New research from CAEL and CollegeAPP reports large intent among U.S. adults to enroll in education or training—an inventory that colleges can’t ignore when planning outreach and program development. The study estimates that more than a quarter of adults aged 25 to 64—about 41.7 million people—intend to enroll in the next two years. The intent is concentrated among Black and Hispanic adults and among women, with motivation linked to gaining skills for current careers, learning improvement, and—at a lower share—career change. Cost is the dominant barrier (reported by 81%), followed by time constraints (67%), and the report notes that interest skews toward short-term workforce-aligned programs at technical and community colleges. A separate policy development aligns with this demand: Workforce Pell expands federal Pell eligibility for nondegree training programs as short as eight weeks. Institutions and states will need to prepare quickly for eligibility requirements and program approvals as the rollout accelerates. Taken together, the message for enrollment leaders is that adult recruitment and completion strategies must align with financial aid access and program structures that fit adult schedules—particularly in community and technical college pathways.