Is 38 Too Late To Start College?

In the minds of many people, college is viewed almost as a continuation of high school to be completed in your early to mid-twenties.

In most cases, college is generally a part of young adulthood, not something that someone starts as they are getting ready to turn 40.

However, it's never too late to enroll in college classes.

For people in their late 30s, enrolling in college can be daunting.

Some of the reasons that 38-year-olds might want to enroll in college include:

• Finishing a degree that they started when they were younger
• Earning a degree for the first time in their life
• Earning a higher degree for career advancement
• Working towards a new degree for a career change

Even though there are many reasons to enroll in college, there are often many reasons that make people choose not to.

Even though people nearing 40 often have different circumstances than 18-year-olds, 38 isn't too late for college.

Reasons People Think 38 Is Too Late for College

People often throw around the phrase 'Age is just a number' when it comes to physical activities, but this saying is just as true of mental activities like college.

There isn't an age maximum for college enrollment.

However, many people think they are too old for college for valid reasons without realizing how many options they have to work around these concerns.

Age And Social Gaps

Thinking about college almost immediately brings up images of young adults partying, which can be off-putting to people who may have children of their own, careers, and other responsibilities outside of their schoolwork.

38 might seem too late to participate in college classes because of how big of an age gap one might have with classmates.

One way to earn a degree without the pressures of social gaps caused by age is to pursue a degree online.

Digital learning can come in the form of scheduled virtual classes, but also has self-pacing and completely virtual options (depending on degree and college) that help personalize learning.

Rising Tuition Costs

Tuition costs continue to rise each year, for both private and public universities.

For many, the expenses that come with tuition make them think that 38 is too late for a college education.

Online education is often a lower-cost alternative to traditional college.

Busy Lifestyles

In most cases, a person has a much busier life as they approach 40 compared to when they were nearing 20, but that doesn't mean 38 is too late for college.

From raising children and balancing schedules with their spouses to maintaining careers, there's no shortage of responsibilities that take up time.

Just because a person's schedule is busier than it was when they left college, that doesn't mean they're too old for college.

Online colleges offer a flexibility that traditional universities don't.

By removing commutes to campus and less rigid class scheduling, it becomes easier to earn a degree, even with a hectic schedule.

Current Job or Career

Another reason people think 38 is too late for college is that many people are employed full-time in a job or in a career that they earned a different degree to get.

In the past, the only real option to earn a degree while working full-time was through night classes.

This isn't a bad option, but it isn't the best option for everyone.

Pursuing a degree can help give people a chance to advance their careers or even start a new one.

Some employers even offer tuition assistance programs for their workers, making it easier to enroll in college.

Advantages of Online College For 38-Year-Olds

Although there are many valid reasons not to enroll in college as you get older, 38 is not too late to attend school and earn a degree.

Traditional colleges offer students of all ages the opportunity to work towards degrees, but online colleges might provide better options for older students.

Some of the advantages of online colleges include:

• Flexible scheduling with virtual classes and own pacing options (depending on selected school and degree)
• Reduced costs (such as tuition, no commutes, no on-campus living, etc.)
• Personalized learning
• Access to all four types of degrees across a large variety of subjects (depending on the selected school)

Find The Right Higher Education for You

Age shouldn't be a deterrent to achieving the degree of your dreams.

Finding an online college that's right for your education needs doesn't need to be difficult.

Our database is a great first step in starting your higher education path. Learn.org has been guiding students trying to start or continue higher education.

38 isn't too late to attend college (no age is), and online degree opportunities make it easier than ever to.

Find the best degree for your goals with Learn.