I got an asscociates degree in Equine Studies in 2000, been ranching ever since. I've been kicking around going back to school (online only) and getting a BA in History, Minor in Military History. If it works out right I could teach HS History if I wanted to. Just a thought. The financial end scares me, but I think it is a nice back up plan if I ever needed it. Anyone go back to school after a 20 yr hiatus?

My mom did. She loved it. She went to complete her degree to teach math. She was shocked at how liberal the political science professionals were. This was in the late 90’s. 

I say go for it, you got this

I have a BA in History with an emphasis in Canadian Military History. But to teach, I needed my B.Ed and I decided I really didn't love teaching so I am okay with just tutoring kids. But otherwise, my BA in History is pretty much useless. I have thought about getting a Masters in Security Policy or something like that but I am not entirely sure of landing a job in that field and the financial end scares me.

It would depend on the cost for me, student loans these days are crippling.

they are only crippling for people that borrow money for something that they should never have borrowed money for. 


If you can't get a secondary ed part time and pay for it, you probably don't need to be going to school. 

   I would disagree- as a veterinarian with $110,000 in student loans and some classmates with 300,000+, I still don’t consider my degree “something I never should have borrowed money for”.

    My monthly student loan payment is more than my mortgage, it’s quite depressing. 

This is 1980’s mentality. Obviously don’t know anyone enrolled in college.  Sadly, a college education is expensive these days. Never too late to go back to school. 

There are ways to minimize student loans. Go to a community college for all the gen Ed’s that you can and pay out of pocket. Then when you have to go to a university, pay books and fees oop. Only take out what you need for classes and pay the rest right back. Pay at least the unsubsidized interest but preferably a little more each month when you’re in school. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. That’s what I did for my BSN. I ended with about 20k in loans, whereas my classmates had over 35k. 

I work for a company that paid for my MSN as long as I work there for 5 years after completion of the program. I got another 27k degree for basically the cost of books and fees. 

I think this may be a stupid question, but I'm asking because I have no idea--does it cost the same for online as a "brick building" college?

this is '00's dumb azzery 

I paid for mine, and two kids. Not a penny of student loan debt to be found. 

From what I experienced, online or in person cost almost the same. 
I started in person but I ended up finishing my degree through the online program they offered. Was still really expensive. I regret that my parents forced me to go to college. I wish I would not have went and got myself into debt. But it is what it is and I have that expensive piece of paper that shows I can play the professors games long enough to get a grade and get out. 
Life threw me many curves while I was in school. Getting kicked out my 2nd semester. LONG personal story but lets just say my mother was looking for a reason to get me out of her everyday life. Having a stroke in 2012 at the age of 24. Having to retake all the classes I took that semester. Just life. I stuck it out and got my business degree but looking back on it, I should have never started to begin with. I wish I would have gotten a trade instead. 

Social Studies teacher, here.....

Don't do it.  I absolutely love my job, but I also have to have three other part time jobs in order to pay all of my bills.  I, too, wish that college wouldn't have been so "expected" of me.  I make $37,000/year, and can't do any of the fun stuff all of my friends my age with their $60k/year jobs get to do, and spend all of my time working so I get to go to only a few barrel races a year.  

If you are happy with your profession right now, stick with it.  Also, I applied at 107 school districts when I first got out of college, and got zero interviews (I was on the Dean's List, and worked in mental health with psych/social behavioral problem kids while I was in college, so it's not like my grades or job experience was the issue).  Most of the job descriptions for Social Studies were "Social Studies/Head Football Coach." The only reason I got my foot in the door to teach Social Studies was I went back to get my Master's in English language learners, and got a job teaching ELL, and then applied in the district for a Social Studies several years later job.

Not everyone has as much money as you.. 

I teach Social Scence as well. That is a very low salary! Where I teach our district starts new college grads at 47k. I have been around a while and make 110k a year. 

Dang...What area are you in?

I'm a Sped teacher and this is my 11th year teaching.  I have a couple of inside stipends for groups I'm in, but my actual salary is mid-upper 50K.  I'm right around 60ish with the stipends.  I'm in Iowa.

History isn't a huge area of need for teachers.  Math and Sped are REALLY in need.  Mostly because who wants to take college calculus and Trig and whatever other god-awful courses in math...lol!  Sped just has a huge burnout rate. I'm getting close to that I think. Ugh. 

But college is always an option. Check in with your college of choice, there might be some courses that would carry over for you degree so that would save you $$.  There are cheaper venues, usually undergraduate courses, and more expensive- graduate courses.  The good news is that many districts offer steps up on the payscale for graduate courses...hence my current paycheck. 

My mom went back and got her BS & MS while in her 50's.  Never used it afterward but a great thing to have just in case.  Education is never wasted.  

yeah, that's probably it

Hight school Foreing Language Teacher/ Business Teacher here!

