibility

Traditional advising happens within standard office hours and in-person meetings. That model doesn’t work for adults balancing jobs and families.

Make advising accessible by offering virtual and drop-in sessions, extended hours, and multiple communication channels — phone, email, and video chat. The goal is to meet learners where they are, on their schedule. Early advising, even before enrollment, helps learners stay on track from day one.

2. Holistic and proactive support

Traditional advising is primarily academic. Adult learners need support that extends beyond course selection, connecting them with career services, financial aid, and community resources like childcare.

Cross-training advisors in these areas is essential so they can serve as the consistent, trusted contact point adult learners need. And rather than waiting for a learner to ask for help, advisors should initiate outreach early, ask open-ended questions about goals, and build a cadence of regular, ongoing conversations.

3. Personalized guidance

Generic outreach can overwhelm adult learners with information that isn’t relevant to them. Personalized support is far more effective, whether that means tailored guidance for a learner nearing degree completion or connecting someone with an industry-specific internship opportunity.

Lower advisor-to-learner ratios and integrated services help create this environment. When advisors know when and how a learner needs extra support, they can offer it at exactly the right time.

4. Empowering self-advocacy

For adult learners, the ability to self-advocate is a leading indicator of success. Research shows this population benefits most from a collaborative advising approach in which the learners lead the process rather than follow a predetermined path.

Work together to build personalized academic plans that reflect each learner’s unique goals. When learners are treated as capable adults with distinct challenges, they’re far more likely to succeed.

Real-world examples of effective advising

Many ReUp partners are already putting these strategies into practice.

• Indiana Tech’s Warrior Information Network serves as a one-stop contact for academic counseling, offering extended hours and fast response times by phone or email.
• Hudson County Community College provides holistic, individualized advising through its award-winning Hudson Scholars program, including financial stipends tied to participation with advisors, which has significantly increased student retention.
• Gateway Technical College hosts multi-day events where learners receive integrated support for advising, registration, financial aid, veterans services, and career counseling in one convenient format.

These examples show that with creative thinking and a commitment to adult learners, it’s possible to build an advising model that truly works.

Checklist: Advising adult learners

Use this checklist to identify where your institution can better support adult learners:

• Offer flexible advising options — virtual, extended hours, and self-service tools
• Proactively reach out to adult learners early in the enrollment process
• Cross-train advisors in financial aid, career services, and basic needs resources
• Encourage self-advocacy by collaborating on personalized academic plans
• Provide holistic support that addresses both academic and non-academic needs
• Use multiple communication channels to stay connected — email, text, phone, and video
• Regularly assess and adapt advising strategies to meet evolving learner needs

Want to see how your institution measures up? Take our assessment quiz to evaluate your current adult learner practices.