by Carrie Lynn Smith

Created on: August 17, 2010

Go to almost any job posting site on the internet and check out the ads. Most any ad for a job that pays more than $10 per hour will have very specific skills that they are looking for in an employee. They want you to know MS Office, Dreamweaver, Java, HTML,  or QuickBooks. Or perhaps have “in-depth industry knowledge”. How does one obtain these much needed skills? College is the best bet.

The facts are in; adults with some sort of postsecondary training make substantially more over the course of their lifetimes. According to Jenifer Cheeseman Day and Eric Newburger  in an 2002 U.S. Census Bureau  report, a person with a bachelors degree  would earn on average about one-third more than a person that did not graduate from college, and nearly twice as much as someone who has just a high school diploma.

Even those who are employed, should, in this economic environment, be constantly upgrading their skills to make themselves more valuable to their employers, and of course, more attractive to future employers in case of dreaded downsizing.

 College is the best way to accomplish these goals. With online learning, night and weekend courses, and other options for learning, college has become more accessible than ever to busy adults.

Money need not be a major issue, either. Your local community college is likely affordable, and full of career specific classes. Even if you don’t enroll in a full degree program, a few classes to update your skills may be just the thing to enhance your employability. And of course, there is always financial aid. Fill out the good old FAFSA. You may be pleasantly surprised at the aid you qualify for.

Another reason an adult should go back to school is to simply enhance their life. Always dream of writing a novel? A few classes at a community college, online or on campus, may be just what you need to get started. Thinking of changing careers? Take a few classes in the field you want to break into. This can save you money in the long run. Why waste a year in a full time secretary program just to find out that filing drives you crazy and you hate typing?

All things considered, there are few reasons for an adult not to go to college. College educated adults make more, learn valuable skills, and may just have some fun.

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