More and more professionals are heading back to school, often part time or in the evenings, and are furthering their educations. Unlike students straight out of high school, those with careers have to juggle a job and college, including physics teacher Michael Voth.

“[I’ve been taking classes] since January of 2013, so I’ve been working on it for two years,” Voth said. “The entire program is online, but we have classes, like we set times where we meet online each week where you’re required to have headphones and be able to communicate in the class.”

By 2020 it is expected that 43 percent of all college students and graduates will be over the age of 25, and is growing yearly due to many going back to school to further education and keep learning.

“For me personally, I think pursuing a postgraduate degree later in life is consistent with the mantra that you never stop learning, and so it just kind of re sharpens the sword if you get what I mean, for someone to continue and further their education,” college counselor Randy Trevino said.

By waiting to continue their education, these older students often have to juggle a variety of things high school students don’t have to deal with.

“I just have to be very organized because I have a full time job, a family with two young kids, and then two masters courses at any given time,” Voth said. “So, you have to have things planned out so that you’re going to get everything you need to done.”

Despite the busy schedule, the outcome of online schooling is usually worth it.

“Some folks out in the world, whether they’re teachers or otherwise, they might seek further education to keep the jobs that they are in relevant, or maybe perhaps to increase their career maybe to the next step,” Trevino said.

While some go back for an undergraduate degree, many people that decide to continue their education pursue an advanced degree.

“I’m going to have my masters in Educational Technology at the end of April, so obviously that’s a big thing.” Voth said. “I hope it might also present some new career opportunities.”

Programs for online colleges are constantly improving, and are beneficial to many adults already busied with a career.

“Online programs are designed for professionals working full time, with them at their discretion or available based on their professors requirements,” Trevino said. “A lot of folks take advantage of it, and so online content is really good and it’s good to really never stop learning and to make sure you learn things to carry with you all throughout life.”