Going Back to College Later in Life: Benefits of Returning at Any Age (2024)

If you’re contemplating going back to college, it’s never too late. More than 6% of currently enrolled college students are adults. College has changed, even if you’ve only been out a few years. Armed with more life experience and a deeper understanding of what works for you in education and what doesn’t, you can make your second (or third!) college enrollment different and better.

Whether you’re going back to college at 30, 40 or even as a retiree, higher education has a lot to offer. Here’s why now is the right time to chase your dreams, no matter what academic challenges you faced the first time.

Gaining a Better Financial Outlook

Returning to college can boost your earning power, no matter what career you choose or how long you have been out of school. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college graduates have median weekly earnings of $1,334, compared to $899 for people who left college and $809 for high school graduates. That adds up to more than $20,000 a year in additional earnings.

What could you do with an additional $20,000 every year? Buy a house? Pay off your mortgage? Get out of debt? Pursue a new hobby? Move to the location of your dreams? Earning power is the power to live life as you see fit. The sooner you start, the more money you can earn over your lifetime, so consider investing in yourself.

A college degree can also protect you against the ebbs and flows of the market and the financial challenges that can strain your budget and life. Just 3.5% of college graduates are unemployed, compared to 5.5% of people with some college and 6.2% of high school graduates. More education makes you more employable and gives you more negotiation power. A new career is a great way to recession-proof your life and budget.

College is also the prerequisite to even more education, such as medical school, law school and a wide range of graduate degrees that can open even more doors and unlock access to even more money.

Having More Career Opportunities

A college education prepares you for the many challenges of the working world, equipping you with new skills that make you more flexible at work. Also, some employers may require a degree to break through career ceilings. Here are some other career benefits of going back to college at 30, 35 or beyond:

• You will gain new skills that could make you a more attractive job candidate.
• You will have more leverage in salary negotiations.
• You may be able to switch careers.
• You could have more opportunities for promotions at work or be better equipped to climb to higher positions in management.
• You will gain workplace skills through interactions in your cohort and the classroom. For instance, navigating conflict in the classroom can prepare you to do the same at work.
• You will make valuable connections in school that can serve you in the working world.

Feeling a Sense of Accomplishment

There’s nothing quite like rising to a challenge to make you feel good about yourself and your place in the world. People who leave college early sometimes struggle with their choice, wondering what might have been. Returning to college offers a second chance and a profound sense of accomplishment.

Attaining Intellectual Fulfillment

If you’re stuck in a job you don’t like or in a career that doesn’t fulfill you, it’s easy to feel burned out and bored. The right challenge could reinvigorate your zest for life and your commitment to your calling, whatever that might be.

College is hard, but that’s a good thing. It challenges you to grow, evolve and move into something better. Embrace the challenge, and you might find that going back to college is just what you need.

Living Up to Your Potential

Everyone deserves the chance to live life to their full potential, whether that means starting a new job, changing things in their community or earning enough money to live the life they desire.

Attending college makes it easier to live up to your potential by opening new career doors. You will learn more, empowering you to do more. If you have kids, this is a powerful thing for them to witness. Research shows that children are more likely to persist if they believe that hard work — not innate talent — makes them smarter. This is called a growth mindset. When you return to school, you're modeling a growth mindset to your kids, showing them that they have the power to change their lives and shape their futures.

Having an Easier Experience

You probably have more going on now than you did as a young college student. But that can work to your advantage. Going back to college as an adult means returning with the benefits of life experience and time spent in a real-world career. A school that caters to adult learners may make education much simpler. So don’t let your prior experience color your perceptions! A return to school could be easier than you think.

Getting Going Back to College Right

Returning to college as an adult is radically different than attending for the first time as a teenager. Many people find that it’s easier once they know who and what they want to be.

That doesn’t mean every college will be the right fit, though. To get the most out of your experience, ask the following questions:

• What degree programs does this school offer, and how long will they take to finish?
• Does this school offer credit for prior learning?
• What financial aid support does the school offer?
• Can I attend online or evening classes?
• How many course hours will I take at once?
• What support does this school offer for adult learners?
• How does this school help me prepare for the professional world? Are there networking opportunities?

Going back to college requires budgeting your time as diligently as you budget your money. Learn how to get your schedule under control and even carve out some time for self-care with our infographic, “Time Management Tips for Adult Students.”