Should I Go Back to School? 4 Questions to Consider

For most adults, the idea of going back to school can be daunting. You’re likely asking yourself questions like:

• “Will I succeed?”
• “How can I manage classes and homework in addition to my other responsibilities?”
• “Can I afford to get my degree?”
• “Do I even remember how to ‘be’ in school?”

What you’re really wondering is if you’re truly ready to take this important next step in your education.

Being “ready” involves more than intuition; it requires actionable preparation by assessing key aspects of your life, including your schedule, financial resources, and job flexibility, to strategically position yourself for success.

Is it worth going back to school as an adult?

While it may seem intimidating at first, pursuing further education later in life can lead to several opportunities that were previously out of reach.

There are numerous  benefits of returning to school as an adult. Adult learners often find that advancing their education helps them stay competitive in the job market and provides them with increased job opportunities, higher earning potential, and the fulfillment of personal goals. 

However, it’s essential to weigh the challenges, such as balancing study with family and work responsibilities, the financial investment, and the emotional toll of re-entering an academic environment. 

Ultimately, if you can align your educational pursuits with your long-term goals, returning to school can be worthwhile and profoundly impact your professional trajectory and personal growth.

4 questions to ask when returning to college as an adult

Before making the leap and returning to college as an adult, ask yourself the following questions.

1. Can I balance my schedule?

The first step toward deciding if you’re ready to return to school is making sure you’re available—and willing—to commit to the process.

You’ll know if going back to school is the right choice for you once you determine that balancing work and school as an adult is a commitment you are ready to make. Start by thinking through your weekly schedule. Write out a list of your commitments, including work, standing appointments, and even the errands you have to do weekly to keep your life functioning. Then analyze that list and see if you have a few hours per week that you could set aside for school.

You’ll likely surprise yourself when you recognize that there are gaps in your schedule you can use to attend classes, even if it may mean giving up some other, less productive commitments. If your work schedule is the problem, talk to your boss about your goal of returning to school. Many companies value their employees’ desire to further their education and may offer you support in the form of flexible or reduced hours or even potential tuition reimbursement. Temporarily loading up or rearranging your schedule will be worth the benefits of earning your bachelor’s degree.

There may be periods in your life when commitments to family, work, and other responsibilities make returning to school difficult. While this is a valid concern, if you have your heart set on getting your degree, take the time to see what can be changed during the time it will take to achieve your goal.

Flexible scheduling through online learning

Many universities, for example, offer an array of online degrees that allow for the flexibility many adult students need to make classes fit into their busy lives. Most of the bachelor’s degree completion programs at Northeastern are offered 100% online.

To reduce scheduling stressors, you can lean on family and friends for support or work with an advisor or counselor to restructure your commitments in order to make your goals happen. 

2. Do I have a strong support system?

It’s helpful to surround yourself with people with whom you can talk through big life decisions—such as returning to school. Knowing who those people are and the type of support system you have in place will go a long way as you continue down the path toward finishing your degree.

These are the people you know you can lean on if you get overwhelmed, need help studying, or simply need a pep talk when things get tough. Knowing that you have an entire team in your corner that wants to see you succeed will help give you the push you need to work hard and complete your program.

If you don’t have this kind of support system to lean on, however, that doesn’t mean you can’t pursue your degree on your own. Some students actually operate better in a learning environment where they are solely accountable for their successes.

However, if you do feel having a team behind you might benefit your process, consider reaching out to your university’s dedicated student admissions counselors to talk through all of your questions and concerns—from which program you should choose to which courses to enroll in. Then, lean on your professors, classmates, and advisors throughout your time at the university to get whatever kind of help and support you need. One of the perks of being a member of a higher education institution is the community of like-minded individuals that you will automatically become a part of. Sometimes, knowing there’s a group of people who all share similar goals and want you to succeed is all you need to thrive.

3. Can I afford to go back to school?

Although many universities work hard to offer programs that are affordable for students, education is rarely free. For this reason, it’s important to not only make sure you have the time and support to pursue your degree but also to determine if you are in a suitable financial situation to do so.

Every university is different but in the 2024–2025 academic year, undergraduate courses for bachelor’s completion students at Northeastern cost anywhere from $541 to $781 per semester hour.

Financial options and support while going back to school

If you’re doubtful that these costs will fit within your budget, don’t worry. There are many types of financial aid for returning students that you can take advantage of.

• Tuition reimbursement: Before registering for classes, be sure to check with your current employer to learn about any tuition reimbursement options they offer. Interestingly, while 80% of working adults express interest in pursuing further education, only 40% are aware that their employer may offer tuition reimbursement assistance, and merely 2% of employees actually utilize these benefits. Given the disparity between availability and usage, exploring this option could provide a significant financial advantage when considering how to pay for school.
• Scholarships and grants: Many institutions, including Northeastern, offer a variety of scholarships for adult students to make quality education more affordable. Each award requires that students meet a specific set of qualifications, ranging from an applicant’s home state to their high school GPA. The money given to scholarship recipients can range from $6,000 to more than $10,000.
• State and federal grants: Unlike loans, grants are donations toward education that students do not need to repay. Some are awarded based on financial need or the estimated family contribution to the applicant’s tuition, but all are set in place to help students more easily afford their courses.
• Military benefits: If you are a military veteran hoping to complete a degree program, there are many additional benefits available to you. The main program utilized by U.S. veterans and active duty servicemembers is the GI Bill®, which includes both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill. Northeastern has also invested in the federal Yellow Ribbon Program, which allows the university to offer each student up to $30,000 per year toward their education.

4. What are my goals?

There are many reasons to return to school to complete your bachelor’s degree, including a desire for a promotion, a higher wage, access to new job opportunities, and increased marketability. Before starting on this journey, however, you should take the time to identify exactly why you have decided to finish your degree. In doing so, you will not only help put your priorities in perspective but also remind yourself what it is you’re working for.

Deciding to go back to school as an adult learner

Once you’ve taken the right steps to ensure your path to continued education is clear—and the answer to “Am I ready?” becomes an unquestionable “Yes!”—then it’s time to get started. 

One path forward is to enroll in a degree completion program. These programs are specifically designed for students who have started, but not finished, a bachelor’s degree, as well as those who have completed an associate’s degree and wish to convert it into a bachelor’s degree. 

Because many of the students who enroll in degree completion programs are already working or have family obligations, the programs are typically structured in a way that enables flexible learning. Online and in-person classes allow students to learn when and where it is best for them, despite these other obligations.

By accepting some or all of a student’s credits from their previous education, degree completion programs offer learners a faster and often less expensive solution to finishing their degrees, rather than starting from scratch.

Choose one of Northeastern’s flexible programs dedicated to non-traditional learners, and begin working toward your bachelor’s degree today.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.