Going back to school as an adult can feel like a big step. Many adult learners balance jobs, families and other responsibilities while working toward a degree. However, at the University of Illinois Springfield, our students are proving that it’s never too late to reach new goals.
Adult learners come to UIS for many reasons. Some want to move up in their current job. Others want to change careers or finish a degree they started years ago. No matter the reason, we offer flexible programs and support that help students succeed.
Balancing Life and Learning
For many adult learners, flexibility is key. UIS offers top-ranked online and evening courses that make it easier to fit school into a busy schedule.
Many students continue working full-time while completing their degree. Others are raising families or caring for loved ones. Being able to learn from home or take classes at times that work for them helps make higher education possible.
Alicia Utterback, MPA ’20, described her experience returning to school:
“I was feeling a little intimidated heading back to graduate school as an adult learner. I hadn’t been in class for a while and was worried that working full-time, having a family with another baby on the way and volunteering in my community while going back to school was simply too much to handle. The flexibility and support I received from professors and my classmates helped me flourish. My life and work experiences were not a hindrance; they were valued in the classroom.”
Adult learners bring respected life and work experience to the classroom. They often share real-world examples during discussions and group projects. This creates a learning environment where students can learn from each other.
Turning Education into Career Growth
For many UIS adult learners, earning a degree leads to new career opportunities.
Terrence “TAT” Taylor, Liberal Studies ’24, shared his experience:
“UIS helped me realize that going back to school wasn’t just about earning a degree; it was about expanding my vision. As a working professional, husband and father, I learned how to balance life and learning in a way that directly elevated my career, my confidence and my purpose. UIS didn’t just prepare me for the next opportunity; it helped me become the person ready to lead it.”
To illustrate, Alicia also shared how her degree helped her achieve a long-term career goal:
“I had reached a place in my career where I wanted to make a change and needed to expand my knowledge and skills to get there. I set a personal goal for the job title I wanted, and my graduate studies at UIS blazed the path forward. Shortly after graduation, I completed my career transition. There are times that it feels surreal to consider getting exactly what I wanted in my career, and I have my education to thank for that.”
Some graduates report receiving promotions or taking on leadership roles after completing their programs. Others use their new skills to switch careers completely or enter growing industries.
Collectively, our programs focus on practical skills that employers value. Students learn how to apply what they study directly to their jobs. This helps them make an immediate impact in their workplace.
A Community That Supports Adult Learners
Returning to school can be challenging, but adult learners at UIS are not alone.
Students have access to advisors, faculty mentors and career services that help guide them through their academic journey. These resources help students stay on track and plan for their next steps after graduation.
UIS faculty understand the needs of adult learners and work to create supportive and engaging learning experiences. Many instructors have industry experience and connect lessons to real-world situations.
Students also build connections with classmates who share similar goals and challenges. These relationships develop throughout students’ studies and often continue long after graduation.
Eric Pelletier, Philosophy ’26, explained how he received support throughout his studies to complete his degree:
“UIS was helpful in my coursework to complete my philosophy bachelor's degree because of having an online program for that degree. At the time, it was a bit of a challenge to find a school that offered that degree online. My academic advisor has been very helpful, in large part because she has been the main person I've been talking to about how to finish it. We ensured I would be able to finish by the end of the year and identified creative options for the credits I needed, despite already having a full schedule.”
Reaching Goals and Looking Ahead
Completing a college degree is a major accomplishment at any stage of life. For adult learners, it often represents years of dedication and perseverance.
Many UIS graduates say earning their degree helped them grow both professionally and personally. They gained new knowledge, new confidence and new opportunities for the future.
For those considering returning to school, the message is simple: it’s possible.
Eric also shared how earning a degree from UIS made sense financially and has allowed him to plan for what’s next:
“I had partially completed my degree from a prior school, but finishing my studies at UIS was more affordable. Since philosophy is a subject that interests me greatly, it'll be personally satisfying to complete my bachelor’s degree. Professionally, I hope to pursue a master’s program in geriatrics/gerontology to return to what I really love, which is working in memory care. I want to go help build better memory care facilities or improve the quality of memory care services. It's a lofty goal, but I'm looking forward to it. Overall, my degree from UIS is valuable as a preliminary step toward a broader goal of returning to work with people who have memory-related issues.”
With flexible programs, supportive faculty and a strong learning community, UIS helps adult learners advance their careers and achieve their goals. No matter where someone is on their journey, taking the next step in education can open new doors.