The 15 Best Colleges for Older Students
Here are the 15 best colleges for older students, as determined by College Factual, which collects and analyses higher education data. Their analysis weighs several factors, including the availability of flexible learning, demonstrable success after graduation, and the percentage of students over age 24.
© Brian Snyder / Reuters
Online / Davenport, Iowa
Tuition & fees: $14,169
Kaplan is an online, for-profit school, and the college’s Davenport Campus offers in-person, career-focused education programs to Quad City residents. The campus offers many facilities needed for technical programs, such as a firearms training room for law enforcement students and hospital beds and exam tables for nursing students.
Kaplan University Kaplan is an online, for-profit school, and the college’s Davenport Campus offers in-person, career-focused education programs to Quad City residents. The campus offers many facilities needed for technical programs, such as a firearms training room for law enforcement students and hospital beds and exam tables for nursing students.
Majority online / Saratoga Springs, New York
Tuition & fees: $6,985 (in-state)
This state school has 35 learning centers throughout New York and hundreds of online courses, so adult learners can find the delivery method that works best for them. It also has a liberal credit-transfer policy and allows students to gain credit for prior learning.
SUNY Empire State College This state school has 35 learning centers throughout New York and hundreds of online courses, so adult learners can find the delivery method that works best for them. It also has a liberal credit-transfer policy and allows students to gain credit for prior learning.
.jpg)
Ithaca, New York
Tuition & fees: $49,116
Cornell’s School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions allow any adult to take part-time classes to earn grades and credits alongside full-time students. Students can also enroll in for-credit online classes during winter and summer sessions.
Robert Barker / Cornell Cornell’s School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions allow any adult to take part-time classes to earn grades and credits alongside full-time students. Students can also enroll in for-credit online classes during winter and summer sessions.
Majority online / Chicago, Illinois
Tuition & fees: $12,867
One of the most diverse colleges in the Midwest, the average age of an undergraduate student at NLU is 34; 91 percent of students take classes part time, and 80 percent of them are women. Given that makeup, class schedules are designed to meet the needs of adult students.
National Louis University One of the most diverse colleges in the Midwest, the average age of an undergraduate student at NLU is 34; 91 percent of students take classes part time, and 80 percent of them are women. Given that makeup, class schedules are designed to meet the needs of adult students.
Online / Manchester, New Hampshire
Tuition & fees: $30,386
This private, nonprofit school has a campus with more than 3,000 students, but the bulk of its nearly 80,000-person student body takes classes online. It offers more than 200 academic programs online.
Southern New Hampshire University This private, nonprofit school has a campus with more than 3,000 students, but the bulk of its nearly 80,000-person student body takes classes online. It offers more than 200 academic programs online.
Online / Cypress, California
Tuition & fees: $9,000
This online, for-profit school caters to adults, particularly military members and their families. Nearly eight in 10 students are active duty military, veterans, National Guard members or their dependents.
trident.edu This online, for-profit school caters to adults, particularly military members and their families. Nearly eight in 10 students are active duty military, veterans, National Guard members or their dependents.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Tuition & fees: $46,704
Adult learners at MIT have several options, including enrolling in regular courses via the school’s Academic Study program, industry-focused short programs for specific skills, or a custom program created by your employer. The school also offers digital programs through the edX platform.
Wikimedia Adult learners at MIT have several options, including enrolling in regular courses via the school’s Academic Study program, industry-focused short programs for specific skills, or a custom program created by your employer. The school also offers digital programs through the edX platform.
Some online / Denver, Colorado
Tuition & fees: $33,710
This Jesuit university’s college of contemporary liberal studies offers degree programs for adult learners at its network of campuses in Colorado. Separate programs for adults and online learners allow students options to take eight- and five-week classes one night per week, or full-day classes every weekend.
Regis University This Jesuit university’s college of contemporary liberal studies offers degree programs for adult learners at its network of campuses in Colorado. Separate programs for adults and online learners allow students options to take eight- and five-week classes one night per week, or full-day classes every weekend.
Majority online / Bellevue, Nebraska
Tuition & fees: $7,050
With both online and on-campus options, this private nonprofit school offers accelerated degree programs for working adults, a market its been serving for more than 50 years. The school also has a generous policy on community college credit transfers.
Online / Adelphi, Maryland
Tuition & Fees: $7,056 (in-state)
This Maryland state school offers classes online classes and in more than 140 classroom and service locations around the world. Part of the appeal for working adults is rolling admissions and multiple start dates, so that students aren’t tied to the traditional academic calendar.
University of Maryland This Maryland state school offers classes online classes and in more than 140 classroom and service locations around the world. Part of the appeal for working adults is rolling admissions and multiple start dates, so that students aren’t tied to the traditional academic calendar.
Online / New Britain, Connecticut
Tuition & fees: $7,359
This online state school offers master’s, bachelor’s and associate’s programs tailored to adults. Students coming in with real-world experience can get a head start on their degree with credits awarded through testing, for military training, or through a portfolio program.
Charter Oak State College / Instagram This online state school offers master’s, bachelor’s and associate’s programs tailored to adults. Students coming in with real-world experience can get a head start on their degree with credits awarded through testing, for military training, or through a portfolio program.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Tuition & fees: $45,278
A degree from Harvard can boost to your resume no matter how old you are. The college’s Division of Continuing Education offers a range of programming, including open-enrollment courses, degrees and certificates.
© Brian Snyder / Reuters A degree from Harvard can boost to your resume no matter how old you are. The college’s Division of Continuing Education offers a range of programming, including open-enrollment courses, degrees and certificates.
Online / Trenton, New Jersey
Tuition & fees: $6,135 (in-state)
Designed specifically for adults, this online state school offers more than 100 academic programs for adults seeking certificates or degrees. The average student is 35 years old.
tesu.edu Designed specifically for adults, this online state school offers more than 100 academic programs for adults seeking certificates or degrees. The average student is 35 years old.
Online / Charles Town, West Virginia
Tuition & Fees: $6,880
Comprised of the American Public University and the American Military University, this for-profit online school provides education to working adults with an emphasis on educating the military and public service communities. The system offers more than 200 areas of study, making it one of the largest providers of online higher education.
apus.edu Comprised of the American Public University and the American Military University, this for-profit online school provides education to working adults with an emphasis on educating the military and public service communities. The system offers more than 200 areas of study, making it one of the largest providers of online higher education.
Online / Albany, New York
Tuition & Fees: $11,760
Excelsior is a private, online, nonprofit school that caters to working adults. Its average student is 37 years old, and three-quarters of students work full-time while completing their degree.
excelsior.edu/ Excelsior is a private, online, nonprofit school that caters to working adults. Its average student is 37 years old, and three-quarters of students work full-time while completing their degree.
1 / 16