Two Great Michigan Schools for Career Adults

The idea of returning to college can be a daunting task. Family and career must be carefully considered. Costs must be weighed, financial and the cost of time. Finally, a school must be chosen. Careful research will yield the best fit for your family.

My 42 year old husband chose Cornerstone University because of the flexibility of their degree completion program. He was even able to put his classes on hold for a short time as he transitioned to a better job. A job opportunity that most likely would not have occurred if he wasn't pursuing his bachelor's degree in business administration. Davenport University provided our second choice for consideration. There were the two friendliest programs we found in the West Michigan area.

Cornerstone University Professional & Graduate Studies (PGS) offers programs in business, education, human services and psychology.

· This degree accelerated completion program is tailored for those with career and family responsibilities.

· Each course meets one night a week for 5-7 weeks, and programs can be completed in eighteen to twenty-four months.

· Students also work in cohorts, or collaborative teams, on projects for each course. A student often continues with the same group of students for the entire program. This leads to accountability, camaraderie, and often business connections in the professional world.

· Financial aid and assistance is also available to students, making education affordable.

This spring, Cornerstone University graduated over 200 students in their PGS program in a separate, yet equivalent graduation ceremony in the athletic center on campus. These graduates seemed to have a seasoned gratitude not only for their degree, but also for the sacrifice of their time. Unlike grads In their twenties, these adults had families and careers to keep up with along with their studies and there seemed to be an extra excitement in the air and extra tears in the audience as each name was announced.

Another Michigan school that is very friendly to the returning or first time adult learner is Davenport University. They offer majors in business, technology, and health professions.

· While their main campus is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they offer classes at 14 other area Michigan locations, including Saginaw, Lansing, and Traverse City.

· They offer 15 week courses or 7 week courses, and classes start every seven weeks throughout the entire year.

· Classes are also available online.

· Financial aid is available and tuition is affordable.

· Their faculty members are professionals in the fields they teach and class work has a high quality.

Testimonials about the program include a young couple, the Pages, of Detroit. He went through the program for a business degree. After his graduation, a higher position in his company, and the birth of their two children, they decided this wife would start the same program to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. They truly believed that the sacrifice was worth the outcome in the program Davenport had to offer them.

While both schools offer traditional undergraduate programs for college students fresh from high school, they also both meet the genuine need for adults returning to school while working and starting a family. If you are considering this big step, count the costs and do your research. Pick the university that fits your needs best.

Sources: http://www.davenport.edu/Home/AboutDavenport/DavenportaGlance/MessagefromthePresident/tabid/192/Default.aspx

http://cornerstone.edu/pgs/about/

Life experience

Other experiences with adult continuing education by this author:
Five Ways to Support Your Husband Going Back to College
Things to Do When Your Husband Is Gone in the Evenings
The Ryan Experi (ment) ence