Millions of adult students successfully return to college to obtain a degree every year.  However, they often have numerous responsibilities to consider when making the decision. These responsibilities can include marriage, children, work, community obligations, or care of elderly parents. The time and commitment needed to complete a degree program and balance these responsibilities can be a challenge.

Working adults may also be concerned about fitting in with the younger, “traditional” students, or that they may be “too old.”  Many working adults are attending non traditional schools that allow students to take classes at campus locations, online or a combination or both.

Recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Education show that adult students are the fastest growing educational demographic, and these numbers are steadily increasing. In 1970, 28 percent of all college students were 25 years of age or older. In 1998 the number of adult learners had increased to 41 percent. The number of students age 35 and older in degree-granting institutions has soared from about 823,000 in 1970 to an estimated 2.9 million in 2001 — doubling from 9.6% of total students to 19.2%.

Learn more about non traditional colleges that cater to working adults.

As people struggle to find and keep their jobs, there are careers and career paths that can supply you with job security.  The top five best jobs to ensure job security are:

1. Medical assistant–With the increasing demand for health services, the health care industry is sailing through the economic downturn. Many allied health training programs offer a path into this high-demand sector in a year or less.
2. A one-year medical assistant certificate qualifies graduates to do administrative work in hospitals and medical clinics.   Medical assistants also perform light patient care, such as managing patient records and taking blood pressure readings. The Department of Labor predicts a stunning 35 percent growth in employment through 2016, making this one of the top ten fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. Average 2008 salary: $29,000
3. Electrical engineering technician certificate or associate degree Technicians can give their career a shot of life with a targeted career training program.An engineering technician associate degree or certificate combines courses in math and science fundamentals with hands-on training. The two-year associate degree features a broader college education, which can lead to more advancement opportunities and higher pay. Electrical engineering technicians earned an average salary of $53,990 in 2008.
4. IT project manager professional (PMP) certificate– IT and computer support specialists can take their career to the next level with project management training. The project management certification program equips you with the skills to lead a team and manage complex projects. The program, which may be completed in a matter of months, offers real-world training in everything from budget forecasting to risk management. You’ll also build expertise using Microsoft Project and other advanced project management tools. PMP certification training prepares you to take the Project Management Institutes’s professional certification exam.Moving into a management role offers more than a solid foothold in the IT department. Project managers also command a significantly higher salary. Computer and information systems managers earned $118,710 in 2008.
5. Paralegal certificate or associate degree– Paralegals are steadily ascending in the legal profession, assuming many of the responsibilities traditionally reserved for attorneys. As a result, demand for qualified paralegals is rising. According to the Bureau of Labor, this occupation is poised to grow 22 percent through 2016.
   Formal training for paralegals means either an associate degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor’s degree in any field combined with a paralegal certificate. The certificate, which may be completed in under a year, is well-suited to career changers who already have a college degree in another field. If you are starting out fresh, choose a two-year associate degree which combines core academic courses with applied legal training. Paralegals earned $48,790 in 2008.
6. Associate degree in interactive media design– Artists don’t need to abandon their creative vocation during economic tough times — for career opportunity, look no further than the digital arts. An online program in interactive media design can help you bridge the gap between artistic talent and gainful employment. You’ll develop technical skills in today’s interactive multimedia applications, including 3-D modeling, animation and video production programs.Multimedia artists can expect better job prospects than nearly any other artistic specialist, with 26 percent employment growth projected through 2016. Industries fueling the demand for digital artists include entertainment, advertising, and even scientific research and design services. Three-dimensional design and animation skills have applications in video game and Web development, as well as architectural and design modeling. Multimedia artists earned $62,380 in 2008.

Learn more about the certificate and degree programs that are available through online and campus based schools.

A secure, high-paying job can seem like almost unattainable in the current economy.  However, many adults are finding a  route to their goal with career-focused education. An online degree from a college or vocational school unlocks your career potential — even during this economy.

With the economic slump, online vocational schools are seeing a surge of applicants. Online education offers a means for working adults to shore up their current position or train for a new career.

Many online programs feature convenient, self-paced courses grounded in real-world career training.  Unlike traditional schools that only offer campus based educations, online programs off a atmosphere that is very similar to the workplace.  Many schools are designed so that you can do a two-year program in 16 to 18 months or a four-year program in three years.  This faster approach allows working adults an opportunity to retrain to improve their position with their current employer or retain for a complete career change.

Learn more about the programs and online and campus school available.

Do you love to draw and sketch?  Are you looking for a career in the arts?  Many colleges and universities offer graphic design programs that are a great stepping stone to a career in the arts.  A typical Graphic Design Program offers a curriculum that teaches you to solve business and marketing challenges with creative visual design solutions. You will learn basic theories of advertising, layout, type, color and illustration in order to become a visual problem solver.

Some programs available include:

• Graphic Design – Associate of Science
• Graphic Design – Bachelor of Fine Arts

Some career that are available for graduates of graphic design programs are:

• Junior Art Director
• Graphic Designer
• Web Designer
• Multi-Media Designer
• Production Assistant

Learn more about a career in graphic design today.

University of Phoenix was founded in 1976 and has been providing an innovative and high quality education.     University of Phoenix has helped transform the landscape of higher education in widely recognized ways.

Many of the conveniences that 21st-century students now take for granted—evening classes, flexible scheduling, continuous enrollment, a student-centered environment, practitioner faculty, online classes, online library, ebooks, computer simulations—were pioneered or made acceptable through University of Phoenix’s efforts.

