Is 27 Too Old To Start College?

If you're 27, you may be thinking that now's the time: you're finally ready for college.

But you're wondering if you'll stand out against your younger peers. Is it too late? Are you too old to start college?

27 is not too late to go to school and start or finish your degree. Though many of your classmates will be younger than you, a growing percentage will likely be older than you as well.

Keep reading for more information.

Are You Too Old to Start College at 27?

You are never too old to start college because colleges do not place age limits on their degree programs.

Technically, you could go back to school in your 90s if you wanted to.

Though young adults in their late teens and 20s still make up the majority of the classroom, there's also a large percentage of older students, in their late 20s and 30s, in most schools.

Colleges are enrolling growing numbers of students in their 40s, 50s, and beyond.

So even if you're not the youngest student in any of your classes, there's a good chance you won't stick out among your classmates.

27 may be the perfect age to return to school.

You probably have some work experience by now, as well as a better idea of what you want in life.

Being more mature and having clear goals will make it easier for you to succeed in your studies and stay focused on the big picture.

What Age Should a First-Year College Student Be?

As noted in the above section, students of all ages can attend college.

Whether it's your first time in a post-secondary school or you're returning to complete your degree, there's no 'right' or 'wrong' age.

Many students start college at age 18 because they feel pressured by family or society.

Going to college right out of high school is what you're 'supposed' to do, right?

The problem is, if you don't know what you want to do with your life, there's a good chance you'll end up dropping out or ending up in a program that doesn't interest you.

Even if you go to college at 18 and think you know what you want to do with your life, you may find over time that your plans and priorities change. That's perfectly okay.

Waiting until you're a little older to go to school will give you more time to figure things out before making a huge investment of time and money.

This may help your college studies pay off more in the long run.

Why Do People Decide to Go to College at 27?

There are many reasons why you might decide to take the plunge and enroll in school at 27.

Let's take a look at some of the most common reasons.

To Change Careers

If you're not happy with your current job or would like to try something new, then going to college can help you make a career change.

Since many careers require an associate's or bachelor's degree, and some require higher degrees, going back to school can give you a wider variety of options to choose from and is often a necessary step in finding your ideal career.

To Pursue Career Advancement

Maybe you love your current job but would like to make more money or pursue a promotion.

Or, maybe you want to stay in your current field but climb the corporate ladder with your current company or another company.

Getting a degree will make it possible for you to advance in your current career.

Often, having a bachelor's degree can help you get where you want to go, but in some cases, you may need to go on to pursue a master's degree.

To Gain Personal Fulfillment

Maybe you wanted to go to college when you were younger, but you couldn't afford it or other life circumstances prevented you from enrolling.

Or, maybe you didn't care about attending school until now.

Going to school and getting your degree can provide a great sense of accomplishment.

If your dream is to complete your degree, then going back to school can lead to a great deal of satisfaction once all your hard work pays off.

To Inspire Others

If you're the first in your family to attend college, or you have to overcome great obstacles to get your degree, you may want to do so to inspire those you care about.

For example, if you have kids or younger siblings, getting your degree can be a way of telling them, 'If I can do it, so can you.' That feeling alone can make it all worth the time, money, and work.

To Learn More About Something

Finally, if there's a subject you want to learn more about, you may decide to go to college to study that subject.

Having this love of learning, as well as an interest in a particular area, can help you to pursue several levels of education, ultimately allowing you to become a professor or researcher if that's what you want to do.

Consider Starting College Today

If you're 27, then you're not too old to start college.

On the contrary, you're still young enough to have many years of work experience ahead of you, but old enough to hopefully have a better idea of the places you want to go in life.