Redesigning Student Support for Gen Z Adult Learners Diagnostic

Generation Z is already filling undergraduate classrooms—and increasingly, adult-serving programs as well. By 2031, Gen Z will make up 60% of the adult learner population, bringing different expectations, preferences, and support needs than previous generations. Many undergraduate-serving programs have been adapting to Gen Z for years, but adult-serving programs and operations have often been slower to respond.

For professional, continuing, and online education (PCO) leaders, the challenge is not just recognizing that Gen Z adult learners are different. It is understanding which student services, processes, policies, and digital experiences need to change now to support these learners through completion. Three forces are especially important for colleges and universities to address: