Is Going Back to College After 50 the New Normal?

Champlain College in Vermont has just halved tuition for career-focused online degrees, in keeping with the trend of adult students comprising the majority of degree seekers in the United States, reports Champlain Provost Laurie Quinn in Next Avenue . "Even in your 50s or 60s, there can be a significant economic upside to earning, or completing, that college degree," she notes. Quinn also cites a national Champlain poll's findings that 60 percent of U.S. adults age 23 to 55 without a bachelor's degree have considered returning to school, but were blocked by costs and student debt. "While going back to school later in life isn't the right choice for everyone, it's becoming an increasingly attractive option, as more adults choose to delay retirement, the workforce becomes even more competitive, and career shifts become more common," she writes. Reasons Quinn provides for adults 50 and older returning to school include the desire for a second-chapter career, the need to remain competitive and relevant in the workforce, the hunger for new challenges and new knowledge, and meeting a long-cherished goal. "Some colleges have longstanding experience serving working adults with high-quality online programs dedicated to ensuring that the decision to go back to school pays off," Quinn notes. "And many such schools are creating new pathways to make this a viable option for even more people, including the over-50 crowd."