| If you're an adult considering going back to school or | | | | to 10 months of time toward earning degrees. Many |
| continuing work toward a traditional or online degree, | | | | institutions also offer what's known as "credit for |
| you might have good reason to do so. More jobs | | | | course completion" where, for a fee, students who |
| require training beyond high school, and it's becoming | | | | participate in certain courses can earn academic credit |
| more difficult to earn a comfortable living without a | | | | by taking and passing exams related to those courses. |
| bachelor's degree, according to education | | | | You might even find a traditional or online degree |
| organizations. You're also likely to find yourself among | | | | program in your subject area of study that comes in |
| many other adult students. | | | | an accelerated variety, shaving more time off the time |
| Many colleges are recognizing the needs of adult | | | | it takes to obtain a degree. |
| students, in part by providing traditional and online | | | | Save yourself some money. Fellowships, scholarships |
| degree programs that make studies more convenient. | | | | and grants are available to adult students based on |
| With scholarship, fellowship, grant and savings plan | | | | factors that might include financial need, subject area |
| opportunities available, adults might also find that going | | | | of study and demographics. Working adults might find |
| back to school and continuing their studies can be | | | | that they're eligible for college and university |
| more affordable. Adults who return to school have, in | | | | work-study programs or that their employers offer |
| many instances, methods where they can more | | | | tuition reimbursement benefits that pay for traditional |
| quickly obtain a degree as well. Some areas to | | | | and online degree studies as long as certain academic |
| consider: | | | | levels are met. Still other employers might have initiated |
| Study from home or go "hybrid." More colleges are | | | | Council for Adult & Experiential Learning-initiated |
| offering complete online degree programs, as well as | | | | Lifelong Learning Account (LiLA) savings plans that are |
| degrees that combine online course work with time in | | | | similar to 401 (k) plans. Some states offer opportunities |
| the classroom. A US Department of Education study | | | | to participate in 5 to 9 college, university and technical |
| suggested that college, university and technical school | | | | school investment plans. |
| students participating in hybrid programs fared better | | | | Make use of available resources. Speak with |
| academically than other students. Some institutions | | | | academic counselors about your individual situation and |
| combine blocks of time on campus with online course | | | | the subject areas that you're considering for a major |
| work. Many offer degree programs where courses | | | | as a means of determining if there are degree or |
| are held during evenings and weekends. Following are | | | | certificate programs that might suit your needs and |
| more details about options that might help ensure | | | | desires particularly well and provide transfer credits, in |
| success for adults going back to school: | | | | instances where you might proceed from a certificate |
| Save yourself some time. Many of these schools | | | | to a degree program at some point. If you feel you |
| offer opportunities to convert life experiences - work, | | | | might need some academic tutoring, find out if the |
| military training, travel, volunteerism, hobbies and more - | | | | college, university or technical school that interests you |
| to academic credit. A Council for Adult & Experiential | | | | offers this service or peer networking groups. Free |
| Learning study released in March 2010 showed that | | | | online college course materials, such as video lectures, |
| students who gained life experience credits saved up | | | | might also provide study assistance. |