In the last 20 years, there has been a significant growth in the participation of adults in education and learning experiences, and a parallel growth in the awareness of the needs and desires of adults vis-a-vis education. The reasons for this growth include (1) the aging of the U.S. population; (2) the changing role of women in society; and (3) the declining enrollments of traditional college-age students combined with the evergrowing fiscal crisis in institutions of higher learning. This growth in participation in education and learning has consequences for the individual and society. This monograph is intended to provide a better and more comprehensive understanding of adult participation in learning activities. The paper first assesses participation in different types of education programs for different subgroups of the adult population. Possible reasons for participation are then explored, followed by a discussion of reasons for nonparticipation. The final section of the paper presents a summary, and policy and program implications. (KC)