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These Are the Best Schools for Nontraditional Students

By Ryan Morris
Sep. 18, 2017
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 30, 2026

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Top Schools for Nontraditional Students in 2026

In recent years, the landscape of higher education has evolved significantly, particularly for nontraditional students. While many American college students still enroll immediately after high school—typically between the ages of 18-22—this path is not the only option available. Factors such as financial constraints, work commitments, and personal circumstances often lead individuals to pursue education at a later stage in life.

Nontraditional students include those who may not fit the typical college age demographic, attend school part-time, or engage in online learning rather than traditional on-campus experiences. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nontraditional students now comprise over 70% of all college enrollees. This statistic has prompted us at Zippia to investigate which colleges in the United States offer the most supportive environments for nontraditional students.

To compile our list, we utilized data from IPEDS via the NCES, focusing on colleges that demonstrate a commitment to accommodating nontraditional learners. Below, we present the top ten schools that excel in this area.

  1. Excelsior College
  2. Capella University
  3. Linfield College
  4. American Sentinel University
  5. American Public University System
  6. Charter Oak State College
  7. Nazarene Bible College
  8. National American University
  9. Pennsylvania State University – World Campus
  10. City Vision University

Methodology

Using comprehensive data from the National Center for Education Statistics, we evaluated schools based on several key factors:

  • Availability of Dual Credit programs
  • Acceptance of Credit for Life Experiences
  • Participation in Advanced Placement (AP) programs

We specifically analyzed the percentage of students at each institution who were enrolled part-time, identified as nontraditional age (outside the 18-22 range), and engaged in distance education. Schools were ranked based on these criteria, with those approaching 100% receiving the highest scores. The final rankings reflect the schools most accommodating to nontraditional students.

1. Excelsior College

Source

Location: Albany, New York
School Description: Excelsior College is a private, nonprofit institution renowned for its inclusive approach to education. Almost all of its students are classified as nontraditional, and the college boasts a flexible transfer credit policy that accepts credits from various institutions if earned within the last decade.

2. Capella University

Source

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
School Description: Primarily an online university, Capella University serves a diverse population of nontraditional students, with a significant portion pursuing graduate degrees.

3. Linfield College

Source

Location: McMinnville, Oregon
School Description: Linfield College is a liberal arts institution offering nearly 50 majors, with a robust online adult degree program designed for nontraditional learners.

4. American Sentinel University

Source

Location: Denver, Colorado and Birmingham, Alabama
School Description: The university emerged from the merger of two institutions and now offers a range of business and technology courses, focusing heavily on online education.

5. American Public University System

Source

Location: Charles Town, West Virginia
School Description: Comprised of American Military University and American Public University, this institution specializes in online education, originally catering to military personnel seeking advanced training.

6. Charter Oak State College

Source

Location: New Britain, Connecticut
School Description: Charter Oak State College offers extensive support for students, including credit for military training and previous learning experiences, along with a strong online learning component.

7. Nazarene Bible College

Source

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
School Description: Nazarene Bible College is a private institution focused primarily on nontraditional students, boasting an average student age of 38 and no on-campus housing.

8. National American University

Source

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
School Description: This accredited for-profit university offers a variety of programs including nursing and information technology, primarily through online formats.

9. Pennsylvania State University – World Campus

Source

Location: State College, Pennsylvania
School Description: A major public university, Penn State’s World Campus caters to a large nontraditional student demographic, providing a comprehensive online learning experience.

10. City Vision University

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
School Description: This online university specializes in programs that cater to nontraditional learners, particularly in fields like addiction studies and nonprofit management.

Conclusion

Our comprehensive list of schools that are particularly friendly to nontraditional students is just the beginning. As education continues to adapt to the needs of diverse learners, resources and opportunities will keep expanding. For high school students considering their options, explore the best colleges for fraternities and sororities.

If you’re looking for more insightful articles like this, check out the best small colleges in Kansas.

