Taking the first step back toward a degree
Life comes with any number of reasons to avoid or step away from earning a college degree.
In 2011, nearly 755,000 Missouri adults — 23.9 percent of the state’s adult population — reported having gone to college only to exit before gaining the credential of a two- or four-year degree. That same Lumina Foundation report gives county-by-county data, detailing the gap between employer demand and degree completion rates in cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis and Jefferson City.
Such numbers underscore the need to put a college degree within reach — by lowering or eliminating whatever barriers might stand in your way.
William Woods University offers an online associate of liberal arts degree for that very reason — to remind working adults that slow-and-steady can still win the race.
While the market offers no shortage of online options, it’s important to ask good questions before you set sail again on the journey. A recent US Senate report gives prospective students a clear look at retention numbers from for-profit, shareholder owned schools.
It’s always nice to hear from actual students when it comes to somehow finding the elusive “school-work-life” balance. We found this entry from the USC social work student. Each bit of encouragement adds up — so we will share more of these as we go.