3 fears about going back to college as an adult—answered by adults who did it

Going back to college as an adult can sound like a great idea right up until you start imagining what it will actually require.

How will you find the time? What if you haven’t been in school for years? And after all that time, money, and work, will going back actually be worth it?

You’re not the only one with these worries. Life gets more complicated when you add jobs, family, caregiving, and other responsibilities. Still, many adults go back to college, and doing it online is common too.

• Millions of “older” adults are students too. In fact, more than 6.2 million college students in the U.S. are 25 or older, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
• Adults 25+ make up a big part of higher education. Nearly one in three college students is 25 or older.
• Online learning is common among adults. According to Validated Insights, 63% of undergraduates age 25 and older are in fully online programs, compared to just 4% of students ages 18 to 21.

We reviewed what CSU Global students and graduates have shared on Trustpilot and in CSU Global Student Stories. Their lives are similar to many adults considering college again: jobs, kids, career changes, unfinished college plans, busy schedules, and lots of doubts.

Here are three of the biggest concerns they faced, and what happened when they chose to give it a try.

1. “How am I supposed to find time for school?”

Your day may already start before dawn.

You get up, shower, eat, get the kids ready and out the door, head to work, squeeze too much into too few hours, come home, make dinner, answer that email you missed, and maybe try to exercise.

And, excuse us, when exactly are you supposed to watch the new season of Ted Lasso?

Or maybe you just want to spend half an hour watching videos, scrolling on your phone, or doing nothing at all because your brain has been working since 6 a.m. and needs a break.

If this sounds familiar, it’s understandable to wonder how you could possibly fit college into your schedule.

For most working adults, going back to school means finding a program that fits into an already busy life.

CSU Global graduate Angelina Duran understands this challenge.

She worked full time and raised four children, including one with special needs. Attending classes on a traditional campus wasn’t possible for her, so she did most of her coursework at night after her kids were asleep.

After 18 months, she completed her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

What’s next for Duran? She hopes to go to law school.

“I’ve currently put those plans on hold due to my son still being so young,” she said. “I want to wait until he is a little older and can understand that mom has homework. But I have been studying for the LSAT and have found two online law schools that will allow me to sit for the bar here in Colorado.”

Duran is proud to have completed her CSU Global program and to have shown her kids what perseverance looks like. “Attending CSU Global helped me realize that I can still take steps to get to where I want to be. I have also been able to show my children that no matter what life gives you or throws your way, dreams can still be achieved, as long as you don’t give up and you keep pushing hard.”

Read more about Angelina Duran’s CSU Global story.

Here’s what can help make it easier:

• Skip the commute. With fully online classes, you don’t have to drive to campus, look for parking, or add travel time to your busy day.
• Study when it fits your schedule. CSU Global courses don’t have set meeting times, so you can do your coursework early in the morning, after the kids are asleep, or whenever you find time.
• Work in shorter terms. Eight-week courses let you concentrate on your current coursework rather than juggling a traditional semester-long schedule.

2. “Am I too old to go back?”

Maybe it’s been five years since you attended school.

Maybe 10.

Maybe much longer.

And maybe you’re not just wondering whether you’re too old. You’re wondering whether you still know how to “do” college. How do you write a research paper? Find credible sources? Format citations? What exactly is APA style again?

First, you likely won’t be the oldest person in your online class. At CSU Global, 85% of students are 25 or older, and almost one-third (31.4%) are 40 or older.

CSU Global alumnus Richard Berger went back to college in his late 40s.

Richard began his career in the Air Force, later earned an associate degree, and then went straight into the workforce. For years, not having a bachelor’s degree didn’t stop him from building a career.

Then he was laid off.

While Richard looked for a new job, he kept finding positions he knew he could do, but not having a bachelor’s degree held him back. Many of the jobs he qualified for also paid much less than what he used to earn.

That helped make his decision clear: It was time to go back.

