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Thinking about completing the degree
you started years ago? Looking to upgrade your
skills for job re-entry or career advancement?
Would you like to pursue a new hobby
or take a class for your personal enrichment?
Whatever your reason to continue your education, you'll
be pleased to know that going back to school has never
been easier.
Returning Adult Student (also
known as continuing education or non-traditional
students) can be defined as:
- 24 years of age or older
- Re-enrolling at the same or different college
- Pursuing a career change
- Students with children
- Students who did not attend college directly
after high school
Increasing in number every semester, these students
are changing the way courses are offered at campuses
across the country. |
Information on this page
is a just a general overview. Contact the schools you are considering
for more details.
Special
Programs
Many colleges and universities offer programs and services
to aid adult students such as:
- Flexible schedules
- Course credit for work experience
- Campus childcare facilities
- Returning adult advisors
- Unique classroom alternatives (including distance
learning and accelerated programs)
- Tutoring and study skills assistance
- Organizations and support groups for adult students
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FAQ
I want to go back to school, but I have young
children.
Many college-bound parents balance school and family.
Campuses often offer child care facilities at reduced
rates.
I can't go back to school with my busy schedule.
Colleges offer night classes, part-time enrollment,
and weekend classes. Some schools also offer distance
learning.
I can't afford college. College costs
can seem prohibitively expensive. However, there are
a variety of financial aid and financing options that
are worth exploring including scholarships, work-study,
employer tuition assistance, and student loans.
College is for those who pass college entrance
exams. Many schools do not require entrance
exam scores. You may be encouraged to take an assessment
test to evaluate work experience and education.
I'll feel out-of-place surrounded by students
so much younger than me. College is full of
diversity and includes all ages. Today's returning adults
range in age from 24 to 80.
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Self-Assessment
Evaluate your personality traits, interests, and skills
to determine which career path might work best for you.
Personality: Your personality traits
are significant in determining which careers are best
suited to you. For a deeper look into yourself, take
a personality inventory—a questionnaire that asks
how you think, act, and feel in specific situations.
Interests: Your interests and skills
say a lot about you. They offer additional insight into
your personality and what you really enjoy doing. A
method for understanding your interests and their relationship
to your career is to take the Strong
Interest Inventory®.
Skills: Identifying your skills and
abilities can help you find occupations in which you
may be successful. One particularly thorough test is
the Armed
Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
Resources
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School
Search
College
Answer's School Search Tool can help you evaluate
schools side-by-side from our database of nearly 4,000.
Select the schools you're interested in, view information
on admissions, the campus environment, enrollment, freshmen
admissions profiles, school expense, and financial aid.
Note: It has been reported that a
growing number of students with bachelor's and other
degrees are choosing to attend community
colleges. Some of the reasons include computer classes
and other instruction to keep up with technology that
impacts work and leisure activities.
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Applying
- Request a catalog and review course descriptions
and programs offered.
- Schedule an appointment with a college counselor
to discuss courses or program direction.
- Verify that class times will fit your schedule.
- If you plan to transfer to a four-year school, check
if your credits will transfer.
- Review costs and determine availability of student
financial aid for courses of interest.
- Submit course selection and application; complete
enrollment process.
Enrollment Status
Basically to attend full time, or to take certain classes,
you must complete the application process, submit transcripts
and be officially accepted into a program of study leading
toward a baccalaureate degree. Usually full-time students
takes a course load of at least 12 credit hours a semester.
For evening, part-time study, in most cases, no application
is required. It's possible to take courses for credit
but not yet pursue a degree. To pursue a bachelor's
degree, you must apply to the school and be accepted
into a degree program.
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Ways to Pay
Here are some suggestions for funding your education:
Grants
Money that does not have to be repaid.
Grants are available through the federal government,
state agencies, and colleges.
Work-Study
Money earned by working. This federal program
provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate
students with financial need, allowing them to earn
money to help pay education expenses.
Scholarships
Money that does not have to be repaid.
Scholarships may be awarded based on criteria, such
as academics, achievements, hobbies, talents, affiliations
with various groups, or career aspirations.
Student
Loans
Money borrowed that must be repaid.
Featured Student Loans
Signature Student Loan® for Community Colleges offers
financing beyond what federal programs can offer.
The loan is specifically designed to provide financing
for students enrolled in Associate degree and
Title IV eligible certificate programs
Continuing
Education LoanSM provides
financing to cover the total cost of attendance
for students not seeking degrees and for part-time
students seeking degrees. |
Other Options
- Military
Service: The US Armed Forces offer several
programs to provide students with money for school.
- Community
Service: Volunteering is a great way
to give back to your community and pay for your education.
- Loan
Forgiveness Programs: The federal government
may cancel all or part of an education loan under
certain circumstances.
- Employer-sponsored Tuition Assistance:
A benefit with which an employee is reimbursed for
all or part of tuition at an accredited college or
school.
- College-Level
Examination Program®
(CLEP): An opportunity to gain college credit for
what you already learned through independent study,
advanced high school courses, non-credit adult courses,
or professional development.
Age doesn't matter, nor how long you've been out of
school. You are not alone, millions of adults have returned
to school. With so many opportunities to continue your
education, why wait — start today.
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