Going
Back to College: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a Re-entry or Adult
Student?
Re-entry or adult students (also called non-traditional
students) are generally age 25 or over, with ages ranging
from 25 to 69 at many colleges and universities. Re-entry
students are often female; but men are returning to
college in record numbers to update professional skills
and further career advancement. Some may never have
attended college or started college and then stopped
because of personal, financial, or other reasons. Many
have spent time in the workforce, the military,
or in raising a family, and want to go back to fulfill
lifelong dreams or potential. Some are retired while
others are single parents looking to achieve a better
life. (The Department of Education recently reported
that 13 percent of students now enrolled in college
were single parents, up from 7.6 percent in 1993.) Economic
reasons are a strong factor: students want to change
careers or update professional credentials. Some adult
students continue to work while returning to school
while others attend part-time. It is never too late
to go back to school. You may be just starting a degree
program, returning to finish a degree, seeking a second
degree or an advanced degree, or taking courses for
occupational or personal enrichment.
Should I Go Back to College?
Millions of adult students successfully return to college
to obtain a degree. However, they often have numerous
responsibilities to consider when making the decision.
These responsibilities can include marriage, children,
work, community obligations, or care of elderly parents.
The time and commitment needed to complete a degree
program and balance these responsibilities can be a
challenge.
Adults can also be concerned about fitting in with
the younger, "traditional" students, or that
they may be "too old." However, so many adults
are returning to college that they are no longer being
considered "non-traditional" students. Recent
statistics from the U.S. Department of Education
show that adult students are the fastest growing educational
demographic, and these numbers are steadily increasing.
In 1970, 28 percent of all college students were 25
years of age or older. In 1998 the number of adult learners
had increased to 41 percent. The number of students
age 35 and older in degree-granting institutions has
soared from about 823,000 in 1970 to an estimated 2.9
million in 2001 doubling from 9.6% of total students
to 19.2%, according to the National Center for Education
Statistics. The Institute for Higher Education
Policy reports that students
aged 40 and older increased by 235 percent from
1970 to 1993. (Life After Forty: A New Portrait of
Today's - and Tomorrow's - Postsecondary Students.)
The Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher
Education (ANTSHE)
reports that students who are over 25 make up 47 percent
of the new and returning student population on many
of today's college campuses.
With increased longevity and an unstable economic future,
more adults 55 to 79 are determining what they want to
do in the upcoming years. The American Council on Education
report,
Framing New Terrain: Older Adults & Higher Education,
shows more older adults are starting to return to
college, pursue new career directions, start new businesses,
and realize lifelong dreams. (For more inspiring information
on these trends, please see our Special
Reports section.)
The good news is, going back to college has never been
easier. Many colleges and universities offer re-entry
student services and campus childcare centers, and flexible
course scheduling with classes one night per week, on
the weekends, or in accelerated format. Students can
now complete their degree program online on the Internet
or through computer multi-media, broadcast television
or correspondence courses. Statistics from the Distance
Education and Training Council (DETC) show nearly
four million students taking college courses through
distance education. (For more information, see Online
Education Gets Accolades, How
Do Employers View Online Degrees, Tackling
Online Degree Programs, and Should
You Get Your Degree Through Distance Learning, which
includes tips on
how to choose a distance learning program.)
Do I Really Need a College
Degree?
That would depend on personal career goals, but in general
the higher the education, the higher the salary, and
the better the career options and security. According
to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau,
the median annual income for employees with a high school
diploma was only $27,915; for a bachelor’s degree $51,206.
Individuals with only a high school diploma were twice
as likely to be unemployed as those holding bachelor’s
degrees. Those without a high school diploma averaged
a yearly income of just $18,734.
Individuals who earn a master's or doctoral degree
received an annual average of $74,602 or more. Over
a lifetime, the gap in earning potential between the
high school graduate and those holding a bachelor's
degree or higher exceeds $1 million, according to the
College Board.
Statistics project that 75 percent of future positions
are expected to require at least some type of certification
or licensure, and professions that require a bachelor’s
degree are projected to grow nearly twice as fast as
the national average, making a college degree a good
investment. Many adults find they need a college degree
to enter their career of choice or for increased earning
potential or advancement. Others are in career transition
or find themselves back in the workforce because of
divorce or economic conditions. With advancing technology
and changing economic and employment conditions, many
adults are experiencing an increasing demand to develop
or update their knowledge and skills. (For more information
on employment projections, see
Career Planning.)
It is important to note that not all adults need to
pursue a college degree. Certificate
programs and vocational training can often provide
the necessary professional training and expertise.
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