A recent Georgetown University study estimates that by 2018, 63 percent of all U.S. jobs will require some sort of postsecondary education. Studies have shown for quite a while that a credential, whether a degree or certificate, can lead to higher wages and greater long-term sustainability.

That reality—and the changing nature of today’s workforce—has sent adult learners back to campus in record numbers. Some studies estimate the traditional college student—a full-time, residential undergraduate supported by their parents—may only account for 25 percent of the college-going population.