Do You Have the Time to Go to School Part Time?

So you want to go back to school. Maybe you want to move into a better position at work, or even change your career altogether. Returning to school will probably give you the boost you need to move into your next career, but do you have time to go to school part time? Considering your current job and family obligations, how large of a course load can you handle as a part time student? And how long will it take to earn your degree? 

First, let's start by defining full and part time enrollment:

Full Time Students: 

A full time student typically takes between 12 and 25 credit hours per semester, depending on the institution (some require at least 15). Students on the lower end of the credit spectrum can feasibly work while going to school, but don't overdo it, you want to be able to succeed at your job and at school without sacrificing one of them.

Part Time Students: 

So what about part time students? Well, there's really no definition or parameter for going to school part time. Anything from one class to the full time cut-off is considered part time. This is great news, because part time students can customize their academic schedule according to how much time is available for class and study. 

Finishing School as a Part Time Student:

Going to school part time obviously means taking a little longer to finish a degree than a traditional student — but how much longer depends on you. Let's look at a typical bachelor's degree, which usually requires 120 credits to complete.

The typical full time bachelor's degree requires about 15 credits per semester for 8 semesters to complete. So if you think that 10 credits per semester (roughly 3 classes) as a part time student is feasible, you can expect to graduate in 12 semesters, or 6 years. 

Only looking to complete an associate's degree? Cut that number in half: Taking about 3 classes per semester, allows you to finish a typical associate's degree program in about 3 years. Not too bad right?

Remember that degree programs and colleges have specific credit requirements, so sit down with a guidance counselor to discuss what academic plan fits your life and schedule. 

You can be connected with a guidance counselor by filling out the form on the right side of this page. Don't wait for your dream job to come along, make it happen.