Going Back To School

The numbers of students over age 25 are rapidly growing in the United States thanks to the advent of online programs, flexible degrees, and credit for prior learning assessments. Adult students experience many benefits and challenges of returning to school as older students. They often serve as mentors to their younger counterparts, maintain good work habits, and earn excellent grades due to their focus on clear goals.

Adult students’ motivations for going back to school vary. Some are seeking to enhance a new skill set for career advancement. Others want to find a job in a new industry. And a few – usually retired older adults – are studying exclusively for personal enrichment. Many adult students majoring in psychology are looking to advance their careers by earning a new degree that provides knowledge and skills in the broad understanding of human behavior.

A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that younger students welcome the expertise and applied knowledge that their nontraditional peers bring to class. Furthermore, most adult students have developed effective stress management and coping mechanisms that help them show resilience in their studies. Still, financial aid can be a special challenge for students who shoulder the burden of caring for a household without parental support.

Since many older students focus clearly on their goals, however, returning to school for a psychology degree can offer real career benefits. Not only do practicing counselors and psychologists work in a fast-growing field with salaries that exceed the national average, but a psychology major is useful in any occupation requiring research skills and predictive knowledge of human behavior. Explore credit transfers, prior learning, online degrees, and financial aid for students returning to school.

A psychology degree equips graduates with marketable skills in the field of psychology and increases their chances of securing a well-paid position in a related field. Earning a psychology degree enables students to conduct experiments on the reasons people think and behave the way they do. According to the APA, psychologists with a bachelor’s degree earn a median salary of about $50,000 per year. Graduates with a master’s in psychology earn a median salary of $60,000. In addition, employers prefer students who return to college for a degree in psychology thanks to their research skills and understanding of human behavior.

Psychology students enjoy plenty of specialization options, such as child development, criminal justice, and mental health counseling. Moreover, a professional with a bachelor’s degree in psychology has other career options in occupations and industries apart from being a psychologist. Market analysis, human resources, and religious work all require a psychology major’s skills. Not everything in psychology is about the study of theories or research methodology. A major hidden advantage of a bachelor’s degree in psychology is acquiring soft skills on how to think and communicate. Holding a master’s degree or doctorate opens up additional opportunities to practice as a therapist, social worker, or clinical psychologist.

Studies show that older students who return to college through online courses outperform their younger counterparts. Older students often mentor younger classmates, forming mutually beneficial relationships. Furthermore, employed students can learn new skills, improve their existing skills, and increase their earning potential by pursuing a college degree. A 2016 survey found that while online graduate students are an average of 33 years old, their undergraduate counterparts in brick-and-mortar schools have an average age of 29. This age difference reflects the effectiveness of online courses for adults.

Online education is a perfect model for students with life commitments such as work or family because it allows learners the flexibility to complete work at their own pace. Courses do not have specific lecture times, so students can engage in class before work, during dinner, or after story time. Additionally, online students can log into their student accounts from anywhere with their mobile devices. Many schools also offer internships or clinical requirements at locations near a student’s home.

Students who previously attended school or took classes at an accredited college or university may be able to transfer their credits to a new school. Transferring credits can help students save money and graduate faster. Each school sets its own transfer policies, but accredited institutions only accept credits from institutions with regional accreditation. Students should contact the registrar’s office at their former school to request a transcript. Almost always, students can find the process for doing so listed on a school’s website.

College credits never technically expire. However, some courses may have changed significantly and those credits may not transfer. Schools typically only accept a limited number of transfer credits, but they may accept as many as three years worth. General education courses tend to transfer most easily, and students may have to retake certain courses in fields that are rapidly changing, such as technology, science, or computers. Nevertheless, transferring credits can offer big savings in time and money to qualifying students.

Most courses earned at accredited colleges or universities with a grade of C or higher will be eligible for transfer. Typically, transfers between public schools in the same state are the easiest and most straightforward. However, the prospective school always has the authority to decide whether or not to accept transfer credits and how to apply them. When making decisions about returning to school, students should pay close attention to policies about course equivalency, transferring between course levels, and transferring from a quarter system to a semester system.

