Perspectives of adult undergraduate women working towards a degree

Abstract

Adult learners have identified financial challenges in their pursuit of a college education. While it is understood that tuition and other educational expenses are among these challenges, perspectives on daily financial challenges and their impact on college-going are not as heavily represented in the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the financial experiences adult women in the United States encounter in pursuit of a college degree in order to better support adult learners more broadly. Using feminist narrative framework, the study introduces eight women who were in the final stages of bachelor’s degree completion at a private women’s college and overcame various financial obstacles to do so. The findings indicate that women’s lives are a complex web of challenges that create educational barriers.