Each year, hundreds of thousands of students who areage 50 and older go back to school.
Now 69, she works with homeless disabled veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Phoenix.
“I have a job that pays more and that I really enjoy,” she says.
Sheelah Brown was 64 when she earned her Ph.D. in education.
Sheincreased her salaryand had the satisfaction of contributing important research to the field of remedial reading instruction.
Now 83, she recently announced her retirement from her position as an assistant principal.
Sometimes the payoff is more personal than financial.
Of course,a return to school usually carries financial risk.
There’s no guarantee that a degree will increase earning power enough to justify the expense.
If you’re considering such a move, ask yourself these six questions.
Does the field you want to go into have a vibrant job market with plenty of well-paid openings?
That’s what happened to Mary Donahue, 54, a Washington-based social worker.
She also has $120,000 in student debt.
Do you plan to keep working for many years (at least 10) after earning your degree?
Do you have enough savings to pay for the bulk of the expense of going back to school?
If not, grants and scholarships can help offset the expense and minimize loans.
The websiteFastwebmakes it easy to search for scholarships that apply to older students.
Some state schools, such as the University of Delaware, offer free or discounted tuition for older students.
Some employers also offer educational subsidies or loan repayment plans.
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