{"id":2053,"date":"2022-07-08T08:30:18","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T15:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=2053"},"modified":"2025-09-17T16:06:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T23:06:33","slug":"4-questions-from-adult-learners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/4-questions-from-adult-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Am I too old to go back to school?\u2019 And other questions from adult learners"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Jerry Kight, shown here with Benny Beaver, is proof that it’s never too late to go back to school. Kight completed his Oregon State liberal studies degree online at age 74.<\/p><\/div>\n

4 answers that explain why it’s never too late to pursue an education when you learn online<\/h2>\n

Starting something new is always daunting, but returning to something you put down a long time ago can often be just as intimidating.<\/p>\n

But did you know that the average Oregon State University Ecampus student is over the age of 30? Plus, most of Oregon State\u2019s online learners start with \u201csome college education,\u201d meaning that they are coming back to a degree program that had to be set aside for financial, professional or personal reasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t like the feeling of unfinished business that I had never completed my degree,” said Rebecca Ramsey, an OSU Ecampus graduate who earned a liberal studies degree online while in her late 60s. “So for me, the completion was very important. I’m ready to step into a new phase of my life right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sound familiar?<\/p>\n

So, before you talk yourself out of going back to school because you feel too old to dust off your “learning cap,” let\u2019s answer a few more questions you might have about going to school online with Oregon State Ecampus.<\/p>\n

Is it too late to go back to school at my age?<\/h3>\n

In short, the answer is a resounding \u201cNO.\u201d<\/p>\n

As universities like Oregon State devote more resources to online education and innovation helps improve online course quality, the number of students who don\u2019t go straight from high school to college is also on the rise. Pair that with the concept of \u201clifelong learning,\u201d and you\u2019ll start to see why online classrooms are full of students from a broad cross section of generations, socio-economic classes, experience levels and ambitions.<\/p>\n

You might be taking on a new role at work, have a desire to try a new career or are committed to completing that long-awaited degree, but no matter what drives you forward, going back to school serves as a solution for these and many other common life questions.<\/p>\n

What types of programs are best for adult learners?<\/h3>\n

Online education is extremely well-suited to adult learners. Thanks to the flexibility<\/a> and asynchronous learning style, learning online means that you can work toward your goals without upending your career, finding childcare or sacrificing the quality of your education.<\/p>\n

At Oregon State, we deliver nearly 100 high-quality degree and certificate programs online, and all of them are developed by the same OSU faculty who teach online.<\/p>\n

And with new types of programs always being developed, your opportunities may be more than you realize. Oregon State now offers online course sequences called microcredentials<\/a> that serve adult learners in an entirely new way. They\u2019re laser-focused and stackable, meaning you can take three or four classes online, gain a specific skill set and earn a digital badge in the process.<\/p>\n

This gives you something to showcase in professional settings, job interviews and on LinkedIn \u2014 furthering your professional development on a credible, verifiable platform.<\/p>\n

What better way to try out a program than by earning a badge before jumping in with both feet?<\/p>\n

What can I expect when going back to school as an adult?<\/h3>\n

While education has changed and significantly improved over the years, some things are sure to be the same no matter when you were last in school.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll still have access to instructors who are experts in their field. You\u2019ll still learn alongside classmates, only now you\u2019ll find yourself interacting online with someone across the globe or with decades of industry experience.<\/p>\n

And at Oregon State Ecampus, you\u2019ll receive more support than ever with access to one-on-one success coaching, communication and support, free 24\/7 tutoring, success coaches, academic advisors, career resources and more. That means you\u2019re set up for success with a support network from the day you inquire through graduation and beyond.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say there won\u2019t be challenges though. You\u2019ll juggle classes and work or family or just life, but if you\u2019re ready for it, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s worth it. And we\u2019ll be here to remind you of what comes after <\/em>the degree. It\u2019s the future you\u2019re searching for \u2014 that next career step or the ability to say \u201cI did this for me.\u201d Because future you will thank you for this exact moment. We\u2019re sure of it.<\/p>\n

Is it expensive to finish my degree online?<\/h3>\n

College isn’t cheap. It’s an unfortunate reality. But at Oregon State, we’re leading the charge to make learning more affordable and accessible for everyone, including adult learners with some college experience but no degree.<\/p>\n

Oregon State’s applied humanities online bachelor’s program<\/a> is specifically designed to help you complete your degree in a flexible manner. The program reduces the number of classes you need to take on the way to graduation by allowing you to satisfy core requirements while also fulfilling major requirements.<\/p>\n

Not only that, but the applied humanities completion scholarship means you’ll pay zero tuition for the program’s last 12 online credits<\/strong>. The upper-division major elective courses also feature low-cost and no-cost textbooks and course materials.<\/p>\n

Have more questions about learning online with Oregon State?<\/h3>\n

Contact our enrollment services specialists (yes, real people) for guidance.<\/p>\n

Contact us<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 4<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Starting something new is always daunting, but returning to something you put down a long time ago can often be just as intimidating. Before you talk yourself out of going back to school because you feel too old to dust off your “learning cap,” let\u2019s answer a few questions, including what programs are best for adult learners and what to expect when going back to school as an adult.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2054,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,675,672,657],"tags":[591],"class_list":["post-2053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-ecampus","category-accessing-college","category-learning-experience","category-resources","tag-ecampus-at-a-glance"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/jerry-kight-benny.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-x7","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":529,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/jerry-kight\/","url_meta":{"origin":2053,"position":0},"title":"As long as you have the will, it\u2019s never too late to find your way to a degree.","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"July 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University's oldest graduate, 74-year-old Jerry Kight, earned his degree in liberal studies online through Oregon State Ecampus. \u201cI\u2019m proud of myself and my wife for helping me do this and encouraging me to do it, and my kids, also,\u201d Jerry says.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Oregon State's oldest 2017 graduate, Jerry Kight, poses with Benny the Beaver on graduation day.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jerry-and-Benny.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jerry-and-Benny.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jerry-and-Benny.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/business-admin\/","url_meta":{"origin":2053,"position":1},"title":"OSU’s online business degree to meet consumer demand in Oregon, nationwide","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"June 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"CORVALLIS, Ore. \u2013 Responding to the needs and desires of learners throughout the state and beyond, this fall Oregon State University will launch a bachelor\u2019s program online in business administration. The degree, which will position profession-ready students for successful careers, is offered by Oregon State\u2019s College of Business and delivered\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-logo-600x400.png?ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":389,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/us-news-top-10-2017\/","url_meta":{"origin":2053,"position":2},"title":"Ecampus ranked top 10 nationally by U.S. News for 3rd straight year","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"January 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University, was ranked in the top 10 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for the third consecutive year. Oregon State Ecampus, the university\u2019s online education division, is ranked eighth out of more than 300 higher education institutions in the category of Best Online Bachelor\u2019s Programs.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A large black sign surrounded by red brick that reads \"Oregon State University\" in white lettering.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":79,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/mooc-launch-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":2053,"position":3},"title":"OSU’s first free, massive course attracts thousands worldwide","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"October 3, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"CORVALLIS, Ore. \u2013 More than 5,000 students from around the world enrolled in Oregon State University's first massive open online course, or MOOC, which launched Oct. 1. The free, eight-week course, Supporting English Language Learners under New Standards, is offered in partnership with Stanford University and is funded by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-logo-600x400.png?ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":99,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/us-news-top-10-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":2053,"position":4},"title":"Ecampus earns another national ranking from U.S. News","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"January 12, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"For the second straight year, Oregon State University is ranked in the top 10 nationally for online education by U.S. News & World Report after the 2016 rankings were released today. 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