Can You Go To College At Any Age (Everything To Know)
Are you wondering “can you go to college at any age?”
This is a super common question that a lot of people have, so I’m here to tell you everything you need to know.
As a former college student and higher education professional, I’ve seen and worked with students of a variety of ages from teenagers to their 50’s.
So the simple answer is yes, definitely!
There are no laws that limit how old you have to be to apply for college. Although, there are special considerations for younger students (those under age 17).
For older adults looking to attend college, there is no upper age limit for attending college!
So, if you didn’t go to college right after high school for whatever reason, you still have the opportunity to get into the college of your dreams and receive your college degree no matter how old you are.
In fact, starting or finishing college later in life is becoming more and more common in the United States.
Adult learners (students age 25 or older) are now a major population at colleges and the trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
For a lot of people, having advanced degrees is the key to their career advancement and they’re taking advantage of the opportunity to now go to their college of choice, which may not have been an option as a high school student.
So if you’ve ever wondered if you can go to college at any age, this post is for you.
Keep reading for all the details!
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Can You Go to College at Any Age?
Yes, you can go to college at any age as long as you meet the eligibility and academic requirements. There are no age restrictions or age requirements to attend most colleges. If you are a minor, there may be increased requirements for eligibility. You can absolutely go to college at any age, whether you’re in your twenties, thirties, forties, or beyond!
Can You Go To Community College at Any Age?
Yes! It is very common for young students (those 14-16) and older students (those 25 and up) to take community college courses to complete their associate’s degree.
Many community colleges have dual enrollment programs for high school students and home-schooled students to take college classes for college credit and/or to receive an associate degree.
For more mature students, attending community college is an excellent way to get a college education or a pathway to a traditional university (four-year college).
At What Age Do You Go To College?
Typically, freshmen in college are around 17-18 years old. Although this is the average age, there are more and more adult and nontraditional students going to college now than ever before.
According to a 2019 poll by the National Center for Education Statistics, about 7 million college students across the nation are 25 years or older.
10 percent of those 7 million were full-time undergraduate students between 25 and 34 years old, whereas 5% were 35 years and older.
As for part-time students, 23% were between 25 and 34 years old, and 18% were 35 years and older.
The Benefits of Going to College at Any Age
There are tons of benefits to going to college at any age! Here are 3 of the most prominent benefits:
1. Personal Growth
Going to college is incredibly rewarding for your personal growth!
I truly learned so much about myself while in college and it shaped me into the person I am today. You have the opportunity to learn new things, meet tons of new people, and expand your beliefs around a myriad of topics and perspectives.
College is also a crucial time to help you develop critical thinking skills, improve your communication abilities, and enhance your problem-solving skills in ways you have never experienced outside of school.
By the time you graduate, you’ll be amazed at your increased self-awareness and individual growth.
2. Career Advancement
One of the most significant benefits of going to college is the potential for career advancement! With a college degree, you could qualify for higher-paying jobs, increase your earning potential, and improve your job security.
According to a study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $1 million more over their lifetime than those without a degree.
Although not the case for everyone, having a college degree could help you break through career ceilings and help you qualify for more promotions, leadership positions, and even your dream job!
3. Networking Opportunities
College is a goldmine for valuable networking opportunities!
Since there are many people and events, there is always an opportunity to meet new people, make connections with professors and other students, and build relationships with professionals in your field.
Networking groups like sororities, fraternities, and college alumni groups are perfect opportunities to build your connections organically.
Whoever said it’s about “who you know, not what you know” is 100% correct.
Having a web of connections is key to helping you find job opportunities, mentorship, and career guidance you wouldn’t have access to without these connections.
Challenges Faced by Older Students
If you’re considering going back to college as an “older than normal” student, here are some of the most common challenges that older students face:
Balancing Responsibilities
As an adult learner, you probably have more responsibilities than the average college student. That could look like family to take care of, full-time job responsibilities, or even just the obligations that come with being an adult.
Adding another school as another obligation could be a challenge to finding balance in your life.
To help manage your time, you could structure your schedule intentionally for dedicated time to each of your responsibilities (so you don’t miss important responsibilities like class). Things like studying, attending classes, completing assignments, and networking. Using a planner is an easy way to stay on track with your new structure.
You could also consider new modalities for attending school like taking online classes or choosing a school that is flexible for adult learners. (ex. classes at night, pre-recorded lectures, and take-home tests)
Adapting to New Technologies
Technology is changing quicker than ever! As a student, you’ll have to adapt to the new technologies being used by students today.
