When Do People Usually Start College? 5 Tips for Academic Success
A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at AIU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path.
When do people usually start college? Many students enroll right after high school, but others may begin in their 20s or later. Starting college later in life can be a very different experience than enrolling immediately after high school graduation. Yet going back to school as a nontraditional student remains common: According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in fall 2023, more than 6.2 million students ages 25 and over were enrolled in postsecondary institutions.1
Whether you're going back to explore personal interests or expand your knowledge, it's important to acknowledge that you have different needs, advantages and challenges as an adult learner. Here are five tips that can help make your college experience a positive one.
Leverage Your Self-Knowledge as an Asset
Many adult students find that experience – both personal and professional – is a real asset when returning to college. Understanding your strengths and desires can make it easier to clarify your academic goals and choose a degree program that can help you achieve your objectives. It can also help you stay the course when the going gets tough, and it can motivate you to commit to the study habits needed to succeed academically in your program.
Acknowledge That Competing Demands Are Real
Returning to college as an adult often means that you're studying while balancing other obligations. You may have a full-time job, a family, or other demands competing for your time and attention. Recognizing this can help you choose a program and school that's right for you. Flexibility, customization and quality are the keys. Choose a program that's designed to help older students succeed, including support for full-time students as well as those attending part-time.
Use Your Motivations to Succeed
Whether you're in a career you already love and want to expand your potential opportunities or you're looking to make a change, education can help. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who have a bachelor's degree earn about 66% more per week on average than those with a high school diploma alone and are less likely to be unemployed.² Taking the steps to expand your education, skill set and knowledge can pay off in terms of both career growth and professional development.
Select the Classroom Format That's Right for You
Some learners want a local classroom where they can meet with other students and instructors face-to-face. For others, an online campus offers the flexibility to make pursuing a degree possible amid other obligations. Take some time to evaluate the environment that's right for your needs and then choose an accredited college that offers a degree in your area of interest or specialization.
Take Advantage of Support Services
Starting or going back to school later in life naturally brings up doubts and concerns. But there are numerous support services within the college environment designed to help you succeed. Financial aid advisors can help you create a plan to pay for your education. Academic advisors can work with you to develop a degree road map to achieve your educational goals within your desired time frame. While younger students may be unwilling or not ready to take advantage of these services, as an adult learner, your willingness to ask for help can make all the difference.
FAQ
Many students begin college after high school, often in the 18-to-24 age range. NCES describes ages 18 to 24 as the age range representing the majority of students enrolled in college, although students may begin college at many different ages.³ However, delayed college enrollment is also common. Some students take a gap year before college, work first, serve in the military, care for family, or return to school later in life.
Yes. Adults can pursue postsecondary education pathways later in life, including undergraduate degree programs, online college for adults, or other adult education programs, depending on their academic goals and eligibility.
A nontraditional college student is often an adult learner or a student whose path differs from starting college after high school. This may include students who attend part-time, work full-time, support dependents, or return to college after time away from school.
¹ National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Trend Generator, “Student Enrollment” https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/trendgenerator/app/answer/2/8 (visited July 8, 2026).
² Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, “Education Pays” https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/unemployment-earnings-education.htm (visited July 8, 2026).
³ National Center for Education Statistics, “College Enrollment Rates” https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cpb/college-enrollment-rate (visited July 8, 2026).
AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2239606 07/2026
Related Articles
- Ten Types of Business Degree Specializations You Can Pursue
- Accounting Career Fields
- Can You Go To College with a GED?
- Developing Business Management Skills
- Do You Need a Degree To Start A Business?
- Earning a Master’s Degree in Accounting
- Graduate Certificate vs. Master’s Degree: What’s the Difference
- How Many Credits Are Needed for a Bachelor's Degree?
- Is Finance a Good Degree For Me?
- Is Marketing a Good Major?
- Earning a Distance Learning MBA
- Majoring in Finance: What to Expect as a Finance Major
- The Four Functions of Management: What Managers Need to Know
- What's the Difference Between Business Administration and Business Management?
- Why Your Associate Degree is an important step towards earning your Bachelor’s Degree