Belated entry: Gender differences and similarities in the pattern of nontraditional college enrollment

Building on research showing that the incidence of late or nontraditional entry into higher education is influenced by both individuals' needs and resources, we examine possible gender differences in its pattern. Our event history analysis using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data shows the importance of employment- and family-related factors in illuminating gender differences and similarities in the correlates of nontraditional college enrollment. Specifically, work experience is significantly and negatively associated with men's nontraditional college entry, while no comparable effect of experience exists for women. Divorce promotes only women's nontraditional enrollment, and the gender difference in this effect is significant in case of entry into four-year institutions. The presence of preschoolers adversely affects women's attendance at two- and four-year institutions and men's attendance at four-year institutions. However, mothers of older children, unlike fathers, are more likely to experience nontraditional entry, while their educational destinations are limited to two-year institutions.