Quick Highlights:
- When considering a career change at 30, research majors that align with personal interests, skills, and the financial returns they offer.
- Consider high-demand fields like healthcare, technology, and business due to their growth, stability, and good pay.
- Assess the cost of education against potential salary and employment rates in the industry.
- Tutoring, career services, and academic advising are great college resources to aid your transition.
Table of contents
Making a career change at 30 can lead to higher wages and an exciting career, but it may be challenging. Often, going back to school at 30 is the first step toward making a career change. By going to school, you show potential employers that you are committed to making the transition and want to work in a new field.
If you decide to go to college again, it is important to take your time to research the best majors for adults returning to school. Choosing a major in your 30s can feel challenging, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. By reviewing a list of college majors for career changers, you can find a career that leads to personal fulfillment and professional stability.
Related:
- 25 Best Colleges For Working Students
- Flexible College Majors for Non-Traditional Students
Study Tips for Non-Traditional Learners
Understanding Your Current Position
Before you can learn how to pick a major as an adult, you need to start by evaluating your current position. Perform a self-assessment of your:
- current career
- personal interests
- experiences
- existing skills
These factors will help you determine the best degree options for your needs.
Take a Career Aptitude Test
If you are struggling to find the best majors for adults returning to school, there are many online tools that can help. A career aptitude test can help you find a list of careers that may suit your interests. The Princeton Review offers a career aptitude test you can try out for free.
Brainstorm Ideas
If you are preparing for a career change at 30, you can try brainstorming ideas by sitting down with a pencil and paper. Make a list of your skills and interests. Then, see if any of these skills line up with a potential job.
Consider Your Needs
While it is important to think about your interests and aptitude, you also need to consider what you need out of your career change options for over 30 adults. As an adult, you know that passion projects don’t always pay the bills. Because of this, it is important to take some time to figure out the salary and benefits you need to feel happy in a position.
Once you know what you are good at and the amount you need to earn, you can start narrowing down your list of prospective jobs. After you have five or fewer positions left on your list, you can start researching each specific career to learn more about them.
Researching High-Demand Fields
If you are looking for the best college majors for career changers, you should try researching high-demand fields. These types of fields are known for having an exceptional level of growth and stability. This means that you will have an easier time finding an entry-level position. Later on, there will be more opportunities for advancement in these industries.
Healthcare
People will always get sick, so there will always be positions in healthcare. These types of roles are known for being stable during weak economies, so they are worth considering. Currently, some of the most in-demand jobs in this field are nurse practitioners, medical service managers, physician assistants, physical therapist assistants, and occupational therapy assistants.
By 2032, jobs as nurse practitioners are supposed to grow by 44.5% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Plus, this medical role pays a median wage of $121,610.
Technology
Some of the most in-demand jobs in the country are in technology. For example, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics says that data scientist positions will grow by 35% between 2022 and 2032. Since this career pays a median wage of $108,020 per year, this is an excellent industry to get hired in.
Additionally, you can pursue a career as an information security analyst or a software developer. While information security analyst positions are forecasted to grow by 32% by 2032, software developer roles are expected to increase by 26%.
Business
Business is a good option if you are trying to find college majors for career changers. As one of the best fields for adult learners, this degree will lead to stable employment in a thriving industry. As an operations manager, you can earn an average wage of $59.07 per hour. Plus, this job has a long-term growth outlook of 4%.
In addition to working as an operations manager, you can pursue other careers in business as well. Once you have finished your degree, you can get hired as a management analyst. In this role, you can expect to earn an annual salary of $95,290. Plus, 95,700 job openings are available in this position each year.
Evaluating Majors for Return on Investment
When deciding on continuing education in your 30s, you need to look at the best midlife career change degrees and perform a cost-benefit analysis. Ultimately, you must decide if the cost of returning to college as an adult is worth the benefit you receive. To figure out the return on investment (ROI) for your degree, you should look at:
- tuition costs
- the average salary after graduation
- what employment rates are like in the industry
Tuition Costs
To calculate the ROI of going back to school at 30, you must start by looking at the tuition cost you will pay. While a typical public school charges in-state students $10,662 in annual tuition, out-of-state students pay an average of $23,630 for tuition at public universities. Meanwhile, private schools charge an average of $42,162 per year.
Beyond tuition costs, you also have to think about textbook costs and tuition fees. Because you may have to take time off to go to school, you should add in the cost of lost wages as well. If you receive financial aid or scholarships, you can subtract this figure from your overall costs.
Average Salary in the Career Field
To calculate the ROI of going back to school at 30, you also have to look at the average salary in your career field. The higher the salary is, the better your ROI will be. Currently, the average annual salary in the United States is $55,640 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ideally, you want to pursue a career that earns at least that much per year or more.
Employment Rates in the Industry
While choosing a major in your 30s is exciting, your major is only important if you can actually get hired in the industry after you graduate. If you can’t find any jobs in the field, your degree will simply become a useless, time-consuming expense. You can generally check with the Bureau of Labor Statistics to find out the expected growth for your industry and how many jobs will be available in different roles.
Considerations Specific to Adult Learners
Finding the best degree options for mature students is important. As an adult learner, you have different needs than a student who just graduated from high school. For example, you may be interested in pursuing online, part-time, or evening classes. You may have to take care of a family or maintain a full-time job while you are in school.
Fortunately, there are many degree options available to help you with going back to school at 30. Many top-ranked programs offer online classes, so you don’t have to move or quit your job to go to school. Plus, local community colleges and universities may offer night or weekend classes to make your degree a little easier. If you are swamped with work, you may also be able to pursue a degree as a part-time student.
When researching college majors for career changers, you should also look up the kind of support systems available for a career change at 30. For instance, some colleges offer tutoring centers that can help you brush up on math, English, and other subjects. Your campus may also have additional resources for:
- networking
- student advising
- career services
You pay for these services through your tuition dollars, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of them.
How to Make a Decision
To make a well-informed decision about the best majors for adults returning to school, you should take your time. Don’t feel like you have to rush into anything. Instead, you can do your research about the most profitable college majors for adults and where you want to go to school.
During your research, you should reach out to academic advisors at the school you want to go to. If you are concerned about the cost of school, you may want to talk to your university’s financial aid department.
As a part of choosing a major in your 30s, you should go to career workshops and informational sessions. During these events, find people who work in the career field you want to pursue. Then, ask them questions about their career satisfaction and how to find a job in the industry. By getting personal feedback, you can make a better decision about your career change at 30.
Prepare for a Career Change at 30
There are many things you should consider when choosing a major in your 30s. Going back to school at 30 is an exciting decision, but it is important to research the best majors for adults returning to school. By researching the top college majors for career changers, you can find the best opportunities for growth and career advancement.