Going back to school is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. You might be able to afford a nicer home, a better school for your kids, more vacations, more time off, and greater retirement savings. You'll show yourself — and others — that you can push forward, get it done, and achieve something great. And once you graduate, your degree is an asset that can increase your lifetime earnings by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Stash some of that money into a savings account and watch it grow.
However, returning to school as an adult is a big transition. Perhaps you’re on the fence, like many people contemplating going back to school at 30, 40, or beyond. One recent survey found that more than 60% of American adults have contemplated returning to school for a bachelor’s degree, but finances top their list of concerns.
Another survey found that 44% of parents have weighed a return to school, and 56% believe doing so could help refresh their approach to life.
As you reflect on the last year and look forward to the next, it’s time to consider an alternative to traditional resolutions. Going back to school can change your life forever—and it may even be easier than starting a fancy new diet or exercise program.
Going back to school as an adult learner is a resolution you can keep.
Did you know that more than 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail? Most people don’t even make it a month and have ditched their goals by February. Many factors play a role here, but unrealistic goals and the challenges of building new habits are some of the most prominent.
Going back to school is different. It’s a slow and steady resolution. You start with your application, enroll, and steadily work toward a degree. This makes it easier to integrate good habits into daily life. Rather than rushing your way into something that feels overwhelming — like cutting out all your favorite foods — you build your resolution into your life and use it to reshape your world.
At SNU, students take one class at a time and can choose between online learning and completing their studies in just a single night a week. We believe in steady progress, and our model ensures you’re working toward your educational goal at a manageable pace (while still graduating as quickly as possible). Whether you’re taking care of children, juggling a full-time job, or fitting school in between volunteer gigs, we make it practical to return to college.
Going back to school can change your life more than other resolutions.
The top resolutions people make include losing weight, getting out of debt, and quitting bad habits like smoking. Although these are laudable goals, they center around giving up things people find enjoyable. That makes them incredibly difficult to achieve.
Conversely, going back to school adds a new and exciting element to your life without the sense of deprivation you’ll get from something like a diet. And unlike many resolutions, it’s a temporary change that offers permanent benefits.
The chaos and stress of juggling school and other obligations — such as family or a full-time job — may seem too much to handle, but it will be worth it in the end. Once you graduate, you can expect:
- More job opportunities: College graduates have lower unemployment rates because employers want to hire people with degrees. Seventy-five percent of new jobs require a degree, but only 40% of applicants have one. A college degree immediately makes your application more competitive.
- Greater upward mobility: Many employers require a degree for more highly paid roles. Even if you’re great at your job and highly qualified, your lack of a degree could be holding you back.
- More money: Ultimately, people work so they can pay their bills. Doing so is easier with a college degree because graduates earn more on average. In 2021, bachelor’s degree holders earned a median wage of $1,334 per week, compared to $809 per week for people with a high school diploma. That’s $27,300 more per year.
Going back to school is a sound investment.
Most diets fail. If you pick this highly popular resolution, you may spend a lot of time depriving yourself, only to see the number on the scale inch back up. This cycle of deprivation and guilt feels awful, and yo-yo dieting is bad for your health. Pick a resolution that helps you feel good about yourself and offers a big payoff instead.
You won’t lose the time and energy you invest in higher education. Moreover, a degree is a sound investment in the things you likely already care about. You’ll achieve new career goals and gain the chance to pursue graduate or professional degrees down the road. Think about college as an investment in your future, similar to opening a retirement savings account. You may need to spend some money or take out loans to go to school, but the increase in earnings can quickly offset this expense.
The ROI of a college degree depends on numerous factors, including the school you choose, how early in your career you return to college, the courses you take, and the jobs you eventually compete for. One study found that the average increase in earnings among college graduates was $107,000 after 10 years. At the 40-year mark, graduates had earned $723,000 more.
Making more money doesn’t mean just having more money now. That extra cash can help you save for retirement or a brighter tomorrow. Every extra dollar you invest in savings goes to work for you, multiplying the value of your degree.
Going back to school is easier than ever.
Many adults already have some college under their belt. Perhaps you left college because of financial constraints, lack of support, or burnout. Or maybe you opted not to go to college because you had a good initial job offer, your grades weren’t great, or you didn’t have enough money. The factors that guided your earlier decisions can color your view of college now. You might worry that returning to school will be exhausting and costly.
The truth is that returning to school is easier than ever, and the college experience you had (or anticipated) 5, 10, or 20 years ago is vastly different from the academic life you can expect today.
SNU offers academically rigorous and highly engaging online courses without the need to fight traffic or even live near your school. For introverts, adult students with demanding schedules, learners with disabilities, and people who prefer to attend school on their own schedule, this option makes the impossible feel achievable. Our one-class-at-a-time model allows you to immerse yourself in a world of knowledge, tackling complex material at a manageable pace.
Financial aid is also more accessible than ever. The overwhelming majority of SNU students receive some form of financial aid. Grants, loans, and scholarships can cover your school expenses and the secondary costs of attendance, such as transportation and housing. You don’t have to come up with a large sum of money to get a degree. And at SNU, we help you decide how much debt you can safely take on. We’ll even help you fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Going back to school can be enjoyable.
One of the great benefits of resolutions is that they can inject purpose into your life. If you feel burned out or unsure of your life’s direction, going back to school is a great way to reinvigorate your zest for life while stimulating your mind and cultivating skills for a brighter tomorrow.
Your classes will challenge you to learn and grow. You may find that the techniques you master in your coursework immediately improve your job performance. New academic knowledge is highly versatile and may also make you more effective at home or in volunteer roles.
SNU’s cohort model means that students learn together with the same group. This allows you to nurture new friendships with like-minded peers. You’ll support each other through the rigors of returning to school and graduate with a network of peers committed to success.
Build a better life in 2023.
With SNU’s rolling application process, you don’t have to defer your dreams any longer. You can apply today and start soon.
At SNU, you will make new friends, forge lasting professional connections, and build a life you love with earnings to fund your future. It’s never too late to live the life of your dreams. The sooner you start, the sooner you can begin shaping the life you want.
The journey begins with a five-minute application. Ready to get started? Apply today.
