Our Most Frequently Asked Questions About Going Back to College

In the United States, millions of adults above the age of traditional college students decide to attend college every year, each with their own history and circumstances. Many students in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond return to college to earn an additional degree, complete an unfinished degree, or advance to graduate or professional school.

Adults going back to school are often motivated by a sense of purpose, enhanced career security, and the desire to keep their minds sharp, even in retirement. Learning new things can benefit everyone, regardless of age.

There are numerous benefits to returning to a college or university setting at any age. It instills new skills and knowledge, expands your network, boosts job security, and leads to exciting career advancements. Plus, you'll gain valuable skills and knowledge along the way!

Ultimately, the decision to return to college as an adult rests on your personal and professional goals, and your potential to gain a return on your investment through increased salary or career advancement opportunities.

If you are uncertain about what to study in school, take some time to reflect on your goals and research both the current job market and the available programs in your area of interest. Investigate questions like:

• Do you want to advance in your current field, or do you want to transition to a different career path?
• What degree programs, certificates, or professional certifications are valued or lead to career advancement in this area?
• Are you able to commit to a full-time or part-time program? Remember that online or hybrid (partially online) programs are increasingly common and often offer more flexibility for adult college students.

If you are still curious about the possibilities, career assessments and quizzes are popular tools for determining whether you are compatible with any other career paths you may not have considered.

Yes, students with GEDs can generally apply to college, whether it's for the first time or after a previous attempt. Most colleges in the United States accept a GED as equivalent to a high school diploma. However, it's a good idea to contact the college you're interested in to find out if you need to take any additional placement tests or courses based on your situation.

Yes, you can pursue a second bachelor’s degree after graduating to advance your career or change to a new one. However, each institution’s policies may vary. You should also consider factors such as the lessened availability of federal financial aid for second bachelor’s degrees.

We also suggest you consider whether another program type will best align with your goals. For example, you may be able to build on your bachelor’s degree in a shorter-term accelerated or “post-baccalaureate” program.

Yes, students who already earned an associate, bachelor’s, or even master’s degree can absolutely return to school to earn an associate degree, whether it’s to propel a career change or to learn new skills. For example, two-year degrees or shorter-term certifications in energy or healthcare are a popular way to transition careers, regardless of the level of prior education.

If you dropped out of college, no matter how far you got, you can pick up where you left off or complete a new degree entirely. You can apply to a new institution or contact your old school to ask about returning, as long as you are open and honest in your application and submit all previous college transcripts. Even if you did not leave with any transferable credits, it’s still important to request and submit those transcripts when you apply again.

Tip: Prepare to share your story about dropping out and what you have been doing since then, either in your application components or during interviews or meetings with admissions counselors.

Students who previously failed out of college can absolutely return to college and be successful in doing so. For these students, it's important to implement new strategies for studying and managing your time effectively. Take advantage of available resources such as faculty office hours, library services, tutoring programs, and other support systems to help you succeed.

Tip: Many students going to college after failing choose to start at a two-year or community college to save money while rebuilding their GPAs for a later transition to a four-year college.

Likely no. Most, if not all, colleges require applicants to provide transcripts from all previously attended institutions. If you’re looking for more of a “college start-over,” speak to community colleges in your area to determine if they admit students with just high school transcripts, even if they have some historical college coursework.

Schools require this information to determine your eligibility and to make informed decisions regarding your application. If you're concerned about your poor grades from your first experience, try not to let it affect your mindset! In your application materials, you can explain your reasons for returning to college and discuss anything that impacted your performance the first time.

Tip: You might consider starting at a community college to improve your GPA before applying to a four-year university. Learn more about what’s called “upward transfer.”

Yes, you can return to college after graduation, whether to pursue another degree, take individual courses, or develop professionally through certificates or training programs.

Pursuing further education could look like the next advanced degree in your field, like a master’s or doctoral program. If you go back for another bachelor’s degree, remember that some institutions may have policies regarding pursuing a degree similar to the one you already have.

