Nontraditional Students: Adult Students Seeking a Degree

You're ready to change or improve your career. An online MBA degree can help you land a great position in a wide variety of fields, while providing a flexible course schedules.

by Karen Lawson
karen.lawson@mba-business-schools.com
MBA-business-schools Columnist

The term nontraditional students refers to adults over 25 who are enrolling in college for various reasons in record numbers. The US Census Bureau reports that in 2004, 30.6 % of adults between the ages of 35 and 39 held a bachelor’s degree or above, as compared to 11% of students aged 20 to 25. These numbers appear to support the trend of adults enrolling in degree programs after the age of 25.

Online Programs Facilitate Adult Learning

There are many reasons for starting or returning to college after starting your career. You’ve heard about downsizing and corporate scandal. On a smaller scale, people sometimes encounter hardships that require them to change careers. Perhaps you’ve held the same job or worked within the same vocation for years, and want to advance or change your career. This type of situation is perfect for earning your degree through an online business program. You can earn an MBA online, or choose a business program that combines classroom and online attendance.

MBA Degree Useful in Many Careers

If you think an MBA is only useful for business executives, think again. The variety of courses and seminars offered in an online business program provides training that can be used in many aspects of business, management, and marketing. As effective business practices impacts the “bottom line” of fields such as healthcare and service oriented companies, an MBA degree is increasingly desirable to a wide range of employers.

If you’ve had a career in business and are undecided about a graduate degree program, your MBA can lead to many new opportunities. It’s possible to choose an area of concentration within some online MBA programs such as human resources, finance and accounting, and sales and marketing. An accredited online MBA program can be a major step toward a new and more satisfying business career.

About the Author

Karen Lawson is a freelance writer who earned an MA degree in English at a very nontraditional age. She enjoys writing about topics in post secondary education.

Posted on December 23, 2006 at 12:21 PM

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