A bachelor’s degree is your ticket to better job opportunities and higher pay over your career. According to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, two out of three jobs demand at least some education or training beyond high school. And in 2018, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that the median earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree were 57% higher than the earnings of those with a high school degree.

With a bachelor’s degree, you’re far less likely to be unemployed than people with only a high school diploma. And you’re more likely to have a better quality of life. College Board reports that having a college degree is associated with a healthier and more socially active lifestyle. Those with a bachelor’s degree are more likely to exercise, volunteer, and vote.

So it’s no surprise that more people than ever are returning to complete their degrees.

Bryan Klickstein ’13 earned his BA in Liberal Studies with a Specialization in Business Management from Lesley, which he started at age 35. “I'd had some success professionally, but I didn’t know if those skills would translate to college,” he says. “I realized that going to school as an adult is gaining confidence that all of the personal and professional skills you bring, and your years of experience, will translate into academic success.”

Five Tips for Completing Your Bachelor’s Degree

You recognize the importance to your future of getting a bachelor’s degree, and now you’re ready to take the next steps. Whether you’ve been out of school for two years or 20, you’re wondering how to make a degree-completion program work. We’ve talked with students who’ve successfully completed their bachelor’s degree at Lesley, and they came back with these 5 tips for ensuring that you’ll achieve your dream of finishing your bachelor’s degree.

1. Be clear about why you’re getting a degree. 

Whether you’re taking your existing career to the next level or going in a new direction, you want to be able to answer the question: “Will this degree get me where I want to go?”

2. Maximize your credits. 

Look for a school that will help you identify credits for work experience, professional training, or college courses you’ve already completed. (For example, you could receive up to 90 credits toward your bachelor’s degree from Lesley in our campus-based and online programs.) The more credits you identify, the fewer credits you’ll need to earn, which helps reduce costs.

3. Play detective.

Investigate financial aid availability at colleges you are interested in; look into student and private loans, and scholarships. Bachelor’s degree completion programs are often less expensive overall than traditional on-campus undergraduate programs.

4. Pace yourself. 

Take small steps to get back into practice as a student; take one or two classes at the beginning to build your confidence.

5. Build a support network. 

There’s no stigma in asking for help from professors, staff, or your advisor, or in taking advantage of tutoring and mentoring that the college provides. And getting support outside of school from family members or friends can help you stay on track by holding you accountable.

Learn more about Lesley's bachelor's degree programs

Choose from 25+ liberal arts majors, 9 art & design majors, and 45+ minors across a range of subjects. You can also customize your program of study based on your interests. Learn more about our undergraduate programs.

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