The results of this study also revealed differences in the enrollment trends of nontraditional undergraduates according to type of institution. These findings suggest that private 4-year colleges, which have historically attracted traditional students, may be reaching out to a less traditional population to maintain their enrollment levels. Consistent with the findings of earlier research, this study found that nontraditional students, even those who are minimally nontraditional, do not persist in postsecondary education as well as traditional students. For example, one in three minimally nontraditional students left school without a credential, compared with one in five traditional students. An important consideration when designing and implementing programs to reduce attrition among nontraditional students is to determine when these students leave postsecondary education.
Nontraditional students are highly likely to leave in their first year of postsecondary education.
However, evidence from this study suggests that the gap in attrition between nontraditional and traditional students closes considerably from the second year on. Thus, it seems crucial that programs aimed at reducing nontraditional attrition rates be implemented from the very start of a student's enrollment in postsecondary education.