by Zeniya Cooley
At Central Carolina Technical College, it’s never too late to learn. In fact, adult learners—students older than 25—are a prominent demographic at the college, which currently enrolls over 3,000 students across its Sumter, Clarendon, Kershaw, and Lee campuses.
The school’s strong adult learner population reflects national statistics revealing that adult college students comprise almost one-third of the post-secondary student population, or approximately 6.3 million students. But it also highlights how Central Carolina has positioned itself as an ideal institution for adult students, providing them with rigorous coursework, flexible course formats, affordability, and hands-on learning opportunities.
The third factor initially drew 46-year-old Sondra McCauley, who graduated from Central Carolina with an associate’s degree in human services in May, to the college. McCauley had previously worked at a day program for seniors after earning her bachelor’s degree from Morris College in 2017. She spent the next couple of years building on her education and ultimately decided to return to Central Carolina—where she originally matriculated shortly after high school—because it offered free tuition.
The college also provided a flexible, high-quality human services program, which aligned with McCauley’s experience working with senior citizens. “I love working with the seniors, so with the human services degree, I could get more into working [in a senior center],” she said.
Central Carolina helped her pursue this goal by offering strong financial support. In addition to benefiting from the school’s free tuition, McCauley received a Foundation Scholarship to help cover education-related costs. The scholarship, which provides $500 to $2,500 to awarded students, is funded by private donors and—although available to students of all ages—has helped many adult learners pursue their education without worrying about financial burdens.
As a person with Crohn’s disease, McCauley also praised the school for providing support for her disability. “There was more help with my disability, and not only [from] the faculty and staff [but also] the students. Everybody was just willing to help,” she said. “It really helped me be where I’m at now because I graduated and I made all A’s straight through.”
McCauley is now seeking online programs in psychology and social work to complement her human services degree. This way, she’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the field in addition to having the practical skills she’s gained from her previous day center job and an internship with SC Works that she completed as part of her program. She hopes this combination of skills and credentials will help her open a senior center, where seniors will “get breakfast, play games, and go on field trips.”
49-year-old Christy Pinho-Perdigao, who will receive her associate degree in human services in 2026, plans to do similar work by using her Central Carolina degree to help elders in the community.
Before moving to South Carolina, Pinho-Perdigao had lived in Massachusetts, where she worked as a personal care assistant while also raising kids. Upon moving to Sumter, she had trouble finding a job, so she decided to re-enroll in college.
Pinho-Perdigao described her experience returning to school as largely positive. “The staff are very enthusiastic and helpful, and professors will walk you through any problems you have,” she said.
Pinho-Perdigao added that having such supportive professors has been critical to her success as an online student. “Online is not easy, so having someone to support you in that environment makes all the difference,” said Perdigao.
Indeed, research shows that adult learners—who are more likely to be online students than their younger counterparts—face different challenges while continuing their education online. This includes managing conflicting responsibilities, maintaining focus during study sessions, and navigating rigid course structures and requirements. However, high-quality student-instructor interactions like the kind Pinho-Perdigao has experienced at Central Carolina can strongly influence student success and satisfaction in online settings.
Despite the challenges adult learners sometimes face, Pinho-Perdigao doesn’t regret coming back to school. In fact, she’s gratified by the numerous benefits of continuing her education, including receiving praise from family members and making the president’s list. She believes the biggest benefit, though, is the indescribable satisfaction of working toward a personal goal.
“It feels good to [continue my education],” said Pinho-Perdigao. “My friend is thinking about going back to school, too, and I said, ‘Do it.’ I’d tell other people the same thing. It’s worth it personally.”