College for working adults is not something that has been prominent in the educational landscape. However, many adults decide to go back to school because they feel the need to: job displacement, career change, passion, or economic necessity. However, it is not always easy to earn a degree. With multiple priorities and existing jobs, these students must find ways to manage their time and find ways to get a degree.
Reilly has no college degree.
Caitlin "Reilly" will graduate from North Carolina State University in May 2021. She holds a master's in parks, recreation and tourism management. After receiving her undergraduate degree at Davidson in environmental science, Reilly continued her education at NC State's Environmental Education Lab. During this time, she met her future co-worker Kathryn Stevenson.
Jennie Harrop's adult degree program
Jennie Harrop has created an adult degree program to help adults learn how to effectively communicate their messages. Her program balances theory and practice to help students understand the basics of good writing. She focuses on both essential and inessential writing principles, including how to build meaning and structure for a sentence or paragraph.
Prior learning assessment
Adult students can get college credit for their prior learning by using the Prior Learning Assessment. This technique can save students both time and money. Many students may have college-level skills and knowledge, but may not have the formal education to prove it.
Flexible schedules
Adults who need to fit school around their busy schedules may find flexible schedules beneficial. Flexible schedules can be especially attractive for high school students because they have many responsibilities and different learning and emotional needs. Many of them also have part-time or full-time jobs that make it difficult to plan around school hours.
Financial aid
For college-aged adults, there are many different financial aid options. There are many options for financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and employer tuition-reimbursement programs. If your employer does not offer tuition reimbursement, then you may have to find other outside sources of funding. Federal Pell Grants for adult students are the most commonly used source of college funding.
Access to education
Many adults struggle to find the time and energy to attend classes while juggling work and family obligations. These adults are often lacking the necessary social infrastructure and counseling programs to help them succeed in college. There are more universities and colleges offering programs specifically designed for adult learners.