How do I go back to school as an adult?

Many students are surprised to learn that going back to school does not require major life changes.

Through online and asynchronous modalities – classes that don't meet at a set time and place – you can pursue a degree from anywhere in the United States and during any season of life. Complete coursework around your schedule.

In fact, BGSU Online programs are designed for working professionals with degree options that serve as an enhancement, not a hindrance, to someone's real life.

That depends on a number of factors, including whether you will study at the undergraduate or graduate level, the pace at which you can take courses and your chosen program's requirements.

Bowling Green State University has a large range of programs. Many certificates or endorsements are available for 15 or fewer credit hours, while doctoral programs will typically take four years, with many options in between.

Most master's degrees can be completed in fewer than two years, while some BGSU programs – including architecture, criminal justice, dietetics, economics and more – have accelerated options that allow students to seamlessly go from undergraduate to graduate with no delay, allowing motivated students a quicker pathway to two degrees.

No matter the academic mission, students are allowed to go at their own pace. 

Online education doesn’t mean you'll be alone. Even before being accepted and enrolling, support staff at BGSU Online are available to help you set a course that is uniquely yours.

Regardless of your situation, the first step is to speak with an advisor who can connect you to resources and help you take the first step toward graduation day.

BGSU Online advisor Leanne Huckaby said the team is uniquely positioned to help nontraditional students because many of them once stood in the exact same place.

"Our team is filled with people who were nontraditional working adults who went back to school," Huckaby said. "We're very open about sharing our experiences as nontraditional students, which I think helps students connect to a real person.

"You may not be able to be here and shake my hand, but we have that kinship because we share a mutual experience."

It's never too late.

Many BGSU Online graduates have a story similar to Mariah Kerrin ’25, who recently earned a degree in management and technology several years after initially starting her degree.

Kerrin originally enrolled at the University out of high school before leaving midway through her junior year after feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of being a first-generation student. As life went on, she carried the hope that she would one day return. 

Years later, she finally picked up the phone and was connected with Huckaby, who served as the first point of contact for her return to school. Fifteen years after first enrolling, she officially became a first-generation college graduate, which she did as a working mother. 

"I finally got the ball back rolling," Kerrin said. "Knowing my university was able to welcome me back with such open arms and support me every step of the way was truly amazing."

Of course – a degree program does not necessarily have to be related to what you may have studied previously or what you do professionally. 

Maybe you've been working in retail, but you've always wanted to pursue business management. Or perhaps you started in healthcare but discovered a passion for technology. Going back to school is your opportunity to pivot into a field that truly excites you.

Your life experience and professional background are valuable assets, even if they're in different fields. Skills you’ve developed like time management, problem-solving, communication and resilience will serve you well in any discipline you choose.

Many students perform better the second time around. Returning to school with more life experience, better communication skills, clear professional goals and the motivation to earn a degree often sets up nontraditional students for success. 

Professors, advisors and support staff are there to help you along the way, which is a lesson Kerrin said she learned as a BGSU Online student. Her first time around, Kerrin said she struggled alone, but found out the value of asking for help in her second stint.

"Not once before I left school did I advocate for myself or even inquire about help," she said. "I never knew how much better off I would be with support."