Let’s be real – going back to college as an adult is much different than going to college as an undergraduate. Typically, you have a lot more responsibilities to juggle as an adult, like working a full-time job and taking care of kids. And on top of that, the prospect itself can be intimidating, especially if it’s been years since you were last a student.
This can make researching schools a challenge. Traditional universities cater so much toward the undergraduate population that it can be hard to wade through all the information to figure how they’ll truly support you with your unique needs and busy schedule.
When there are so many options to choose from, it can be hard to find the best colleges for adult learners, schools that truly understand what it means to return to college after working for many years. So to help make your search smarter, we’ve put together a list of things working professionals should look for in a school when you’re ready to continue your education.
1. Reasonable, Affordable Tuition
Higher education is a significant financial investment but not all programs will break the bank. You’ll want to look for programs with reasonable, affordable tuition, where you aren’t paying an exorbitant amount in student and facility fees. After all, there will be a lot of facilities you won’t use as an adult learner with a full-time job, and yet you’ll still have to pay for them at many colleges.
Affordable online colleges with low-cost online degrees are a smarter alternative. Schools like American College of Education (ACE) offer online degrees with low tuition,1 where you aren’t saddled with paying for amenities, sports and other things unrelated to your education. When the total cost of your program is affordable, you’re more able to pursue it without the burden of student loans. (Indeed, 87% of ACE students graduate with no student debt.2) This also means your additional education is more likely to give you a true positive return on investment.
The smarter approach: Look for schools and programs where you only pay for your degree, not a ton of fees that will force you to accrue unnecessary student debt.
2. Up-Front Transparency
Since we’re talking about cost, it’s worth mentioning how difficult it can be to find that information. Many universities and colleges offer in-depth breakdowns of their programs and courses but make tuition and fee information much harder to find.
This is, in part, to make you reach out to them to ask. And even when you do, they may not always be up front with you about the amount you’ll ultimately be responsible for paying if you enroll in their program. They may break down the cost by credit, semester or course. This runaround makes researching the right program for you that much more frustrating.
Schools that make all their information transparent and readily available take a notably different approach to supporting you in your search. Not only do they respect your time by not hiding anything, but you get the full picture of how much you can expect to pay, which allows you to make concrete, realistic decisions based on your budget.
The smarter approach: Look for schools who prioritize cost transparency over enrollment tactics. It could be representative of a larger commitment to putting student needs over institutional needs.
3. Respect for Your Schedule
Typical undergrads have the luxury of making college their full-time priority. Working adults like you do not. That means a program that requires attending class in the middle of the day and a heavy course load won’t work. You need a program that respects your busy schedule.
Asynchronous online degree programs are typically great at this. However, it’s not just about finding flexible online degrees – nowadays, there are many part-time, online college degrees available for you to choose from. It’s about finding a program that’s structured in a way that allows you to plan ahead with online classes that fit your schedule.
ACE offers online degrees1 where every course follows a consistent structure. That means you don’t have to spend time figuring out your deadlines every time you start a new class. Knowing what to expect allows you to plan your studying around your existing schedule.
The smarter approach: Look for online degree programs with flexible courses and consistent structures so you can plan ahead.
4. Relevant Curriculum
If you’re taking the time to go back to school on top of your already busy schedule, you want it to pay off. That means career-focused degree programs that help you learn skills you can immediately start using at your job, not outdated theoretical frameworks.
The key to degrees that lead to jobs or career-relevant skills is updated and continually revised curriculum. ACE helps our students advance their careers thanks to our in-house Curriculum and Production team working in tandem with Academics to create custom coursework for every program. Not only that, but there’s a revision schedule to ensure programs are regularly reviewed for relevancy.
The smarter approach: Ask how often curriculum is evaluated and updated at the schools you’re considering. The answer will give you a sense of how relevant it’ll be to today’s needs in your industry.
5. Easy Student Experience
Going back to school is hard enough. You don’t want to have to deal with a school that makes being a student hard, too. Complicated learning modules, confusing course sequences and scheduling, unclear processes, and hard-to-access support – these are all things that you both shouldn’t have to deal with and don’t have time to deal with as an adult learner.
You want a school that makes being a student easy so you can save your time and energy on actual learning. Unfortunately, this is harder to suss out without firsthand student experience. But you can draw some conclusions based on how intuitive and easy the school makes its application process. Make note of how quickly they respond when you reach out with questions.
You can also ask what the process is like for common student needs – such as signing up for courses, dropping a course, changing majors and ordering transcripts – to assess how easy it will be. Schools like ACE make these things easy – for example, you’ll have access to a degree map so you’re always aware of your progress, and our Registrar automatically enrolls you in your next course.
The smarter approach: Look for schools that make being a student easy with uncomplicated procedures.
6. Ample Student Support
If it’s been a while since you’ve been a student, you may understandably need a little more support to dust off your academic writing skills. But as an adult, you probably don’t have time to stop by a writing or tutoring center.
You need a school with student support tools and resources designed specifically for adult learners. And if you’re considering online education for working professionals, you also need a school that will be responsive.
When doing your research, be sure you know how each school you’re considering will support you. The best online universities for working adults should have a robust catalog of digital tools to help you, as well as dedicated point people you can reach out to when you have questions.
At ACE, our students have access to Student Commons, a hub of digital resources available at any time. Everyone also gets their own Student Success Coach, who is with them from the first day to graduation and beyond. What makes our support smarter is the way our services work together to address student challenges and enhance learning.
The smarter approach: Look for schools that offer student support tailored specifically to adult and online learners. It should be readily available, accessible and responsive.
7. Progress, Not Prestige
There’s a time and a place for credentials from big-name traditional universities. But these credentials typically come with a staggering price tag and putting up with educational models that lag behind what’s possible with today’s educational technology.
As an adult with limited time and budget, you’ll need to decide on the right online degree to match your career goals. For many, accredited, affordable schools with good outcomes may outweigh the benefits of expensive prestige. If a rigorous online degree with affordable tuition can help you achieve professional success just as well as a more expensive degree, you could save yourself money in pursuit of your academic and career goals.
The smarter approach: Choose the program that will help you achieve your goals with an affordable tuition rate.
Smarter Education for Adult Learners
Here’s the bottom line: If you’re an adult looking to continue your education, you need a school that aligns with your goals and needs. Traditional universities or schools that’ll support you like an undergrad often don’t cut it. You deserve a better student experience, one that’s been tailored to your stage in life.
If you investigate the factors we’ve outlined above, you should be well-equipped to answer the question, “What online degree should I get?” You’ll know that you’re going back to school the smarter way.
American College of Education was built from the ground up for adult learners to pursue continuing education that’s both affordable and designed to help them achieve career goals. That’s smarter education.
1Select programs may require student teaching, an internship or practicum.
2Internal research completed in November 2025