Richard enrolled at CSU Global and set a big goal for himself: finish his bachelor’s degree before turning 50. For about a year and a half, he started his days at 4 a.m., worked all day, got home around 6:30 p.m., and then did schoolwork until about 10 at night.

A few months before completing his bachelor’s degree in project management, Richard was hired as a project manager for the Town of Apple Valley, California. He later returned to CSU Global and earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership.

“I hope I can inspire other people to not give up. If I can do this, you could too. When I decided to go to CSU Global, that changed everything.”

Read Richard Berger’s CSU Global story

Here’s what can help make it easier:

• Think about the jobs you want next. Check current openings for roles that interest you and see what employers are looking for. If a degree keeps showing up in the requirements, that can help you decide if going back to school is the right move.
• Start with the skills that feel rusty. You don’t need to relearn everything before enrolling. CSU Global’s Virtual Writing Center offers one-on-one writing help, essay reviews, writing tutorials, and APA style support. The online library also offers access to scholarly sources, research tutorials, APA resources, and help from librarians.
• Pick a program with a clear purpose. Think about what you want your degree to help you do next, whether that’s qualifying for a certain job, moving into management, changing fields, or just removing a credential barrier.
• Bring your experience with you. Years spent working, leading, solving problems, raising a family, or serving in the military can give you a perspective you might not have had the first time you were in school.

3. “Will going back to college be worth it for me?”

Going to college takes time, money, effort, and often means giving up evenings you could spend elsewhere.

Kirklan Wilson, a CSU Global graduate, didn’t return to college because he disliked his job. He went back because he saw a chance to advance his career.

Wilson already had a bachelor’s degree in business management from CSU Pueblo and was working in accounting at a manufacturing company. One day, his boss suggested he would make a great CPA.

He looked into what it would take to qualify for the CPA exam and realized he needed additional accounting coursework.

So, he decided to go back to school while still working full time.

His workdays often ran past 5 p.m. During month-end close, he sometimes stayed until 6:30, then went home, had dinner, and started studying. On other days, he watched lecture videos during his lunch break.

He also took on a heavy course load, enrolling in four classes each trimester, with two classes every eight-week session. “There were a few times I thought, ‘What did I get myself into?’” he said.

What made things easier was having flexible options and being able to reach his instructors. He liked knowing he’d get a response within 24 hours if he had questions, and some instructors held Zoom sessions that felt like regular office hours.

Wilson finished his accounting degree in just 16 months with plans to take the CPA exam and open up even more career opportunities.

His advice to other adults considering college is simple. “Everyone’s situation is different,” he said. “If you think you can’t do full-time, start off part-time! It really is worth all the time that you put in.”

Read more about Kirklan Wilson’s CSU Global journey

It’s also important to look at the numbers.

CSU Global’s 2026 Learner Return on Investment Survey found that, three to five years after finishing their programs, undergraduates reported a median annual salary increase of $31,500. Graduate degree holders reported a median increase of $39,000.

Among those surveyed, 89% of undergraduates and 92% of graduate program completers reported being employed.

Check out CSU Global’s 2026 Learner ROI findings.

For a deeper look at the potential return, read Is Going Back to College Worth It? ROI, Salary Outcomes, and Value for Working Adults.

Whether college is “worth it” depends on the cost, how much time you’ll need to finish, and what you want to achieve.

Here’s what can help you decide:

• Do the math. Consider the total cost of the degree, what you’ll pay after financial aid or employer help, and how that compares to your current and possible future earnings.
• Figure out how much school you actually have left. Previous college credits, military training, and other eligible learning might lower the number of courses you need to finish and the amount you’ll spend.
• See if someone else can help cover the cost. Employer tuition assistance, military education benefits, external scholarships, and other funding can make a big difference.
• Think about the long term. The benefits of a degree might not show up in your first paycheck after graduation. Consider how it could affect your job options, earning potential, and career flexibility over the next five or ten years.

If you’re still figuring out whether going back to college is the right next step, CSU Global enrollment counselors can help you understand your options, answer questions, and talk through what getting started could look like.