Find your perfect college degree
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Nowadays, more and more working adults take interest in continuing their college education or attending college for the first time. Adult education is currently one of the programs offered in various colleges and universities in the country.
Working adults are also classified as nontraditional undergraduate students. This is why most of the programs offered to them include night classes, accelerated degree programs, and online or computer-based courses.
The Lowdown
Things happen, right!?! Not everyone is so fortunate to be able to complete their college degree on time… at least traditionally… in the four years after high school. Life happens and that’s okay! Because now, adult students can go back to college any time they please to begin or finish their degree.
Colleges for working adults are out there and willing to help you realize your dream of earning a college degree!
The Non-Traditional Student
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nontraditional students refer to students who have been delayed in their post-secondary education enrollment by a year.
They are also defined as students who have children as dependents, are mostly single parents, are financially independent of their parents, and have full-time jobs. They should possess a diploma or any certificate of completion from their previous high school.
Colleges for Working Adults… What’s that?
Fortunately, there are several reputable universities and colleges that provide educational support and priority to working adults. Most of these are online colleges with low tuition and flexible course schedules. Check out the video below!
Colleges for Working Adults
The following shows 15 of the top-ranking colleges and universities that offer legitimate degree programs for working adult students who have full-time jobs:
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a well-recognized academic institution that offers high-quality online degree programs as well as occupational programs for working adults at an affordable cost.
It has a population of about 11,000 students, with an average age of 25 years old. It is composed of seven campuses all throughout Alaska, and the university itself passed the accreditation process of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Various online programs are offered at UAF for the certificate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels. For those aiming for a career in financial services, government, and medical billing and coding, UAF provides the Online Occupational Endorsement program.
The university also offers a wide range of unique programs including e-Learning courses, online advising, career services, teacher certification programs, veteran, and military services for adult students.
University of Illinois
Location: Springfield, Illinois
The University of Illinois (UIS) is a world-class university that provides excellent online degree programs, support programs, and small classes for working adults.
It is composed of more than 5,000 students with an average undergraduate age of 26 years old. It has six colleges, all of which passed the accreditation process of the Higher Learning Commission.
The US News and World Report have highly recognized the online degree programs for various levels in UIS. Adult students who wish to attend small classes in community colleges even have the opportunity to start with their degrees through a personal UIS advisor before entering the campus. This is through the UIS Joint Agreements with more than 20 local schools.
Through support services such as the Career Development Center, Prior Learning Assessment, Learning Hub, and the Veterans Affairs, a great number of adult students constantly enroll at UIS annually.
Troy University
Location: Troy, Alabama
Troy University is one of the highly recognized public universities in the state. It provides a wide range of military student programs as well as support services and excellent education mainly for working adults. The university also features flexible online classes and low-cost tuition.
During the fall of 2015, the population of students at Troy was 18,736, with an average age range of 25 to 29 years old. It’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs for traditional, nontraditional, and online students are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Working adults can readily access important resources and services online from the Personal Enrichment, Professional Training and Consulting, and Professional Development Institutes of Troy University.
University of Maryland Global Campus
Location: Adelphi, Maryland
The University of Maryland Global Campus is an academic institution that provides online degree programs alongside online certifications to working parents who are 25 years old and above They also accept applications from veterans and active duty students worldwide.
It has more than 20 campuses in the states of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC; all of which passed the accreditation of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in Maryland and the certification of the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia.
For working adults, UMUC offers accessible educational resources such as electronic textbooks, dynamic exercises, helpful websites, and social bookmarking platforms. They can also study and work at the same time in remote sites worldwide.
University of Missouri – St. Louis
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
The University of Missouri in St. Louis (UMSL) is regarded as one of the most affordable public universities in the state that caters to working adults. It has a relatively high freshman retention rate. Moreover, the university itself has passed the accreditation of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
UMSL also offers 25 degree programs for graduate-level continued education as well as eight online degree programs. It also has night and weekend classes for working adults. Online programs are highly competent and flexible in terms of class schedules.
Net Tutor, an educational website of UMSL, is an online tutorials program that mainly deals with chemistry, business, and economic subjects. UMSL also has an online writing site and online workshops to aid working adults in their coursework.
Granite State College
Location: Concord, New Hampshire
Granite College (GSC) is a public institution that aims to offer flexible and convenient online courses for working adults, veterans, as well as military students. The institution gives high priority to previous work experience and training from any military site for the purpose of college credits.
The GSC population is composed of 70% working students with an average age of 25 years old and above. Also, more than 77% of this population comprises online students. GSC has also completed the accreditation process of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of New England Association of Schools and Colleges Inc.
The accredited online bachelor’s degree programs of GSC are specially created for working adults. The institution’s resources and support references are all available online.
Its open admissions procedure paves the way for students to start at their most preferred schedules, normally at least four times a year. Working adults can also earn their degrees online even at their own convenience.
