Who are the adult students in Quebec’s higher education programs?
This article paints a rare portrait of the adult student population (24 years and above) in Quebec colleges based on a sample of 1,073 students. This portrait is rooted in different characteristics, namely gender, parental status, place of birth, and paid work while in school. It sheds light on the challenges of integrating this student population into the school system upon their entry into college. The results highlight the heterogeneous realities of adult students and the importance of providing them with better financial support. They also underscore the academic difficulties reported by women students, student parents, and immigrant students.