Is 35 Too Old to Get an Educational Leadership Degree?

College degrees are often viewed as the next step after high school, but that isn't always the case. Degree programs like educational leadership are graduate programs that often include requirements of undergraduate degrees, experience, or both.

Because of factors like experience requirements, 35 isn't too late to get an educational leadership degree. For many students, it's the perfect age to get started.

Reasons To Earn Your Educational Leadership Degree at 30

Just because college degrees are often earned directly out of high school doesn't mean that's the only time in life to earn them. There are several main reasons that earning an educational leadership degree at 35 might be better than trying to earn one earlier in life.

Age-Specific Grants and Scholarships

Students in their 30s will have different opportunities available for them, especially if they're returning to school to finish a degree. After filling out FAFSA online application forms, students can apply for these financial aid options. These financial opportunities can reduce the costs associated with schooling, making it as good a time as ever to earn your degree.

More Life Experience

Graduate degree programs often have different requirements for admission, and educational leadership programs often include a minimum of three years of experience as an educator combined with a degree or even longer as a degree substitute.

For students coming right out of high school or who have recently earned an education degree, it will be much harder to have this required experience. Outside of admission reasons, the experience of being an educator will help with the administrative responsibilities of an educational leader.

More Career Focus

Students going into college sometimes set goals for themselves that they don't realize they don't want. Students in their 30s looking to return to college or earn a first degree will often have a different perspective on their career. For a 35-year-old, there will be fewer questions about where you're going in your career.

What Will I Learn in an Educational Leadership Degree Program?

Because educational leadership is more focused on the management and administration side of education than the courses covered in a traditional education degree program.

Courses that are common in Educational Leadership Degree Programs include:

• Conflict Management
• Critical Thinking
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Educational Theories
• Leadership

Different colleges have different names for these classes, but nearly all educational leadership degree programs will cover these topics in some format.

What Can I Do With My Educational Leadership Degree?

A degree in educational leadership is perfect for a teacher looking to advance their careers, but they might not know where they can go with the degree. Educational leadership degrees will be required for hiring in most administration roles within a school or school system. Some of the most common career options for graduates of an educational leadership degree program include the ones listed below.

Admissions Director

College admission is a complicated process, and admissions directors are responsible for selecting the best applicants. This career is responsible for setting admission requirements, as well as evaluating the applicants against them.

Principal or Assistant Principal

School principals are the chief administrators of schools. Principals, with the help of assistant principals, create school policies for students and faculty. They're also responsible for making sure that the school's curriculum meets education guidelines.

School Superintendent

Like a principal, a school superintendent oversees a school system or district. However, Superintendents also have more financial and human resources responsibilities such as hiring, staffing, and scheduling.

Athletic Director

An athletic director helps coordinate the various teams at a school. This includes scheduling games and practices and allocating funds for equipment.

FAQs About Starting an Educational Leadership Degree at 35

Starting an educational leadership degree at 35 might leave you with a few questions. Here are a few answers to some of the most common ones.

Are There Benefits to Starting My Educational Leadership Degree at 35?

There are multiple benefits to starting an educational leadership degree at 35. First and foremost, is that 35 is a perfect age to have experience as an educator, but still be early enough in your career that a change would be easy. Another benefit is that 35-year-olds will often be more stable in life and have better resources to achieve a degree.

What If I Already Have a Degree in Another Field?

If you have a degree in another field, you still might be able to use it for educational leadership degree programs. Having a job in education doesn't always require an education degree, especially at the collegiate level. If you have a bachelor's in another subject from an accredited school and documented education experience, it will probably qualify.

If you have any questions about your degree, your school's academic advisor can help you figure out what will transfer.

Can I Complete My Educational Leadership Degree Online?

Whether you want a master's or doctorate educational leadership degree, you can earn it online from accredited schools. Programs are offered from fully online schools as well as traditional schools.

At What Age Do Most People Become an Educational Leader?

Because of the experience requirements associated with most educational leadership programs, it's common to see people earn this degree in their 30s or even later. Teachers looking to become principals or other administrators within a school are the main people pursuing this degree, but they will usually have been in their current role for years before going for the next step.