Peirce College
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Peirce College is a private, four-year academic institution that aims to provide affordable and flexible degree programs and courses specifically for working adults.
Seventy-six percent of the student population is made up of working students with an average age of 25 years old and above. The institution has also passed the accreditation of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Working adults have the opportunity to choose on a weekly basis whether they wish to attend their classes on campus or online. Broad career development services and student support services also cater to the needs of working adults.
The Competency-Based Education (CBE) program of Peirce is an online program that utilizes the knowledge of adult students and takes into account their previous work experience to open doors for the most appropriate process of earning their college degree.
Northeastern State University
Location: Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Northeastern State University (NSU) is a public academic institution that provides a wide range of degree programs for nontraditional undergraduates, specifically working adults. It has also completed the accreditation process of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
Adult students at NSU attend degree programs either online and on campus, or both. If you are a working adult, you can check out the institution’s list of available online bachelor’s degree programs, certification programs, and graduate-level programs.
NSU also has online advisors who support adult students while working their full time jobs. It also has reputable student services that provide numerous opportunities for working adults to complete their degrees online, continues their education, and interact through their language and cultural center.
University of Texas
Location: Arlington, Texas
The University of Texas in Arlington (UTA) is a public research institution that offers bachelor’s degree programs, graduate degree programs, and certification programs to working adults. Each of these programs can be completed online through the university’s Center for Distance Education.
The University of Texas Arlington has also passed the accreditation process of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Distance education courses and programs are primarily offered to working adults for them to earn their degrees at their own pace through flexible online courses and class schedules.
The university also offers various services such as mentoring, tutorials, financial assistance, and skills enhancement for successful employment.
Oregon Institute of Technology
Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon
The Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) is a public academic institution situated in the Northwestern region of the United States. The university aims to provide online completion programs for working professionals in order for them to earn a bachelor’s degree in their chosen career paths.
The student population is composed of 5,200 students since small classes and one-on-one sessions are offered for working adults. The institute has also completed the accreditation process of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Working adults can earn degrees lower than the doctorate level through OIT’s online completion programs. A wide range of flexible online degree programs is also available for nontraditional students. OIT also has seven graduate programs that can be offered to adult students who wish to continue their education through distance learning.
Weber State University
Location: Ogden, UT
Weber State University (WSU) is a coeducational academic institution that provides a variety of accessible online programs, as well as technical and liberal arts certification, professional, associate, and graduate degree programs.
This is primarily offered to adult students who want to earn their degrees through online courses. The university also provides discounts to senior adult students and affordable tuition. It has also passed the accreditation process of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Working adults have two alternatives for earning a degree through WSU Online. First, they pick traditional school schedules.
Another is through independent study programs, wherein students can start their classes on a random date and are given a duration of six months to complete the entire program. Professional developmental training is also provided as well as open classes for senior adult students.
Clayton State University
Location: Morrow, Georgia
Another public university that provides online degree programs to working adults is Clayton State University (CSU). In this university, the student can complete the first half of their careers even without the need to go to the campus itself.
Most of its students are working adults, with an average age of 29 years old. It has also completed the accreditation process of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The university’s Continuing and Professional Education involves professional online classes for working adults. The Career Resource Center, on the other hand, provides services such as training, financial aid preparation, educational services, and free employment.
One of the unique features of the university is the eCore program, which provides online courses to adult students during their first two years in college. An online tutor and a virtual library are both accessible for eCore students, and it offers the same level of services as that of traditional campuses.
Ursuline College
Location: Pepper Pike, Ohio
Ursuline College is a female-dominated college that features a specialized adult program for working students. The Ursuline College Adult Program (UCAP) provides accelerated bachelor’s degree programs with convenient schedule alternatives and discussion-mode learning that can be completed either through small classes or online.
Working adults can attend the UCAP through blended traditional and online, night or Saturday classes. Its sessions only last for about five to ten weeks.
It also offers support services for adult students such as career counseling, tutorials, and a specialized program for students with learning disabilities known as FOCUS.
Aside from its small class sizes, adult students at Ursuline College can also interact personally with faculty members. Nontraditional students make up at least 68% of the university’s population. It has also passed the accreditation process of the Higher Learning Commission.
Fresno Pacific University
Location: Fresno, California
One of the highly recognized Christian universities that offer specialized adult learner programs and services is Fresno Pacific University. Accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, it has the highest graduation rate in California.
The university has a wide range of online bachelor’s degree programs that students can complete in 18 months. It’s Prior Learning Assessment converts previous work experiences to college credits.
Fresno also features the Office of Continuing Education which provides workshops, training sessions, certificates, and specialized courses for professionals. The office uses online learning and printed resources like textbooks to deliver these specific services.
Trine University-Regional
Location: Angola, Indiana
Trine University, a private university in Angola, Indiana, offers convenient and accessible online courses for working adults.