Nontraditional students often bring valuable life experiences to their college education for which an institution may give credit. Students may gain prior learning credits through military service, independent study, workplace training, examinations, and other means. However, schools do not award credit simply because students have experience. Instead, students must demonstrate what they learned from the experience and how it applies to a specific course’s learning objectives. Institutions determine the amount of credit students gain by conducting prior learning assessments (PLA), such as portfolio reviews, examinations, and reviews of workplace trainings.

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning defines four generally-accepted approaches to credit by prior learning: standardized exams, challenge exams, individualized assessments, and evaluated non-college programs. Many schools also accept portfolios for assessment from nontraditional students with work experience.

Each school handles PLA credits according to its own policies and criteria. Some schools award credit for prior learning by matching a specific required course with the PLA. Other institutions may waive course requirements based on the competencies demonstrated. When a school awards PLA credit, it may apply that credit as an elective, a general education course, or a requirement for the major. When reviewing a prospective school’s policies on credit transfers and credit for prior learning, students should remember to look at the school’s policies on maximum credit transfer and whether their PLA credits will transfer to another institution.

Paying for school as an adult nontraditional student can be a challenge due to factors such as childcare responsibilities, mortgages, and car payments, which younger, traditional student may not have. Fortunately, the federal government, state governments, and private donors help make education possible through financial aid packages.

All students attending public or private higher learning institutions in the U.S. are eligible to receive federal financial aid. Regardless of how long a student has been out of school, the application process for financial aid is the same for both traditional and nontraditional students.

The Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA) is the key financial aid form for all students. Both federal and private funders use it to make financial aid decisions. The FAFSA uses data such as income and other financial assets to determine the amount of money students should contribute toward their education. The U.S. Department of Education uses parental data to determine the eligibility of traditional students for federal loans, need-based grants, and scholarships, and it uses a nontraditional student’s own financial information if they are 25 or older.

It is free to apply for financial aid through www.fafsa.ed.gov or at any college’s financial aid office. The FAFSA application, for the 2024-2025 school year will be available on December 1, 2024. Therefore, students should start the application process by contacting the financial aid offices of their college of choice a year before applying. Financial aid recipients must reapply for funds each year.

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the official estimate of what it will cost a student to go to college, including room and board, disability, eligible study-abroad courses, dependent care, tuition, and fees for students attending at least half-time.

An Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is an index number a school’s financial aid office uses to determine the amount a student is eligible for if they choose to attend their college. The information included in the FAFSA or in the Student Aid Report helps determine the EFC. Federal law establishes the formula for calculating the EFC.

Non-need-based aid is a type of aid based on the COA and other assistance a student receives not on the EFC. The types of non-need-based financial aid provided by the Office of Federal Student Aid include direct unsubsidized loans, Federal PLUS Loans and TEACH Grants. Need-based aid is the type of aid a student receives if he or she demonstrates financial need and meets other eligibility criteria. Need-based aid includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, direct subsidized loans, and Federal Work-Study.

Graduate psychology students are eligible to receive financial aid packages, including grants, loans, and work-study funds. These financial aid options all work differently. A Pell Grant doesn’t have to be repaid like a loan, and the amount a student can receive changes every year. Through the federal work-study program, graduate students with financial need can find part-time jobs related to their course of study. Students studying for a career in teaching can qualify for grants of up to $4,000 per year through the TEACH Grant. This program is distinguished from other grants because it requires students to take certain coursework to qualify. Grants and other private funding can help supplement or even supplant the need for students to take out extensive loans.

Direct PLUS Loans are ideal for graduate students who want to borrow an amount above the maximum unsubsidized loan amounts. The applicant has to complete a credit check during the process. Every school’s financial aid office has details about the available financial aid types in that particular school and its departments. Prospective psychology students should also research foundations and organizations that offer scholarships as well as inquire about tuition assistance from their employers.

Nontraditional students face unique challenges by returning to school. Planning ahead will mitigate many of these challenges.