'I Need A Degree In Order To Move Forward': Why Some Adults Choose College

A new father trying to provide for his family. A grandmother finishing what she started more than four decades ago. A man navigating multiple schools, hidden curriculums and financial hurdles. These are just some of the older students working toward a degree in the U.S.

The majority of today's college students have characteristics that describe them as "nontraditional": They work; they're raising children; they're not coming straight from high school. And while some just take a couple-year detour to make money or care for family, others are going back far later in life.

In 2018, nearly 7.6 million college students were 25 years old and over, according to estimates from the federal government. That's about 2 in 5 students in higher education.

And being on older student comes with its own challenges — think of the years separating them from their last high school math class. But those students tell NPR that studying later in life also has advantages: They have skills and tools that could only have come with age and maturity.

Here are some of their stories.

-- Elissa Nadworny, NPR

Santa Benavidez Ramirez, 42 (San Antonio)

When Santa Benavidez Ramirez has a big test or assignment, she takes a couple vacation hours and goes to the library.

The 42-year-old mother of four works full time in the finance department of San Antonio's community college system, and the school library is about 10 minutes away.