Here is how I got mine...search for grants, scholarships etc!!!!  I did my masters in TESOL this way.  

I say do it as long as you can actually get a job using the degree. If not, it's a huge waste of money imo.

I'm betting he didnt get all his money from sitting around.

Getting a good education you have to be willing to work hard at it and willing to work even harder to pay for it. 

Krystal you do what makes you happy and whatever you do I know it will be a good choice, you have a good head sitting on your shoulders..  

If it has been nearly 20 years, you will have to retake all your basic work from the associate's. For most credentialing, you have to have taken those courses in the last 10 years. So you may want to check on that. Sometimes they waive it if you completed the full degree, but sometimes not. So ask. If you had to retake them, I would def go the community college route and save on your basics. Most of the rest of the classes I would think you could do online somehow. I would say pay as much as you can out of pocket for sure. But there are some scholarships out there too. I would apply for those as much as possible. If you have to get some student loans, they do have new programs for income based repayment and loan forgiveness if you choose to teach for a certain number of years.

Some other people made some valid points that there is a bit less demand for teachers of history and that sort of thing. I would take that into consideration. Sometimes getting a few more graduate hours and teaching part time at home at the freshman level is not so bad (here you need 18 hours of graduate credit to teach freshman college classes).

There are also options for education out there outside of the traditional system. You can self educate and visit conferences and then write trade books on your research. You can do a podcast or blog. You can teach free online using MOOCs and other various institutions.

I love history too but there was more demand for English, so that is what I teach. A good deal of my research deals with historical subjects and events but day to day I teach good writing, reading, and speaking skills. Just some ideas.

..but you're in CA where the price of living is much higher.  I'm in an area where I bought my first house/8 acres for $35k  lol

I'm in SE Kansas right now, but even when I was teaching in a suberb of Kansas City, I was only making $41k.

Never too old to learn. My grandfather earned a PhD degree in Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 2 years ago, he was 72 then. He's now working on his Intelligene horses research too. A couple of interesting facts: Nola Ochs was the first women to graduate from college at the age of 95. She was certified by Guinness World Records.

https://superscholar.org/10-oldest-people-to-earn-a-degree https://essaydune.com/blog/never-too-late-to-study

I'm not sure what the pay is for that, but just make sure it's decent pay and go to the cheapest college you can. Where I live, teachers don't get paid that much unless you have your masters. Although, in my state, teacher student loans can also be forgiven. :) 

Do I think the cost to go to college is ridiculous YES, but to say you shouldn't be taking out loans to go to school is a little out there. . 

My sister just finished nursing school, she's 29 and has about 50K in debt. She did an accelerated course through nightingale college. She passed her NCLEX first try. Yes 50K sounds awful but she finished in September and is working as a nurse, making nurse wages as of December. 

She has a degree in something she can make the money to pay the loans back and a job that will support her. Working as a CNA she'd of had a hard time putting away enough to get through nursing school.

I went back to school after being out of high school for 7-8 years. I was scared I wasn't going to make it because my mentality for learning just wasn't there I guess you could say. I also was a single mom, having to work full time as well. I went for nursing so unfortunately the credits were higher per hour as I had clinical, labs etc. I graduated with just an associates, and have around $36,000 in student loans (which honestly is outrageous for just an associates). My loans were specifically only used for turition costs, books, lab fees, and I would use some remaining towards gas as I drove almost an hour one day to class/clinicals daily. 

after graduating and sitting for state boards, I accepted a position where starting pay is good for the area. (Later found out another hospital pays more for new grads but also has a high turnover because they are horrible to their employees especially with nurse-patient ratio). I wish I would have gone back to school sooner, to establish myself earlier....but in the end I feel it was worth it! So I'd say go for it! You can always do online courses, and many community colleges offer hybrid courses as well.

OK don't forget I am a teacher. Over the years I have watched firsthand as colleges costs continue to rise. In the teachers' lounge one day a teacher mentioned that he still owed $40,000. I was absolutely amazed. I went to college in the late 1960's -early 1970's. Let's face it, college is expensive. There are ways to help finance college now that are a little more economical. Not your first choice, but an option are low interest student loans. Figure out where you want to go to college and go to the financial aid office. There are many scholarships that go unused every year. Some no one knows about. Some are limited to a particular group of students like nursing students or children of bricklayers. You can go online and fill out the FASFA form to help find financial aid. Various companies will send employees to school. Several of the hospitals in my area pay employees to go to nursing school if you get a job at the hospital. One other option is a vocational technical school. They have a wide variety of courses. They are not extremely expensive and you can get out in a short period of time. I don't know about online classes as to cost but I know a lot of people taking online courses. Think of an investment in yourself! I would say that you need to decide what you want to do before you start and don't be changing your major. Books now are around $400 apiece. You can rent them off the internet now. Books when I was in college were high but they were about $80. Hope this helps some. This is exactly what I told my students. It came straight from our high school counselor. 