Most schools are pivoting to online formats to keep up with the changing times. This looks like using online learning platforms for class communication and collaboration, taking online tests to reduce paper waste, and submitting assignments virtually for accessibility.
These are all the norm for students today.
If you consider yourself “technologically challenged” there are simple ways to get up to speed. I’m a huge fan of watching YouTube or TikTok videos to learn a new platform. There are tons of tutorials to learn the basics, so you can easily get the hang of it!
Overcoming Stereotypes
Unfortunately, stereotypes are still prevalent in our society. Others may have pre-convinced notions about your education, life, or capabilities. These have nothing to do with you and say everything about the other person.
Remember, doing things out of the “norm”, is a courageous venture and you should never let another person’s opinion of you dictate your goals or dreams.
If you’re feeling down about stereotypes, affirmations are a great way to motivate yourself to continue pursuing your dreams!
Support for Older Students
As the population of adult learners is growing rapidly, so are the support options! Here are some ways colleges support their “older than normal” students.
Flexible Learning Options
Flexibility is key to being an adult learner! More and more colleges are now offering flexible learning options to attract and retain adult learners.
These learning options often involve late evening classes (or even weekend classes), online-only classes, or self-paced curricula that students can complete on their own time.
With all these options, you just need to figure out what works best for you and maintain consistency in your work and schedule.
Financial Aid Opportunities
There is a common misconception that adult learners cannot receive financial aid. This is false!
There are tons of financial aid opportunities for students returning to college, non-traditional students, and adult degree programs. Your eligibility will largely depend on your background, demographics, experience, and financial status.
Here are some things you can look into for financial aid opportunities:
- Federal student aid
- Work-study programs
- Demographic-based college scholarships & grants
- Tuition waivers
- Job-based professional development
To get more clarity about your options, you should speak with your school’s financial aid department.
Student Support Services
Student affairs offices are designed specially to support their students. There are a variety of support services you can utilize as a college student (and they often give really cool free stuff).
For example, if you’ve been wanting to get healthy, but don’t have the money for an outside gym membership. As a student, you can use the on-campus gym, get fitness advice, and even personal training if your college provides it.
That’s a major perk and there’s so much you have access to! So if you’re a new student, do some research about your student support services, so you can take advantage of all that college has to offer!
Challenges Faced by Younger Students
If you’re considering going back to college as a “younger than normal” student, here are some of the most common challenges that younger students face:
Emotional Readiness
College is a huge transition in life. In fact, a lot of “traditionally aged students” aren’t ready when the time comes. So this is a major consideration if you are a younger student.
College may feel overwhelming…
There are a lot of responsibilities, new environments, harder coursework, and adjusting to being on your own that a younger student may not be ready for yet.
Academic Rigor
College coursework can be extremely difficult. And rightfully so, this is the stage where you are preparing for your career!
As a younger student, you may struggle with the increased academic difficulty from high school (like giving college presentations or having early 8 am classes).
Knowing that college will be harder and being prepared to challenge yourself are the biggest mindset changes you’ll have to implement.
Lack of Maturity
This is a major factor for younger college students. College is one of the pivotal times for self-development, but a lack of maturity can halt that growth.
There is a lot of social responsibility as a college student and younger students may not be up for those types of challenges yet (like peer pressure, how to be popular, going against your ethics, determining your morals and beliefs).
It takes time to develop a sense of self-awareness, so before going to college consider stepping inward to figure out who you really are and what you truly believe.
Support for Younger Students
Younger college students are also growing in the college population! Here are some ways colleges support their “younger than normal” students.
Mentorship
Mentorship is one of the best support options for any college student! Many schools offer mentorship programs to connect younger students with older students like juniors and seniors to help guide them throughout the college environment.
If you’re looking for a mentor, the best place to start is during orientation! Summer orientation programs usually have older students guide new incoming students as they navigate the first few weeks of school.
I suggest getting to know these guides as they know a lot about the school and can be a big help in meeting new people and finding mentorship opportunities.
Flexible Courses
Some younger students don’t want the full college experience and that’s okay!
In cases where the student isn’t living on campus and is only taking courses, there are flexible options.
These students can take online courses and not even step foot on campus.
Personally, I am familiar with a lot of students who received their associate’s degree while still in high school (aka dual enrollment).
They took online classes at a community college for 2 years and ended up graduating with their high school diploma and associate’s degree at the same time!
Then they transferred those credits to a university, took only the classes they needed to get their bachelor’s degree, and finished college all in 2 years.
If this is the route you want to take, I suggest researching some options for online college coursework for high school students or dual enrollment programs.
This post answered the question can you go to college at any age.
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