Nontraditional students comprise a substantial portion of the University of Houston-Downtown's (UHD) student population.

Nearly 30 percent of UHD students are over the age of 30. These students often manage professional careers and families while earning degrees.

Recently, UHD was recognized for its service to nontraditional students and earned a place among the "50 Best Colleges for Adult Education." UHD ranked No. 16 on this list of institutions compiled by Great Value Colleges.

The list of "50 Best Colleges for Adult Education" recognizes colleges and universities that keep tuition low and are committed to adult and military students. UHD is specifically cited for its certificate programs, online curriculum and its support of military veterans.

"Out of the 44 bachelor degree areas of study, UHD offers 15 online degree completion programs for students who have completed core coursework at another university or community college, as well as three graduate degrees," Great Value College reports.

Great Value College reviewed 100 U.S. universities with the highest percentage of students over the age of 25 and developed a point system based the following factors:

• affordability
• bachelor's programs
• graduate study availability
• additional programs/services to nontraditional students
• student-faculty ratio
• student retention
• academic awards and recognition

"The term 'nontraditional' is applied to many students. At UHD, all of our students are traditional in the sense that they are committed to excellence in the classroom and in our community," said UHD Interim President Michael A. Olivas. "We are proud to be a university of choice for many Houstonians who balance careers, parenthood and life's responsibilities with their studies. Likewise, we are dedicated to the veterans who are transitioning from military careers to civilian lives, in which studies play a part. To be ranked as one of the 'Best Colleges for Adult Education' is indeed an honor for UHD. However, I think it is equally a tribute to our wonderful students, to whom all of us at UHD have committed ourselves."

Great Value Colleges is an online resource aimed at helping students identify and select universities and degree programs. The website also offers facts on higher education institutions to help students make smart choices with regards to tuition, scholarships and financial aid. UHD has previously earned spots on Great Value Colleges' rankings of "100 Most Affordable Online Colleges" and "Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in Houston."

The diversity of the student body and affordability of tuition are a reflection of UHD’s commitment to the Houston Guided Pathways to Success (Houston GPS) initiative. This multi-institutional partnership fosters collaboration among area colleges and universities with the goal of helping students graduate on time and with less debt. Additionally, Houston GPS is focused on streamlining the transfer process between local community colleges and universities.