Every year, millions of kids leave high school and head to college in the hope of securing a better future. It is a well-trodden path and for many, the right route to take. What you might not realize is that colleges are just as happy to offer places to mature students, as they are high school leavers. Yes, a college education is not just for teenagers – and here’s why!

Boost Your Career Prospects

There are many reasons to consider returning to college as a mature student, but the first is improved career opportunities. Thirty years ago, a college education was not so freely available and the majority of kids from less affluent homes couldn’t afford to earn a degree. Instead, they left school and went straight into full-time employment. Unfortunately, not having a degree tends to put you on the back foot when it comes to career progression.
There is nothing worse than being passed over for promotion with a young kid who has a degree and can talk the talk, but no experience. Sadly, this happens all too often in many spheres, especially as managers get younger. One way to show you have what it takes to move up the career ladder is by enrolling on a degree program. You can study online and work in your spare time. Just be sure to let your HR department know, as it will greatly improve your promotion prospects.

Earn More Money

A degree on your resume is a sure fire way of boosting your earning potential. If you have a wealth of experience and a successful career behind you, you might not see the benefits of going back to college, but try studying for an MBA and see what a difference it makes to your earning capacity.

Retrain for a New Career

Have you been working in the same job for what feels like forever? If so, now might be a good time to start thinking about a new career. It’s never too late to transition into a new career. In fact, it is a lot easier if you wait until the kids are leaving home and you don’t have a huge mortgage to pay. By the time you hit your 30s, 40s, and 50s, you probably have a better idea of where your true interests and aspirations lie, which makes it easier to narrow down the right career path. So what are you waiting for?

Explore New Interests

A college education can be for fun as well as career enhancement. Many degree courses out there are designed to broaden the mind and promote higher learning for learning’s sake. For example, if you have a passion for history, check out the master of arts in military history program from Norwich University. An online military history degree is something you can pursue in your spare time, just for fun!

My Say

Don’t dismiss the idea of going back to college. Millions of mature students enroll on degree programs every year. It works for them and it can work for you.