Despite the similarities between traditional and non-traditional students, differences in adult students' experiences and perceptions of education make their transition towards the single college. To successfully recruit and retain nontraditional students, universities must provide resources and incentives to this sector of students. In the United States, in the mid-1970s, only 30% of all jobs required higher education (Gonzalez). Today, the reality is that 63% of them now need post-secondary education (Gonzalez). The sheer number of job losses in recent years due to the declining economy has had a significant impact on the non-traditional student population. With this growing trend in education, universities must compete to attract these types of students. Many schools offer attractive packages for non-traditional students; however, others fail to make their university “adult-friendly.” To attract these types of students, new policies, procedures and programs must be put in place by the administration in consultation with the professors who teach these students. Attracting adult students to public universities means investing in child care, health care plans and financial aid, as well as additional privileges extending to course access, selection and to the admission conditions. The majority of nontraditional students have children and provide child care on campus. would be most convincing for them. UC Berkeley has an exceptional program in place to help mature students return to earn their degree (Once Upon a University, A Handbook for Student Parents). UC Berkeley offers child care on campus. In addition to providing (paid) child care, a student unable to provide...... middle of paper ...... Focuses on preparing adult learners for careers . " February 27, 2011. The Chronicle of Higher Education November 1, 2011. .National Center for Education Statistics. October 1, 2009. November 10, 2011. “Once Upon a University, A Handbook for Student Parents.” November 4, 2011. .UMass Amhurst, University Without Walls 2009. Web. November 12, 2011. .Weidman, John C. “Retention of Nontraditional Students in Postsecondary Education »., 1985. 16.