Adult students, less financial aid

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - More than half of all Hoosier college students go to school part-time and many in that group are adults over the age of 25.

Compared to traditional, full-time college students, they get very little financial assistance.

Indiana has $253 million set aside for financial aid. But, there is only a little more than $5 million for part-time students, many of whom are adults.

Over the past two years, part-timers have grown from one-third to over half the population of Hoosier college students. That means less money for more people.

"Obviously we need more money so student loans is the only option we have," Josh Epling, a 35-year-old nursing student at Ivy Tech said.

The State Budget Committee and the Commission for Higher Education met Wednesday to discuss financial aid. One proposed change included an aid fund specifically for part-time and adult students.