For many adults with some college credits who are aspiring to make the transition that launches their career, college serves as an important springboard. If you’ve thought about going back to school to earn your bachelor’s degree as an adult, there are a lot of reasons to make the leap.
Even with tremendous benefits, it’s important to consider the challenges that you may face so that you can develop strategies to overcome them. Many adult learners are worried about getting back into a rhythm after you’ve been out of school for a while. Or, you may have spent the last few years in and out of community college, feeling unsure of the feasibility of beginning a full degree program. But, it’s completely possible to balance your responsibilities and earn your degree with a supportive bachelor’s degree completion program.
At California Lutheran University, we’re here to support you through all the possible scenarios. In this article, we’ll explore success strategies that work for our students.
Why Go Back To School as an Adult?
Career Growth and New Opportunities
Completing your bachelor’s degree will open up a whole new world of career opportunities. Outside of the blue-collar and skilled trades industries, a bachelor’s degree is often considered the minimum educational requirement. In the managerial and professional economy, 95% of total jobs will require some kind of post-secondary education by 2031.
A bachelor’s degree opens doors to new careers, but it also increases your earning potential so that you can better provide for your loved ones. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professionals with a bachelor’s degree earn a median annual salary of $80,236, compared to those with a high school diploma, who earn $48,360.
Cal Lutheran’s Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program is flexibly designed for working adults and lifelong learners who already have some college credits. This program empowers professionals to complete their bachelor’s and advance their careers. To learn more about how a bachelor’s degree can benefit you, read our article.
Personal Fulfillment and Lifelong Learning
Completing a degree is a fulfilling experience that can change the way you view the world around you. College provides you with the rich perspectives of your peers, new ways of thinking taught by passionate faculty and highly impactful skills imparted by your curriculum.
Experiencing the college classroom also turns you into a lifelong learner, an identity that comes with amazing benefits like:
- Career advancement
- Improved motivation
- Increased confidence
- Adaptable and resilient mindset
What Are Common Challenges for Adult Learners?
Going back to school or committing to finishing a bachelor’s degree as an adult is often more accessible than you might think, but that does not mean earning your degree has no challenges. Understanding these challenges and how to overcome them can be key to succeeding in your educational journey.
Balancing Life, Work, Family and School
You’ve haven’t been prioritizing school for a while because you’ve been busy building up a fulfilling life: a job you love, a family that needs you and supportive friends. When you re-enroll in college, you may be worried that your new commitments will require too much of your time and attention.
Is balancing responsibilities your main concern? Skip to the sections relevant to you:
- How to choose a program that helps you balance your responsibilities
- Explore strategies for managing your time
Financial Concerns
While many universities offer affordable tuition rates for degree completion programs, it’s important to consider the costs of your program. In addition to standard tuition and fees, there may also be transportation costs for commuting to campus as well as opportunity costs if you need to miss out on work from time to time.
Are finances your main concern? Skip to the sections relevant to you:
- Leverage prior coursework to save money and time
- Understand the costs and financial aid associated with your degree
- Reach out to our enrollment team to discuss your options
Fear of Returning To the Classroom
Back to school nerves happen to all of us, no matter how many times we’ve been learn-communication in the classroom. You may wonder how things have changed, what technologies are being used and what the expectations are. As you return to the classroom, remember that you are capable and competent, and that you can always adjust your strategies as needed.
Is returning to a classroom environment your main concern? Skip to the sections relevant to you:
- Find out how you can set clear goals to enhance your confidence
- Learn communication strategies so you can get support from your instructors and advisors
- Discover how your life experience translates to the classroom
How to Return to School Successfully as an Adult
Now that we’ve discussed some of the challenges, let’s explore how you can address them.
Set Clear Goals for Your Future
Without clear goals, students often run into problems such as burnout, not knowing where to start and not feeling like they’re accomplishing anything. Setting clear goals helps us better understand what we’re working toward while being able to see what we’ve already accomplished. When goal-setting, try the SMART method to make sure your goals are clear:
- Specific: Your goal is clearly defined
- Measurable: You can use numbers to track your success
- Achievable: Your goal is realistic in the context of your situation
- Relevant: Your goal is step toward your big-picture hopes and dreams
- Time-bound: You are setting yourself a “deadline” for the goal
For an adult committing to finishing their degree, an example of a SMART goal may be: I will enroll in a bachelor’s degree completion program by the end of this year.
→ Make this your goal and start the process today.
Explore Flexible and Accelerated Program Options
The “average college student” is much different than in the past. Nearly 35% of college students are older than 25, and 80% are working while going to school. Given this highly diverse environment, flexible degree options aren’t just an afterthought: many bachelor’s degree programs are designed specifically for individuals who have commitments they can’t set aside.
To find a program that allows you to balance all your responsibilities, we recommend considering the following factors:
- Online options: With an online program, you can earn a degree from home.
- Evening classes: If you prefer an on-campus program, look for one that schedules its classes in the evening to accommodate your work schedule.
- Transfer-friendly pathways: Seek out accelerated degree completion programs rather than traditional bachelor’s degrees. With these programs, you’ll be able to apply your previously earned credits to your degree, which saves time and money.
