Survey of 305 Prospective Students Points Toward Evening, Online Options

Lake Land College | August 17, 2026

Article Summary: Dr. Lynn Breer, director of institutional research and reporting, presented baseline prospective student survey results to Lake Land College trustees on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, showing sharp divides by age in preferred class times and formats. Work schedules and class-time conflicts were the top two barriers to attendance across every age group.

Prospective Student Survey Key Points:

• 305 community members responded; 169 (55%) expressed interest in attending Lake Land in the future and were asked follow-up questions.
• Respondents 25 and older ranked online first (53%), while those 17 and younger ranked in-person first (67%).
• 87% cited work and 64% cited class times that don’t fit their life as among the three most likely barriers to attending class.
• Results feed the strategic planning goal of “Provide Customer-Centric Schedules & Learning Options.”

MATTOON — A baseline survey of prospective Lake Land College students found that the college’s two largest potential audiences want almost opposite things from a class schedule, according to data presented to the Board of Trustees on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.

Dr. Lynn Breer, director of institutional research and reporting, presented the results with a supporting PowerPoint. The survey, administered in late spring 2026 and reported as of July 1, was distributed through dual credit contacts, local high schools, businesses, social media, mailing lists and community events.

Of 305 respondents, 169 reported interest in attending Lake Land in the future. The report notes that among those not interested, the most common reason was already holding a degree (47%), followed by being too busy with work (16%) and planning to attend another college (13%).

Age Splits the Findings

Among the 169 interested respondents, 57% were 24 or younger, with 23% age 17 or younger and 34% between 18 and 24. Another 15% were 25 to 34 and 10% were 35 to 44; 18% were 45 or older.

Work hours track closely with age. Thirty-five percent of all respondents reported working 40 or more hours per week and 15% reported not working at all. Among those 25 and older, 72% work 40 or more hours, compared with 16% of the 18–24 group and 3% of those 17 and younger. The report notes that more than 70% of the 25-and-older group works between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., while roughly 60% of the youngest group works from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Preferred class times mirror those patterns. The most preferred time overall was 10 a.m. to noon (52%), followed by 8 to 10 a.m. (44%) and noon to 2 p.m. (40%). But 85% of the 17-and-younger group preferred the 10 a.m.–noon block, while the 25-and-older group preferred late afternoon and evening — 43% for 4 to 6 p.m., 60% for 6 to 8 p.m. and 39% for 8 to 10 p.m.

On course format, 67% of the 17-and-younger group ranked in-person first and 70% ranked online third. Among those 25 and older, 53% ranked online first and 55% ranked in-person third. Hybrid was the dominant second choice across all three age bands — 64%, 58% and 75% respectively. Twenty-eight percent of the 25-and-older group said they would prefer to take classes online only.

Mattoon was the first-choice course location for 56% of all respondents, with Effingham first for 32% and Marshall for 5%. Among the 17-and-younger group, however, Effingham was the first choice (72%) and Mattoon second (78%).

Barriers and Next Steps

Of the 147 respondents who answered, 97% indicated they have internet access sufficient to stream movies. Asked to name the three most likely reasons that would prevent them from attending class, 87% named work, 64% named class times that don’t fit their life and 42% named cost or finances. The third-ranked barrier varied by age: health issues for the 17-and-younger group, transportation for 18–24, and cost for 25 and older.

The report states the data will inform the strategic planning committee’s work on the goal of providing customer-centric schedules and learning options, “and focus on expanding evening and weekend classes as well as exploring 6, 8, and 12 week mod classes.” Per the minutes, results will be shared college-wide and with strategic planning teams, and the survey will be repeated in Spring 2027 with expanded outreach to high school students and potentially current students.