Rank Institution Name % Of Students Nontraditional Age % Of Part-Time Students % Of Distance Education Students
1 Excelsior College 91.84% 100.00% 100.00%
2 Capella University 96.18% 92.11% 100.00%
3 Linfield College 92.92% 95.10% 99.73%
4 American Sentinel University 97.83% 79.15% 100.00%
5 American Public University System 85.04% 91.81% 100.00%
6 Charter Oak State College 90.26% 81.04% 100.00%
7 Nazarene Bible College 91.70% 84.67% 89.40%
8 National American University 86.16% 98.74% 86.79%
9 Pennsylvania State University – World Campus 82.96% 80.62% 100.00%
10 City Vision University 89.62% 76.42% 100.00%
11 University of Maryland – University College 82.76% 82.71% 96.87%
12 Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso Campus 73.99% 82.34% 98.89%
13 Elizabethtown College 97.36% 100.00% 56.92%
14 Averett University-Non-Traditional Programs 90.82% 73.97% 80.32%
15 Marylhurst University 88.59% 73.63% 80.55%
16 Coastline Community College 73.05% 84.85% 84.82%
17 Grand Canyon University 75.18% 81.02% 78.54%
18 Peirce College 76.99% 82.14% 64.52%
19 DeVry University-Illinois 83.37% 70.67% 91.85%
20 Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network 70.27% 78.12% 66.47%
21 DeVry University-Georgia 86.37% 67.93% 82.98%
22 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide 90.11% 65.37% 93.57%
23 College of Biblical Studies-Houston 86.52% 83.69% 47.52%
24 Brandman University 90.42% 65.94% 82.92%
25 The Art Institute of Pittsburgh-Online Division 70.93% 66.69% 100.00%
26 City University of Seattle 77.93% 64.21% 100.00%
27 Wayland Baptist University 75.03% 78.51% 49.30%
28 Goodwin College 70.05% 84.28% 49.79%
29 Concordia University-Chicago 73.05% 70.62% 58.05%
30 Georgia Piedmont Technical College 72.08% 76.28% 49.18%
31 DeVry University-Ohio 77.46% 63.94% 85.65%
32 Central Texas College 64.32% 77.70% 52.93%
33 Antioch University Online 88.31% 59.74% 100.00%
34 Great Basin College 62.81% 69.42% 81.39%
35 Holy Apostles College and Seminary 82.58% 65.16% 61.76%
36 Clarkson College 66.75% 65.79% 91.31%
37 Rasmussen College-Minnesota 67.45% 65.81% 82.51%
38 Rasmussen College-Kansas 75.95% 61.45% 99.62%
39 Franklin University 88.04% 60.27% 84.48%
40 Epic Bible College 75.81% 71.51% 47.31%
41 Southern New Hampshire University 79.32% 60.30% 91.98%
42 Park University 75.70% 63.10% 71.26%
43 University of Maine at Augusta 71.94% 64.49% 68.61%
44 Wilmington University 70.13% 63.11% 84.96%
45 SUNY Empire State College 83.61% 63.30% 58.60%
46 Davenport University 65.48% 67.34% 61.19%
47 Northwest Technical College 58.24% 70.74% 72.96%
48 Regent University 76.92% 60.04% 86.47%
49 Post University 77.75% 58.97% 91.56%
50 Lakeshore Technical College 62.78% 75.96% 46.88%
51 Rappahannock Community College 70.05% 76.98% 41.92%
52 New Mexico Junior College 56.52% 67.43% 100.00%
53 Colorado Christian University 73.02% 73.02% 42.22%
54 Florida Gateway College 59.44% 71.26% 55.49%
55 Athens State University 67.74% 59.68% 88.62%
56 Herzing University-Madison 82.09% 54.56% 92.12%
57 Western Texas College 52.40% 74.15% 78.95%
58 Columbus Technical College 59.55% 74.18% 47.18%
59 Rasmussen College-Illinois 69.34% 58.25% 87.30%
60 University of St Francis 67.27% 62.12% 59.84%
61 Heritage Christian University 69.57% 59.78% 66.30%
62 St Petersburg College 57.21% 70.72% 51.94%
63 Southwestern College 64.11% 63.02% 58.19%
64 Northcentral Technical College 55.57% 66.62% 72.93%
65 Stark State College 63.82% 72.71% 41.77%
66 Pamlico Community College 70.45% 61.74% 52.02%
67 Lake Region State College 50.57% 72.11% 86.97%
68 Lorain County Community College 61.78% 72.76% 43.12%
69 Klamath Community College 56.78% 65.36% 67.08%
70 Stratford University 72.60% 62.49% 49.17%
71 Arapahoe Community College 64.99% 80.27% 37.64%
72 Fayetteville Technical Community College 62.16% 60.95% 65.13%
73 Rasmussen College-Wisconsin 69.42% 54.07% 95.28%
74 Stanly Community College 57.83% 62.56% 80.30%
75 Liberty University 71.61% 52.90% 90.09%
76 Yavapai College 66.78% 74.45% 37.85%
77 Lenoir Community College 60.21% 61.23% 68.66%
78 Marygrove College 66.96% 60.80% 55.51%
79 Minnesota West Community and Technical College 61.20% 63.38% 57.04%
80 Terra State Community College 59.46% 71.38% 44.23%
81 Metropolitan State University 73.41% 65.30% 43.01%
82 Technical College of the Lowcountry 55.96% 71.48% 48.46%
83 Rasmussen College-Florida 76.30% 49.26% 94.22%
84 Webster University 81.85% 67.59% 37.49%
85 Maryville University of Saint Louis 65.68% 65.87% 44.28%
86 Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City 53.51% 68.49% 59.89%
87 Virginia Baptist College 62.96% 56.48% 74.07%
88 LIU Riverhead 72.85% 64.24% 43.05%
89 Cedar Valley College 57.09% 71.77% 44.17%
90 Kennebec Valley Community College 62.37% 73.31% 38.08%
91 McDowell Technical Community College 63.38% 67.00% 43.13%
92 College of the Siskiyous 61.69% 65.73% 46.12%
93 Central Ohio Technical College 59.03% 72.83% 41.03%
94 University of Maine at Fort Kent 56.64% 62.60% 61.26%
95 Clark State Community College 59.09% 71.56% 40.90%
96 The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences 48.03% 71.10% 74.90%
97 Kirtland Community College 55.28% 68.06% 49.08%
98 Central Georgia Technical College 62.10% 66.18% 43.25%
99 Granite State College 74.25% 47.45% 81.83%
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Author

Ryan Morris

Ryan Morris was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog who tried to make the job process a little more entertaining for all those involved. He obtained his BA and Masters from Appalachian State University.

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