The university provides 24 different degrees in seven different fields, including health, business, and education. TrineOnline delivers classes via an asynchronous module, allowing students to better manage their learning schedules and course deadlines.
The university offers a master of science in criminal science, an associate of science in manufacturing technology, and a bachelor of science in healthcare administration, among other degrees. GRE or GMAT scores may be required for some master’s programs.
LeTourneau University
Location: Longview, Texas
LETU, a private university in Longview, Texas, offers online associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Students can major in business, aviation, education, psychology, counseling, and other fields.
LETU’s notable online programs include a master’s degree in general psychology, a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, and an associate of science in criminal justice.
Admission to graduate programs requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. Some master’s programs also require GRE test scores from applicants.
Thomas Jefferson University
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jefferson University, a private university in Philadelphia, offers more than 20 degree programs entirely online. Architecture, business, design, engineering, and health science are some of the subjects covered. There are no in-person or synchronous learning requirements for online courses at Jefferson.
Degrees available to applicants include a bachelor of science in human resource management, a master of science in organizational leadership, a doctor of nursing practice, and a master of science in construction management. A post-nursing master’s certificate is also available at the school.
While no minimum GPA is required for undergraduate programs, most graduate and doctoral programs require a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be considered for admission.
Clarkson College
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Clarkson College, based in Omaha, offers 18 undergraduate and graduate programs online, both full-time and part-time. Working adults can earn degrees in healthcare, education, and nursing.
Students enrolled in online courses typically read, complete assignments, listen to presentations, participate in online discussions, and communicate with classmates and faculty via web-based technologies such as email.
A bachelor of science in community health, a master of science in healthcare administration, and a doctorate in healthcare education and leadership are among the popular program offerings for working adults. Several online programs also require students to attend on-campus classes on occasion.
Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA for undergraduate programs and a 3.0 or higher for graduate programs in order to be admitted.
Baker University
Location: Baldwin City, Kansas
Baker University, a private liberal arts university in Baldwin City, Kansas, offers fully online undergraduate and graduate programs. Baker’s online courses are all asynchronous, allowing students to access course material whenever they want.
Baker University offers notable online programs for working adults such as an associate of arts in business, a bachelor of business administration, a master of science in school leadership, and a doctor of education in instructional design and performance technology. To be admitted, applicants must have a GPA of 2.75-3.0 or higher.
University of Massachusetts Boston
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
The University of Massachusetts Boston (Umass Boston) is an urban research academic institution that provides degree programs, online courses, certificates, and professional enhancement for working adults.
It has also completed the accreditation process of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Inc.
Among the various courses and degree programs that Umass Boston offers, more than 35 can be completed through online learning.
Primarily, the College of Advancing and Professional Studies provides international degree programs, certification programs, professional services, exam preparation, and online, night, weekend, and seasonal classes to working adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can working adults go back to college?
Absolutely… if they wish to grow through their educational experiences, why not? There are numerous reasons that students don’t have the opportunity to finish their college education, or even start it to begin with. But, it’s never too late to get back in the game!
As the need for adults to continue full-time employment while going to college is important to most, there are many colleges for working adults that provide a convenient and flexible option for learning, such as online college courses.
Why should a working adult continue their education?
There are many reasons for working adults to finish their college education. Here are a few to consider:
- Did you miss out on going to college right out of high school? Now’s a great time to start your college journey.
- Do you need additional accolades for a job promotion? Many employers require their applicants to own a college degree to be considered or hired for a job.
- Are you looking for a job promotion? Do you want to earn more money? Earning additional or advanced skills is the way to go!
- Do you need a career change? You can earn a degree that will help you fulfill your career aspirations.
- Did you start college but didn’t graduate with a degree? Find a degree completion program!
- Would you like to start your own business… become an entrepreneur? Yes, please… Earn a degree in business administration or some other degree pertaining to your business idea. Get started today!
Who provides online college courses for the working adult?
To find the right college for you, consider these points:
- As you prepare to study, the first thing to consider while searching for appropriate online colleges should be that it is an accredited online program. Proper accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission is a must-have!
- In addition, obtaining credit for prior learning experiences is a plus.
- Most online colleges provide classes taken asynchronously, meaning you can “attend” your classes on your timetable when it’s convenient for you.
- Most adult learners opt to sign up for a part-time degree program. On the flip side, accelerated degree programs are available.
In our list above, we have listed a few colleges offering classes catering to adult learners; however, with the convenience of all online courses, you can now enroll with most any accredited college program that you desire, providing they offer a degree program that interests you!
Summary Points
- As a considerable number of working adults are gaining interest in continuing and entering college, higher education institutions are taking it upon themselves to conduct regular assessments of their adult education programs.
- These colleges and universities share the primary goal of helping working adults earn their degrees while balancing family, career, and other aspects of their busy lives.
- Our above list of colleges for working adults provides an easy and convenient way to continue their education… in whichever capacity they need!
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