Getting your Degree as a Working Adult

In addition to their specific motivations, adult learners also face unique challenges. Key challenges include a need to maintain full-time employment while in school, childcare and other family responsibilities, financial considerations, and time limitations. Below are tips and resources to help working adults find success along the way.

Investigate Career Options

Before choosing a college and starting classes, it is important to identify your career goals and the pathway to reaching those goals. Consider the following questions:

1. Am I seeking a new career, or an advancement within my current field?
2. What degree is required for this job?
3. Are there other steps I need to take, beyond seeking a degree, to enter this new career field? (for example, background checks, on-the-job experience, etc)

If you are unsure where to begin with this research, we recommend starting with a tool like the Career and Education Explorer, which has a catalog of career fields, projected salary information, required degrees, and more.

You may also want to take advantage of personalized assistance from career professionals, so consider reaching out to a Minnesota CareerForce center near you.

Research Institutions

Once you have a list of possible degree programs that align with your career goals, you can begin researching which institutions will meet your needs. The MyHigherEd College Search tool allows you to explore institutions by area of study, location, awards offered, and more. For many adult students, location is a key factor. You can also use the College Search tool to filter for institutions within a specific radius from your hometown. 

Many colleges offer programs and services that are especially helpful for working adults.

1. Online and flexible course offerings: If you work full-time, you may want to explore fully online programs, which will allow you to complete work on a schedule that works best for you. Some institutions also offer evening and weekend programs.
2. Part-time programs: For many working adults, attending college full-time is not an option. Make sure to explore programs that will allow you to work at a pace that fits your schedule so you can find success in your courses.
3. Adult-specific campus support services: While working adults may not be looking for a traditional “campus life experience”, most will still need campus services to succeed. On-campus childcare, food and basics needs resources, counseling services, or financial aid advising, along with specialized academic advisors are just a few examples of services geared towards adult learners. 

Check with your college’s website or admissions team for more details on what is available.

Maximize your Past Experience

Have you attended college in the past? Make sure you apply all past credit to your future degree. Each college will have staff in their admissions office who can assist you with the steps to find these past records. In additional to past college credit, you may have other work experience or credentials that can be applied to your degree to speed up the timeline to graduation. Experiences that may translate to college credit include:

• Any college credit completed in the past (no time limits)
• Military experience
• Work experience
• Professional and workplace training
• Standardized tests (including CLEP exams through the College Board, DSST, or others)
• Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate in high school

Check out the Credit for Prior Learning Provider Network or the Minnesota State Credit for Prior Learning page to begin your research and make sure to ask each college on your list how they award “credit for prior learning” for adult students. 

Plan for How to Pay for College

As a working adult, you likely have many financial considerations when it comes to attending college. Explore all options on the table to make the cost of college manageable for you.

Employer reimbursement or scholarship programs: 

Many workplaces have programs in place to help their employees pay for college. This may be in the form of a reimbursement program, where you pay up-front and then receive a reimbursement with proof of completing courses. Or maybe there is a scholarship you can apply for and receive. Ask your supervisor or HR department if there are any programs you can take advantage of, and if there are any contracts or obligations you need to be aware of before signing up. 

Federal and State Financial Aid: 

We encourage all college students to apply for federal and state financial aid. You may be eligible for money you don’t need to pay back after completing classes (grants), or you may be eligible to take out a student loan to help pay for school. We have more resources on our website. 

Institutional Scholarships: 

Most colleges have additional financial aid they can award to students, and many will have scholarships specifically for adult students. Explore college websites to learn more or ask someone in the Admissions Office if they can help.

Attending college as a working adult is a big decision, and there are plenty of resources to help support you along the way. Contact us today if you are unsure where to begin!