Best Universities in Texas for Older Students

Many people go back to college after that initial foray through higher education, while many others take an opportunity later in life to experience college for the first time. Some must take courses and seminars throughout their careers as part of "continuing training" requirements. Whatever your fancy, make sure you pick the right college for your nontraditional student experience! While big, brand-name schools may sound impressive, they may be more expensive and be geared more toward 19-year-old kids than mature adults.

According to the Department of Education, up to 40% of college students are age 25 or older and up to 90 million adults participate in some form of adult education or continuing education each year. As one might expect, cost is a primary concern of nontraditional students, many of whom must shoulder most, if not all, of the financial burden themselves.

A first mention is the University of Texas system, which offers good nontraditional opportunities at its numerous branch schools. While the youngsters party it up in Austin, schools like theUniversity of Texas at the Permian Basin (UTPB) are popular with an older crowd, catering to individuals who need a 4-year institution close to home. The flagship schools are good for undergrads who can live away from their hometowns, while smaller schools in the statewide system are better for adults who have job and family obligations and are rooted in one location. Furthermore, small schools like UTPB are a better deal for nontraditional students than flagship schools (like University of Texas at Austin) because their tuition and fees are generally lower.

Likewise, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has earned accolades for its affordability and accomodation of nontraditional students.

Aside from the nine branch schools in the University of Texas system, the Texas A&M system has eleven branch locations, such as West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. WTAMU, located just south of Amarillo and not far from Lubbock and the larger Texas Tech University, is smaller and more affordable than the flagship Texas A&M University in College Station, yet offers many valuable degree programs.

Some schools are known for their specialty programs that may appeal more to older, nontraditional students. For example, Sam Houston State University, located in the Houston metropolitan area in east Texas, is known for its Criminal Justice programs. These higher-level Criminal Justice and Forensic Science programs are likely to appeal to those who already have experience in the criminal justice and law enforcement fields. Specialty programs are more likely to be beneficial to those who have already earned Bachelor's degrees and gotten real-world experience in a given field. Older students returning to a university to pursue a PhD, for instance, would do well to look more at the reputation of a specialty program at a smaller school instead of immediately pursuing entry to a state's flagship university.

So, if you're looking at going back to school, look close to home before you set your eyes on the state's flagship institution - you'll save money and feel more comfortable in a more age-appropriate crowd.


SOURCES:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/returning.jsp

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/funding.jsp?tab=funding

http://www.utpb.edu/non-traditional-students/

http://ba.utpb.edu/accounting/cost-of-college/tuition-information/

http://www.utsystem.edu/Affordability/

http://www.viewpoints.com/The-University-of-Texas-at-El-Paso-review-c5bd1

http://www.utsystem.edu/

http://www.tamus.edu/

http://www.cjcenter.org/about/

http://shsucj.blogspot.com/2011/06/memorial-service-honors-stafs-donations.html