- University support services: Adult learners benefit from extra support, so make sure you can lean on academic advisors, career support services and a new student orientation day.
Gather Transcripts and Assess Your Transfer Credits
If you’re choosing a degree completion program or another bachelor’s that accepts transfer credits (which we highly recommend for working adults), make sure you gather all your transcripts. Even if you only took a few classes, you’ll need a transcript so those classes apply to your degree.
Once you’ve gathered your transcripts, take a look at them to determine which courses and credits you’ll be able to transfer. Review your university’s transfer credit policy for specific information, keeping in mind that different schools have different policies.
If your school has a tool to look up how your past courses might fit into your new university, we recommend using that. Otherwise, you can try tools like Transferology or reach out to your university’s admissions team.
Understand Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities
While the cost of higher education can be a major barrier for students, adult learners seeking a degree completion program are actually at an advantage when it comes to cost. And, many smaller universities offer competitive tuition rates compared to big state universities.
Here are ways that you can help finance your education:
- Transfer as many credits as you can: Generally, the more credits you transfer, the less courses you need to take, the less you have to pay. However, keep in mind that your credits will need to be relevant to your degree path. You can transfer in a lot of credits, but if they all equate to elective courses, you’d still need to take all the courses for your major.
- File your FAFSA: In addition to federal loan offers (which will be more affordable than private ones), the federal student aid department also offers work-study opportunities, scholarships and grants.
- Check for employer assistance: Ask your manager about your workplace’s tuition assistance or professional development opportunities.
- Apply for grants and scholarships: Take advantage of your university’s offerings and submit strong applications.
- Apply for military/veterans benefits (if applicable): If you think you may be eligible for benefits like the Yellow Ribbon Program, contact your university’s veterans resource office or the VA.
3 Tips for Thriving as an Adult Student
1. Manage Your Time and Stay Organized
The majority of college work takes place outside the classroom: You’ll likely spend more time working independently, completing assignments and studying than you will in lectures. This means you need to keep track of your work and manage your time effectively.
Here are some ways that we like to stay organized:
- Schedule the “unscheduled” time: Also known as time blocking, this will help you make sure you can get everything done. You can be detailed or general, depending on what works best for you. To visualize this, use a calendar or planner to block off time for work, class, studying, family time, rest and any other categories.
- Keep track of your assignments: Using a planner, notebook or digital note-taking software, keep track of all the work you need to complete. Make sure you mark the due dates and priority level of your assignments.
- Break down large tasks: Doing something like writing an essay can seem like a daunting task, so break it down into chunks. For example, an essay could be broken down to categories like writing the outline, collecting research, writing individual sections and revising.
- Keep your physical and digital space tidy: If you’re using a lot of physical materials, have dedicated notebooks or binders for each class. For digital materials, create a simple but detailed folder structure for all your files.
2. Communicate With Instructors and Advisors
As a working professional, likely one with a family, the fact is that sometimes things just happen. You have an emergency work project, your kids are sick or some other thing comes up that takes precedent over school.
Your professors and advisors understand this, because they’re working professionals too. So, if an emergency comes up, you need help understanding a concept or you’re not sure what to do next, reach out for help. Your instructors and advisors can offer extensions, advice and other forms of meaningful support.
3. Leverage Your Life and Work Experience
You might feel like you’re late or behind, but the truth is, you’re not. Given your specific work and life experiences, you may actually find that you have certain skills and abilities that students around you haven’t developed yet.
Don’t be afraid to leverage your life skills and career experience in your educational journey. You just might find you breeze through parts of class that fellow students struggle with as a result.
What Are the Benefits of Completing Your Degree as an Adult?
Completing your degree as an adult can come with some pretty serious benefits. Among them some of the most compelling might include:
- Improved confidence as a result of your accomplishment
- Advanced skills from a career-focused curriculum
- New career opportunities with your credential
- Personal fulfillment about finishing the degree you started in the past
- A substantial professional network of peers, faculty and industry experts
- Improved earning potential in jobs
We know you have what it takes to finish your degree, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Fill out this brief form so we can get in touch and take the first steps with you.
Cal Lutheran’s Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals: Degree Completion Program for Working Adults
Continue your education and transform your career with our Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals. This affordable undergraduate degree completion program with flexible online options offers a variety of majors that are designed for working adults and lifelong learners with some college experience. If you’ve earned undergraduate credits in the past, you can apply these toward an affordable degree program that fits your career objectives.
Cal Lutheran’s School for Professional and Continuing Studies serves individuals who desire to grow educationally, personally and professionally. Our work is grounded in the assessment of students’ needs and expectations. We meet these individuals where they are in order to provide tailored programs and resources that will help them clarify and deepen their purpose so that they can transform their communities — and the world.
Download a program brochure or start your application for the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program.
Sources
- Center on Education and the Workforce — After Everything: Projections of Jobs, Education, and Training Requirements through 2031
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections
- Lumina Foundation — Today’s Students
- Lumina Foundation — Adults can return to college, finish, and thrive
