Is 30 Too Old To Get a Psychology Degree?

For people in their 30s looking for career advancement, to switch careers, or to finish a degree they started when they were younger, it's easy to question if 30 is too old to get a degree in psychology.

Although college is traditionally seen as something that happens immediately after high school, there is no age maximum for enrolling and completing a degree.

Put another way, 30 is not too old to get a psychology degree. For some students, this will be a better time for their higher education pursuits.

Reasons To Earn Your Psychology Degree at 30

Even though pursuing a degree directly after high school is more common, there are several advantages to getting a psychology degree at 30.

Mental Maturity

Psychology is the study of the mind, and students in their 30s are usually in a better position to reflect on their own life experiences to help others.

Being more experienced in life helps prepare students for a variety of challenges around college, especially in a field like psychology where understanding people and how the situations that they live in affect their development.

Some research shows that the brain isn't fully developed until a person's late 20s or even into their early 30s. Starting work towards your psychology degree at age 30 puts you as a student in a much different situation to learn.

Better Time and Money Management Skills

Kids fresh out of high school might not have the best time and money management skills, while a student in their 30s is often better suited to handle tuition costs and balance the schedule that comes with classes and coursework.

Many of the biggest struggles that come with college are trying to figure out how to pay for classes and fitting them into a busy schedule. People at 30 are far more familiar with balancing bills and activities around day jobs.

Knowing What Your Goals Are

High school graduates sometimes think they know what they want out of college until they get there. Switching majors is common among younger college students trying to figure out what they want to do in the future.

Students trying to get a psychology degree at 30 will be more decided on what they want and will often be more direct in getting it. When a student has more life experience, it's often easier to narrow down what they truly want out of life.

What Will I Learn in a Psychology Degree Program?

A psychology degree can have multiple concentrations, but nearly all bachelor's degrees in psychology will include at least a few of the same core classes.

The most common classes and topics covered in psychology degrees include:

• Abnormal Psychology
• Child Development
• Neuropsychology
• Psychology Research Methods
• Social Psychology

Once a student selects a concentration for their psychology degree, they will have added classes that feature more specific coursework.

What Can I Do with My Psychology Degree?

Few people earn a college degree purely for the sake of knowledge. For students looking to earn a degree in psychology, there will be multiple career paths that are opened up to them.

Here are five common careers for people with a psychology degree:

Behavior Analyst

Behavior analysts work in a variety of locations ranging from schools to military bases to help analyze and interpret current behaviors while making recommendations to improve them.

People working in behavioral analytics can work in multiple different industries and with patients of all ages.

Clinical Psychologist

Clinical psychologists work in hospitals or doctor's offices and work in the diagnostic area of psychology. Although they can have private practices or do house calls, most of the work will be done in more traditional healthcare settings.

Psychology Professor

With a degree in psychology, you can become a psychology professor and teach the next generation of psychologists. This is a particularly attractive field to people who have specific interests within the vast and ever-changing field of psychology.

Sports Psychologist

Sports, at all levels, are often as mental as they are physical. Sports psychology focuses on the minds of athletes and how to maximize their minds to perform at their physical peaks. As more is learned about the mental components of sports, sports psychology will only continue to grow.

Therapist

Therapists work with patients in one-on-one and group settings to help them process their emotions and get better control of their thoughts. Although some therapists work in more general settings, some focus on areas like marriage and family counseling.

FAQs About Starting a Psychology Degree at 30

For students looking to get a psychology degree at 30, it's common to have questions. We provide answers to a few of the top-asked questions about starting your degree later in life below.

Are There Benefits To Starting My Psychology Degree at 30?

There are several benefits to starting a psychology degree at 30. Regarding the actual coursework, 30-year-olds often have more maturity compared to younger students which can help them address the coursework more seriously.

Beyond the coursework, 30-year-olds will also have better time and money management skills that can help them handle the bills and stresses that come with higher education.

Will Transfer Credits Apply to My Psychology Degree?

If you're trying to transfer credit hours from a regionally accredited school, then most general education classes will transfer. If you earned earlier credits from a nationally accredited school, it might be harder to transfer credits, even general education and core classes.

It's always best to review a school's transfer policy before applying for enrollment.

Can I Complete My Psychology Degree Online?

There are multiple psychology degree options online, including master's and doctoral-level degrees. However, not all online psychology degrees are going to be as respected as others. Verify that your online degree is accredited before enrolling.