What is adult education?

By: Gayle Morris BSN, MSN, Edited by: Gabriela Pérez Jordán

Last updated: June 12, 2025

Adult education organizes learning activities that focus on personal development, career advancement, and skill acquisition outside the traditional school setting. Programs cater to learners seeking flexibility and options beyond conventional academic pathways.

Learn how adult education programs typically function and find out how you can get started as an adult learner today.

What are adult education programs?

Adult education programs cater to a wide range of goals in learners who are often pursuing education to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving job market. You might be seeking educational programs to fulfill a long-held aspiration or to gain skills to advance your career.

Adult education programs are particularly compelling as they are generally adaptable to your schedule and educational needs. In today's fast-changing job market, these programs can be especially valuable in equipping you with the skills and knowledge you need to thrive in your current role or adapt to emerging opportunities.

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How to get started as an adult learner

Here's a more in-depth breakdown of how you can get started as an adult learner along your educational path:

Step 1: Identify your goals

Identifying your goals provides clarity and direction for your educational journey. Having a clear objective, whether it's career advancement, skill acquisition, or personal growth, can help you select the right program and stay motivated.

Your goals also allow you to measure your progress and ensure that your effort aligns with your aspirations. This makes the learning experience purposeful and rewarding.

Step 2: Evaluate time management commitment

As an adult learner, time commitment is critical to balancing your life. Understanding the program demands can help you plan for consistent progress and ensure you have the time and commitment to achieve your goals.

Evaluating and planning your time effectively allows you to:

• Balance education, work, and personal responsibilities
• Set realistic expectations
• Minimize stress and prevent burnout

Step 3: Set up a learning environment and study schedule

Many adult learners are out of the practice when it comes to learning habits. An organized space can help minimize distractions and potentially improve your productivity.

A structured schedule helps allocate regular time away from work and family commitments, ideally fostering discipline and time management. Together, these steps can create a supportive framework to achieve your educational goals.

Step 4: Choose relevant courses

To fully utilize limited time and resources, adult learners should choose courses that align with their goals. This helps to focus on credentials valued by your employer or help you achieve personal goals within the limited time and energy available after work and family obligations.

Step 5: Engage and network

Engaging and networking fosters connections with students and instructors, which can improve the online experience for adult learners who typically have minimal time.

Active participation can clarify concepts, develop critical thinking skills, and build relationships that expand your career prospects by connecting you with people who have industry contacts.

Should I go back to school as an adult?

• Professional development contributes to career growth, promotion opportunities, and the option to strengthen your résumé by taking a professional certificate program.
• Improving your education can potentially increase your salary potential. In 2023, the median weekly earnings for full-time employees over age 25 with a high school diploma was $905, as compared to $1499 for those with a bachelor's degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
• Many online adult learning courses are self-paced and available 24/7, which means you can pursue your education while simultaneously attending to your work and family obligations.
• Experts in their field from major universities develop and teach courses. Universities include Harvard, MIT, University of California-Berkely, Georgetown University, and Boston University.