There were more than three and one-half times as many college students age 35 and over in 1996 as in 1972. The number of students in higher education age 35 and over increased from 783,000 in 1972 to 2,778,000 in 1996. In 1972, students age 35 and over comprised 8.6 percent of total enrollment in higher education. In 1996, 18.2 percent of the students were 35 and above. The number of these older students has increased at a faster rate than the enrollment in most other age groups.
Older students tend to make better grades than younger students.