Most adult learners are young to middle-aged and already employed. Many are married with children. As such, one of the major barriers to participating in educational programs is time/energy commitments to childcare, home or a job. Work responsibilities can eat into time needed for either traditional (classroom) or distance education. Taking care of a sick child can easily cut into time needed for study.
Lack of sufficient money to cover educational costs constitutes another major barrier to participation. While student loans are available and not difficult to access, many adults are reluctant to take on additional debt. Distance education can be much more affordable financially but still beyond the ability of some to pay. Those students who believe the education will improve career advancement and future pay are the most likely to both participate in education and take on debt.
Whether the education is traditional or online, good time management is essential for adult students. Time for classes and studying must be carved out of an already busy schedule for most adults. Scheduling for classes, webinars, faculty phone calls and reading/writing requires juggling work and family commitments. Lack of time for education is one of the barriers to learning cited by many adults when surveyed about participation in learning programs.
While most students now have access to computers and hardware/software training to become technologically-proficient, lack of specific computer training remains an issue for prospective adult learners. Getting on the Internet is one thing; performing all the sophisticated tasks involved in distance education may be another. Particular training in software used in distance education programs is necessary for a comfort level of use for many adult students. Many educational institutions provide additional training in their proprietary software through online tutorials for new students.