Is 35 Too Old to Get a Psychology Degree?

Everyone deserves to live a happy, fulfilled life with the help of mental clarity and health. A psychologist is a professional who helps clients overcome mental blocks in their lives, whether it's resolving trauma or reinforcing healthy relationships. Psychologists can also help patients with mental illness.

If you have a passion for helping people, then you may be interested in starting a career path within psychology. However, if you're already in your thirties, you might wonder if it's too late to go through the trouble of education and certification.

Age should never be a factor when deciding whether to earn a degree, and this blog explains the possible advantages of earning a psychology degree at 35.

Reasons To Earn Your Psychology Degree at 35

A psychology degree can get you started in several lucrative and fulfilling career paths, and earning it in your thirties can come with some advantages.

Continue reading for reasons why earning a degree at 35 can be a good idea.

More Authority

Age may create a sense of authority within your job. Having a few years of professional work experience before attending university can allow for a more contextual understanding of your coursework and lead to better discussions.

Higher Pay

Age sometimes equates to a higher pay rate. Upon receiving your degree you may be able to negotiate a higher salary than your younger university peers.

More Money Saved for Tuition

If you worked and saved money in your twenties, you might choose to use that money toward tuition payments. While many people just starting college from high school didn't have the time or resources to work, they may not have any income to use toward tuition, equalling a higher burden.

Paying your tuition may mean less owed back in student loans.

What Will I Learn In a Psychology Degree Program?

Psychology degrees are all about the individual patients you will help in the future. Psychology is the study of the mind and building healthy coping mechanisms that improve mental health.

Your classes will likely have a mix of general education requirements, like math or biology, electives — classes you choose to take for enrichment — and coursework related to your degree.

Coursework related to psychology will likely include:

• diagnosing mental disorders
• understanding early childhood development
• psychology applications in school, sports, and student programs
• understanding essential psychology principles and best standard operating procedures

What Can I Do With My Psychology Degree?

Graduates with a psychology degree can expect several career tracks within the mental health and wellness space. Here are a few most popular options post-graduation.

Clinical Psychologist

A clinical psychologist diagnoses and treats patients with short-term mental health issues. These professionals may work with individuals who are dealing with anxiety or depression after a specific event.

Developmental Psychologist

Professionals working in developmental psychology work towards understanding why certain mental disorders occur. They may conduct age-related research to understand how mental health changes throughout a lifetime.

Neuropsychologist

Neuropsychology is the scientific study of the brain and how chemical imbalances may relate to illness. A career in neuropsychology as a neuropsychologist involves working with patients to understand brain composition between healthy and unwell individuals, leading to quicker diagnosis and improved medication.

Rehabilitation Counselor

Rehabilitation counselors emphasize helping patients who have experienced traumatic experiences that affected them either physically, mentally, or both. Rehabilitation counselors will likely work alongside a team of doctors who are actively working to rehabilitate this patient in multiple ways.

FAQs About Starting a Psychology Degree at 35

While 35 isn't too late to start a degree in psychology, you may have some questions about the process and how long the degree will take to complete. Likewise, you may want to understand what the career outlook will be in the coming years.

Continue reading these frequently asked questions and their answers.

Are There Benefits To Starting My Psychology Degree at 35?

Absolutely! As mentioned above, individuals in their thirties who want to obtain a degree in psychology may earn a higher salary or even get a better experience in class. Having more life and work experience offers a more contextual understanding of the material taught in class. Plus, students may also have more confidence to network and collaborate with peers.

Will Transfer Credits Apply To My Psychology Degree?

Most colleges and universities offer a transfer credit program for enrolled students. If you have completed courses that may crossover into your psychology requirements, then set up a meeting with your school's advisor. They will be able to give you a better idea of which courses can transfer over for credit, and how much tuition you can potentially save.

What If I Already Have a Degree in Another Field?

Most of the time, having another degree won't affect your future psychology degree. In some instances, you may be able to transfer credits from some of your completed coursework so you don't have to repeat classes.

Additionally, having an earlier degree completed may make the college experience easier because you know what to expect and how to be a successful student.

Can I Complete My Psychology Degree Online?

Absolutely! There are several colleges and universities offering online psychology degrees. These colleges will usually use the same formatted curriculum for their in-person students which ensures you will get a high-quality and trusted education, just in the format of an online program.