Not surprisingly,  the University of Phoenix’s unique approach has helped grow from humble origins as an upstart institution serving the unrecognized needs of working students. Today, University of Phoenix is the largest private university in North America, with nearly 200 convenient locations, as well as Internet delivery in most countries around the world.

University of Phoenix has more than 100 degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels in much-desired employment areas, from business and technology to health care and education.

Learn more about the University of Phoenix today.

As an ongoing series we will be highlighting some of the top colleges and universities for both online and campus based programs.

Westwood College is an institution of higher learning dedicated to providing quality, career-focused undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to launch, enhance, or change careers. The College offers broad access to education and serves a diverse, multicultural body of students in an environment that promotes pride, respect, and teamwork.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Alta College, Inc. (Alta) is the parent organization for Westwood College.  Since its inception, Alta has been a leader in career-focused education, meeting workforce needs in high-demand employment fields.

Westwood College is an institution of higher learning founded in Denver, Colorado in 1953.   Today, Westwood has 17 campuses across California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Virginia and a top-ranked online campus. Westwood offers a unique hands-on, career-focused curriculum providing three-year bachelor’s degrees in high-growth fields. We have more than15,000 students enrolled in one of our 27 degree programs in business, design, technology, industrial services, justice and health care. To date, more than 20,000 Westwood graduates have transformed their lives by obtaining the skills, tools, experience and connections necessary to achieve meaningful careers.

Learn more about Westwood and the programs they offer.

After the federal bailout of over $787 billion, mergers and bankruptcies, Wall Street and the auto industry have received lots of assistance as they attempt to get back on their feet.

But what about college students who face crushing debt? With two out of every three undergrads taking out loans and the average student loan topping the $20,000 mark, should those with education debt be the next recipients of federal bailout funds?

One Facebook group is pushing for a bailout.

“What we’re proposing is radical,” explains Robert Applebaum, a Brooklyn-based attorney who manages Forgive Student Loan Debt, a Web site and Facebook group with 193,500 members. “We want the government to spend the $550 to $600 billion necessary to completely cancel all student debt. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to what has been spent and what will be spent to bail out U.S. companies. And with this type of incentive we can achieve real economic stimulus that focuses directly on the middle-class student borrowers who are really struggling.”

With over 16 million students enrolled in higher education this year, an economy with a decreasing number of entry-level positions, and student-loan default levels at their highest in more than a decade, should the government provide the same economic relief to the future work force that it does to major companies?

But there is hope for students and those thinking of enrolling in school during these hard economic times.  Thanks to the stimulus package, an additional 800,000 students enrolled for the 2009-2010 school year will be eligible for increased Pell Grants of up to $5,350, an amount that will increase to $5,550 for students enrolled in the 2010-2011 school year. The changes may mean more aid for unemployed workers seeking additional education. This year the Free Application for Student Aid recognizes dislocated workers — those without jobs due to the current economic crisis and aide is on the way.

Learn more about colleges and universities and the finaicial aid programs and grants they offer.

The pharmaceutical industry is expected to surge over the next decade due to the increased needs of a larger and older population. You can join the ranks of thousands of others and start aiding licensed pharmacists by providing medication and other health care products to patients.

Pharmacy Technician Class Training

Online and campus programs can provide you with strong academic and clinical backgrounds in the areas of:

• Pharmacy administration
• Pharmaceutical calculations
• Anatomy and physiology
• Digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems
• Nutrition
• Medical terminology
• Pharmacology
• Health care systems

These programs help you to develop strong customer service, communication and interpersonal skills needed to interact with patients, co-workers and health care professionals.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities
Pharmacy Technicians can gain positions in both health care facilities and retail establishments including: hospitals, medical centers, outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, and pharmacies.

Some career opportunities include:

• Pharmaceutical assistant
• Sales representative

Learn more about schools that offer pharmacy technician programs.

Have you ever thought about giving back once your graduate college?  Do you want to travel and help others?  With the economy on the decline and President Obama’s call to service, as well as the millennial generation’s habit of public service, the number of applicants to Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and to programs such as Teach for America and others are up significantly.

The number of applications to AmeriCorps more than tripled in February, to 9,731, compared with 3,159 in February 2008. In January, when Obama was inaugurated, 8,476 people submitted applications to AmeriCorps — about seven times more than in the previous January.

Peace Corps applications were up 16 percent in 2008, and Teach for America is up 42 percent over last year.

The opportunity to help others while gaining an unparalled experience in education, management and travel is greater than ever before.  Learn more about  the educational opportunities that are available–they could lead to a future of public service.

Is a college or university education still the dream for those graduating high school or looking to better their education?  Hispanic Americans are strongly committed to achieving the American dream of a college education, a new nationwide survey by OppenheimerFunds shows. However, in our troubled economy, that goal is “under siege,” as only a small percentage are able to save up to make the dream a reality.

Of those Hispanics polled, nearly all — 95 percent — said they view sending their children to college as an “essential part of the American dream,” on par with   and a comfortable retirement.

The poll revealed that in some ways Hispanic families are more optimistic about the goal than non-Hispanics. The results showed that 72 percent of Hispanics viewed college as within reach for anyone who wants to go, compared with 63 percent of non-Hispanics.  For Hispanics, attending college isn’t just a dream. The survey discovered that parents are taking the right steps to get their children on a path to higher education.

Learn more about the educational options and programs that are avialable today.