Considering Returning to School as an Adult? UMass Global Students Share Their Best Advice

Thinking about going back to school as an adult can feel exciting and intimidating at the same time. Maybe you are wondering how you will afford tuition, fit classes into an already full schedule, or keep up after years away from school. You are not alone, in fact, 95% of our students are adult learners who once had those same questions and concerns.

Recently, we asked UMass Global students and alumni on LinkedIn what they wish other adults knew about returning to school. Through four polls and a powerful student story, they shared what worried them the most, what helped them succeed, what surprised them, and the advice they would give you as you consider your next step.

What adult learners worry about most before going back to school

Before they ever submit an application, most adult learners are wrestling with very real concerns. In our first poll, half of respondents said their biggest concern was affording tuition and fees, while about 40% were most worried about balancing responsibilities at work, home, and school. A smaller group felt concerned about keeping up academically after time away from school, and a few were unsure they could actually finish a degree once they started.

Those numbers tell a clear story: money, time, and preparedness are the top barriers adults feel when they picture themselves in class again. The good news is that there are practical ways to approach each of these concerns so they do not stop your progress.

If you are worried about cost

• Explore all funding options early: complete the FAFSA, and ask about scholarships, grants, and payment plans, not just loans.
• Check for employer benefits such as tuition assistance or partnerships that may reduce your costs.
• Plan your pace around your budget so you can take a course load that fits your financial reality.
• Connect with UMass Global’s one-stop and advising teams to talk through costs, timelines, and support.

If you are worried about balancing everything

• Time‑block your week and treat school like a recurring appointment you protect.
• Start with a lighter course load so you can adjust to being back in school.
• Involve your support system and talk with family and your workplace about your schedule and needs.
• Build simple routines that make it easier to stay on track week after week.

If you feel rusty academically

• Refresh the basics early through orientation resources, the writing center, and online tools.
• Talk with instructors if you are unsure where to start or what to expect.
• Start small, focus on one assignment at a time, and let confidence build with each success.
• Utilize academic support services such as tutoring, the writing center, and regular check‑ins with your academic advisor before you feel overwhelmed.

If you are afraid you might not finish

• Define your “why” so you have a clear reason to keep going when it gets tough.
• Break your degree into milestones such as sessions, courses, or certificates.
• Reach out to advisors, faculty, and student services when life happens so you can adjust without losing momentum.
• Expect imperfect progress and remember that pausing or slowing down is different from quitting.

What helped adult learners succeed once they started

Our second poll asked which UMass Global resource made the biggest impact on students’ success. The clear standout was flexible online courses, selected by 73% of respondents. Understanding faculty and academic support services followed, at 15% and 12% respectively.

Taken together, these responses highlight how structure and support come together for working adults. Flexible online courses allow students to fit school into their lives, while understanding faculty and strong academic services help them stay on track.

Here is how those poll answers show up in day‑to‑day student life:

• Flexible online courses: Asynchronous formats and predictable schedules mean you can log in when it works for you, instead of rearranging your entire day around class.
• Understanding faculty: Instructors, with experience teaching working adults, build courses with real‑world relevance and communicate clearly about expectations and support.
• Academic support services: Tutoring, writing support, advising, and other academic services help you stay confident and respond quickly when challenges arise.

What surprised students most about returning to school

Many students told us that their experience at UMass Global challenged the assumptions they had before they enrolled. When we asked what surprised them most about returning to school, 41% pointed to the flexibility of classes and 26% highlighted supportive staff and faculty. Others named coursework relevance (20%) and confidence growth (13%).

These surprises line up closely with the worries students had at the beginning. If you are concerned about cost, balance, feeling rusty, or finishing, here is what our respondents’ experiences suggest:

• For cost, UMass Global offers one‑stop services, employer partnerships, and institutional scholarships and grants that can help you piece together a financial plan.
• For balance, online flexibility, supportive faculty and staff, and proactive planning with an academic advisor make it possible to fit school around work and family.
• For feeling rusty, resources like tutoring and the writing center, along with responsive faculty, make it easier to rebuild skills and confidence.
• For being unsure of finishing, remember that returning to school as an adult will be an imperfect journey, but one filled with supportive faculty, academic services, and other adult learners who truly understand where you are in life. And remember, courses are only eight weeks each — you might be surprised by what you can do in eight weeks if you stick with it.

Their #1 piece of advice for you

When we asked, “What is the #1 piece of advice you would give an adult thinking about going back to school?”, 71% of respondents chose “Just start – no perfect time.” Smaller but meaningful groups chose “Make a realistic plan” and “Be open about your goals,” each at 14%.

Here is how to turn that advice into concrete next steps:

Just start – there is no perfect time

• Pick one small next step this week, like requesting information, attending an information session, or starting an application.
• Choose a realistic first session and course load so you can build confidence instead of burning out.
• Set a target start date and tell someone you trust, so you have accountability and encouragement.

Make a realistic plan

• Map out your week with all of your responsibilities so you can see where school fits.
• Decide your minimum and maximum course load for each session based on your time and energy.
• Build a financial plan that includes tuition, fees, books, and any support you expect to receive.

Leverage support services

• Get to know your instructors early so you feel comfortable asking questions and sharing concerns.
• Bookmark key support pages such as advising, tutoring, and writing support.
• Schedule regular check‑ins with your academic advisor to review your progress and adjust plans as needed.

Be open about your goals

• Talk with your family or support network about why you are going back to school, what it will look like day to day, and how they can support you.
• Have a conversation with your manager to share your educational goals, ask about flexibility, and explore tuition benefits.
• Write your goals where you will see them often as a reminder of what you are working toward.

Kendra’s story: progress, not perfection

Poll results give us helpful patterns, but individual stories show what those numbers look like in real life. Kendra James, a UMass Global alum who completed her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2025 and is now pursuing an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, shared how returning to school as an adult changed her life.

Kendra described her experience at UMass Global as “truly exceptional”. “The support and adaptability throughout life’s circumstances made all the difference. I always felt seen, heard, and supported. No matter what was happening in my life, the faculty and staff made sure I knew I wasn’t alone in the journey. Give yourself grace, but also remind yourself that you are capable of doing great things in every season of life. You don’t have to have it all figured out, you just have to keep going. Make yourself proud. Prioritize what matters most to you. If school is important, commit to it even while life is happening. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for progress. Do your best, ask questions, and lean into the support available to you.”

Her story shows just how critical that support can be. “During my program, my house burned down and my family and I lost everything,” Kendra recalled. “In one of the most difficult seasons of my life, the Dean personally reached out to check on me and ensure I had the support I needed. That level of care meant everything.” Her closing advice is simple and direct: “Use the resources. They are there for you.”

71% of students say there is no perfect time — yours is now

If you are weighing whether now is the “right” time to go back to school, our students’ answers point in a clear direction. Most worried about time and money at the beginning, but many were surprised by the flexibility, support, and confidence they found once they started. Their top advice is simple: just start, with a realistic plan and a clear sense of your goals.

UMass Global is built around the needs of adult learners, with flexible online courses, understanding faculty, and academic support services designed to help you move forward, even when life is busy. When you are ready, you can connect with an enrollment coach to talk through your options and map out a path that fits your life.

Speak with an enrollment coach at (800) 746‑0082 to get started and take your next step today.