• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, May 17, 2006

According to The Media Audit, there are 137.4 million adults and 25.4 million plan to take college level courses in the next 12 months in the 87 metropolitan markets regularly surveyed.

Bob Jordan, president of International Demographics, Inc., publisher of The Media Audit, said "Of the 25.4 million with plans to take college courses, 57.7 percent are between the ages of 18 and 34. The remaining 42.3 percent are 35 and older."

Business Week magazine,says Jordan, reported that "Many retirees have long favored college... but now colleges are actively recruiting retirees with housing that allows them to live on or adjacent to campus, and with many of the perks enjoyed by faculty and staff." 

Additional "Senior College Bound Stats" according to Jordon include:

• More than 580,000 adults over the age of 65 plan on taking college courses and 165,000 of those are over age 75
• In every age group beyond age 35, there are more women than men planning to attend college level courses
• 88,000 women and 77,000 men over age 75 plan to take college courses
• Among those age 50 plus, just 56.4 percent already have at least one degree
• 28.5 percent say they have "some" college
• 15.1 percent (age 50 plus) who plan to attend college are doing so for the first time 

 For more information, please view the release at The Media Audit.