The best way to find out if your previous college credits can be transferred when returning to college is to reach out to an admissions counselor or advisor at the institution you are applying to as an adult student. You can also email specific staff members who handle transfer questions or schedule a meeting with them.

Note: If your gap between college attempts is particularly long, each state has different policies regarding accepting transfer credits based on how long ago you earned them. Even if your prior college credits do not expire, the likelihood of transferring them may decrease over time due to changes in subject matter and other factors.

Yes, you can keep your full or part-time job and return to school. Whether you’re going back to finish your first degree or take on a new challenge, more flexible programs such as online degrees or programs with flexible class time options are increasingly common and help those with multiple commitments remain successful.

Returning to college can be challenging, as in-person or online classes and assignments add to your family and work responsibilities. Not to mention, it may have been a while since you spent time studying or listening to lectures. A successful return to college is possible if you make thoughtful decisions about your program choice and financial obligations.

Tip: Don't hesitate to ask your professors for help! Plus, schools that cater to students already in the workforce or student parents might offer specialized assistance.

Juggling children and families along with schoolwork is challenging, but millions do it each year. According to estimates by the 2023 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), 3.1 million, or one in five, undergraduate students in the United States were parenting students. For graduate students, one in every three is a student-parent, as reported by the Urban Institute.

Our advice for returning to college as a parent is to make wise financial choices, maintain open communication with your instructors, and seek out community with other mature students or those with children or family responsibilities. You got this!

This depends. Some schools require first-time or first-year college students to live on campus for at least the first year. If you are not a first-time college student, you will likely have the option to choose between campus housing and off-campus living.

If you want to live on campus as an adult student for the community or to be closer to services and resources, check to see if your school allows adults to apply for regular housing or if there are adult-only dorms.

Currently, the NCAA allows college athletes to compete in sports regardless of whether it is their first time attending college. However, some policies limit the total number of years of eligibility a student-athlete can have. For instance, if you have used up your eligibility at a previous college, you may not be allowed to participate in sports at a new institution. 

If you are completing a college degree for the first time as an adult, you can certainly attend college and be recruited or, more commonly, “walk on” to the team after trying out and demonstrating the necessary skill level. Additionally, you may be able to play a different sport upon returning to school rather than sticking with your original sport.

Yes! Many specific scholarships and grant funds are designed specifically for adults or parents returning to school, allowing you to find and apply for multiple financial aid opportunities. Private sources or the state or federal government can provide this aid, so do your research online and ask the college financial aid office for more ideas.

Yes, scholarships or grants for retired adults may be available from the school or private sources. Federal financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study programs, has no age restrictions. Additionally, some states allow senior citizens to attend college courses or complete degrees entirely free of charge.

If you have limited or no extra money, you can make going back to college more affordable by diligently applying for all the grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid available. You can also apply for federal or private loans that you will have to start paying back after graduation.

Additional programs and services that can help make college more affordable for adults include:

• Employer tuition reimbursement, where your job may be able to assist with the costs of higher education
• Federal or state tax credits for continuing education
• Tuition payment plans
• Fee waivers for applications, textbooks, etc.

Here in New Mexico, the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship and other specialized state funds allow eligible students to attend college for free even if returning to school. If free college tuition programs for adults aren't available in your state, you can still return to school at little or no cost by applying for scholarships and grants. These can be merit-based or need-based and may come from the school itself, private organizations, or government sources.

Paying for another degree while still having student loan obligations can be complicated and add financial stress, but returning to college with student loan debt is possible. Depending on your financial profile and repayment history, you may have the option to pause your federal student loan payments while you are still in college. This process is known as deferring your loans. Alternatively, you could consider refinancing your loans and any new ones you might take out for your upcoming studies.

Tip: If you have student loan debt, it’s even more important to research the return on investment, or ROI, of any certificate or degree you go back to school to earn.

While defaulting on federal or private student loans due to non-repayment doesn’t necessarily prevent admission to a college or university, you will likely not be eligible to apply for any further federal or state financial aid, like Pell Grants, until you get out of default status. Your best course of action is to contact your loan provider and your college of interest’s financial aid office to determine your best course of action.