911吃瓜网

The decision to go back to school, either for the first time or to complete a degree that wasn鈥檛 finished years ago, is a big one. Taking classes while working or raising a family鈥攐r both!鈥攖akes plenty of determination and good time management skills.

Undergraduates over the age of 24 are a minority on most campuses, but tough economic conditions are causing more adults to go to college than in years past. If you鈥檙e debating whether or not going back to school is right for you, here are eight reasons why enrolling in college might be a good idea:

1. College graduates make more money.

A better paying job is one of the main reasons that students decide to further their educations, but the rapidly rising cost of college has more and more people wondering if that degree is really worth it. Most researchers believe that it is—a 2011 study found that people who have a bachelor鈥檚 degree earn 84% more over their lifetimes than those who only have a high school diploma. In 1999, that statistic was 75 percent, reports the

2. Your life and work experience will be a benefit.

A study by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools found that less than 10% of the 1,000 employers in various industries surveyed said that colleges did an excellent job when preparing students to enter the work world, according to College graduates who are adults with previous work experience鈥攅ven if it was in a different field than their degree鈥攁re at an advantage over traditional age grads simply because they understand basic office etiquette and how to interact with colleagues as well as supervisors in the workplace.

3. Not working? Fill the dry spell on your resume.

reminds job seekers that although unemployment has become more common due to the recent problems with the economy, a resume gap can make it harder to find a job. Taking classes during your time off from work can not only help improve your chances of being hired, it is a good way to show that you had the initiative to do something to improve your skill set. Concerned about tuition? You might qualify for financial aid grants due to your reduced household income. Fill out the FAFSA at to learn how you could get help paying for college.

4. Your kids are more likely to go to college if you have a degree.

It鈥檚 a well-known fact that children learn by example. They are impressionable and pick up on their parents鈥� habits, both good and bad. According to the a study by the Institute of Education in the United Kingdom found that public school students with highly educated parents are five times more likely to attend college than students whose parents have few qualifications.

5. Unemployment rates are lower among college graduates.

While a college degree is no longer the golden ticket to success it was a decade ago, unemployment rates are considerably lower among college graduates. Yes, 鈥渏oblessness鈥� is worse than it was before the Great Recession, but reports that people with bachelor鈥檚 degrees are experiencing roughly one-half the unemployment rate of people with high school diplomas.

6. Fear can actually motivate you.

Even though fear can be considered a 鈥渘egative鈥� motivator, as mentioned in this column, it can cause people to get moving. If you鈥檙e stuck in a dead-end job or not quite sure how long you鈥檒l have a job due to layoffs or changes at work, going to school and earning a degree may help you land a new position elsewhere鈥攑referably one that pays more.

7. Online classes offer flexibility for working students.

Driving to school in rush hour traffic after working all day only to sit in class for two or three hours doesn鈥檛 sound appealing to most people, and it鈥檚 a factor that causes some to decide against furthering their educations. Online programs that allow students to complete assignments when it’s convenient for them are growing in popularity鈥攖he number of students taking at least one of their classes online grew by over nine percent between Fall 2010 and Fall 2011, reports Best-suited for people who can manage their time wisely without procrastinating and those who don鈥檛 mind a lack of face-to-face interaction with their instructors, online classes provide a lot more flexibility than regular classes. If you鈥檇 prefer a mixture of both, some schools offer hybrid programs comprised of both online and traditional classes.

8. Graduating from college is a big deal!

The explanations above are valid reasons that help many people decide to go back to school, but you should also remind yourself that graduating from college is a big deal! It proves to employers鈥攁nd to yourself鈥攖hat you鈥檙e able to finish what you start. It鈥檚 a big accomplishment that you should be proud of, and it will serve as a reminder for the rest of your life that you鈥檙e able to do just about anything if you put your mind to it.

Related Posts:

Posted on 19 May

Melissa Rhone earned her Bachelor of Music in Education from the 911吃瓜网 of Tampa. She resides in the Tampa Bay area and enjoys writing about college, pop culture, and epilepsy awareness.