IMO, a college education is wonderful IF it prepares you for a job that pays well and provides a future.  Right now the money is in the trades and with salaries WAY above those of college educated folks I think young people should always consider a trade.   Many companies will pay your education in full if you learn a trade, i.e. electrician, plumber, welder, HVAC, etc., and guarantee you a job paying an outstanding salary upon graduation with great benefits. 

I belive education is important. That being said I am a teacher. :) In 2010 I came out of school with 45,000 in dept. Just paid it off this past August following the Baby Steps by Dave Ramsey. Make sure if you do go back that you are getting a degree that you can use. It is silly to go into debt for something that you are never going to get a return on your investment. Also, try to cashflow your education by working your tail off and applying for every scholorship that is possible. Have you heard of Anothoy ONeel? He wrote a book called Debt Free Degree. It walks you through how to got to school debt free. Wish I had that when I was younger. 

ok my 2 cents why not become a welder  or a nuclear welder no debt big $$$

I'm an accountant, went to college on scholarships, and I know how blessed I was.  Chandler IS NOT college material, but my mother and I have hounded it in to him to go to vo-tech for welding, electrical, etc.   I haven't given up completely, but right now hay/beans/crawfish are on the top of his To Do list, not vo-tech.   

TBH, I wish I had gotten a trade as well. I have a masters degree in Clinical Mental Health and two professional licenses and I can't put a dent in my student loans. Salary isn't very high and I am a supervisor for the childrens department in 3 counties. There is loan forgiveness out there which is going to be my saving grace but it is still hard to see that amount that I owe, especially when I don't have any other debt (except truck payment). The thing that kills me is the amount of interest. However, it's never too late to go back to school and I absolutely loved my graduate program. You could call me a late bloomer because to this day I would go back to learn more if it didn't cost so much. If you are getting it as a backup I would want to make sure I could pay for most of it without taking out loans since it's only a backup plan anyway. Unfortunately I feel like we discourage learning in this country by making education so expensive. I think there should be a cost but the cost seems out of control in my opinion.

After being a teacher for 43 years, I got tired of being cussed out EVERY day. Tired of the administration and tired of students who absolutely did not want to learn anything. Last spring I had to take a Physics class because the young teacher just could not make it to school and they let her go. In Texas, everyone stakes Physics-everyone. Sped kids are mixed right in there. It is so watered down that no one is prepared for college. These upper level science(and math) classes should be for college bound science students.  They are useless to someone majoring in English or some one working in an office. 

Moral here is don't be a teacher!

My Mom went back to school when I was in my teens.  She was probably early 50's.  Got her masters degree in psychology.  She only took a few classes at a time online.  She never need to but it was a regret she had had all her adult life for not finishing it, so she went and got it done.  She's one of my Hero's.  

No joke about the trades. My son went to vo-tech to become a mechanic. He was fortunate enough to land a job part time at a shop when he was a junior in high school. This guy took my son under his wing and taught him almost everything about the business (not just fixing cars). He worked there for 5 or 6 years.

At 26 my son only has one or two more certifications to become Master Tech (he already does the work of one just needs the formality). He is making about 60K a year with a company he has only been with for less than 2 months. They gave him a raise after one month of employment. Each time he has looked to change jobs, not exagarating, he will have 4 or 5 job offers. And the best thing, is he has no student loan debt.

Edited to add, my son did go to college for one semester and decided it was not for him.

I went to school and got my AS in paralegal and BA in Criminal Justice. I worked full time and went to school full time 3 out of the 4.5 years (worked part-time that other year and a half). I paid summer classes and books all out of pocket and it was spendy. I graduated with about 50k and thats lower than most of my friends. I gave up my law school dreams due to the cost.

I agree with another poster about trades but if you are super passionate then I say go for it but your post seems like "ehh maybe ill use it." I wouldnt unless I knew it was something I felt I had to have.

I have $185,000 in federal student loan debt. And about $20k in undergrad private loans. 

My standard repayment on my federal loans would be $2000 a month. Income based repayment has me paying $600 a month. My federal loans were refinanced and I pay like $250 a month on those. My IDR doesn't even cover the annual interest on my loans, so they're growing, not shrinking. 10 years of school, a DVM, a modest salary because I refuse to go to the dark side of SA... Crazy how under paid equine vets can be, with the amount of hours we work. 14 days in a row and then a weekend. then 14 days in a row then a weekend. every other week night on call. LOL. 

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