How to Afford College as a Working Adult: 4 Things to Consider.

These days, the average college student is about 26 years old, with the number of students aged 30 and older growing. The adult student experience can be quite different than that of a traditional 18- to 24-year-old. Most adult learners have full-time jobs to balance alongside their studies, in addition to responsibilities like parenting, military service, and more.

In the midst of all the concerns and obligations that come with an adult lifestyle, the idea of putting money toward an expensive degree can be daunting. But going back to school doesn't have to be as costly as you might think. Take a look at these four ways you can afford college as a working adult.

Even if you took some college classes years ago but never earned a full degree, finding a transfer-friendly institution that will accept as many of those credits as possible is a smart decision. Those long-ago experiences could still be put toward your degree today. Many schools will even accept military service for college credit.

Transferring in as many credits as you can helps cut down on the time spent pursuing your degree — which can, as a result, minimize your tuition costs. Put simply, if you're able to progress toward your educational goals without repeating courses, you can streamline your time to completion.

Look closely at your target schools' transfer policies and plan to speak with admissions representatives to learn more about their processes. It's also helpful to look for schools that have been named to Phi Theta Kappa's Transfer Honor Roll as Bellevue University has.

Some schools will even offer opportunities for students to translate relevant work or military experience into progress toward their degrees. Credit for work experience or training will typically involve an evaluation. Assessments that allow students to earn college credit include options like the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

One of the primary differences between traditional undergraduate students and adult learners is that the latter are often more likely to be employed full-time. And an increasing number of employers have begun offering some form of tuition assistance for qualifying employees, resulting in the student's tuition either being covered or discounted.

In some cases, companies will reimburse participants after the fact, and in others, the employer will make tuition payments directly to the school. Bellevue University partners with more than 75 organizations to offer career-advancing education at affordable tuition rates. Employers that offer education benefits do so because they recognize the value in developing and growing the knowledge and skillsets of their employee base.

Look into your own employer's policies to see if they offer education benefits like tuition assistance. If you work for a smaller organization that doesn't extend benefits like these, it could still be worth it to approach your boss with a comprehensive pitch explaining how increasing your qualifications could benefit the business.

Unlike what you may know of traditional student loans, scholarships and grants are financial awards that don't have to be paid back. Once you choose a college, the first place you should look for scholarships and grants is within the institution itself. Schools often have a number of different financial awards available for qualifying students.

The offerings available to you will be unique to each school. Bellevue University, for example, has both need-based and merit-based scholarships available to students. Some scholarships are one-time awards while others are renewable scholarships that can be earned by undergraduate students year-over-year for four to five years or until you earn your bachelor's degree.

Once you've reviewed your school's internal offerings, don't forget to seek out need-based and merit-based scholarships available to students. Some scholarships are one-time awards while others are scholarship opportunities from outside the institution. Some awards will be subject-specific, some may be based on your geographic location, and there are even some that are exclusively offered to adult learners.

Finally, adult students do still have the option to use federal student aid in pursuit of their higher education efforts. That said, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process itself may be a bit different than it was back when you were just emerging from high school.

For example, now that you're considered an independent by FAFSA's standards, your financial assistance won't be based on your parents' income information. If your reported annual income is less than that of your parents, you'll be able to qualify for more federal financial aid.

Enrolling in a college program as an independent student can also lead to certain tax breaks. Some of the education tax credits at the federal level include the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit.

Now that you know some of the ways you can afford college as a working adult, your goal of completing your degree may seem a bit more achievable. But above all else, the best thing you can do to make your higher education experience more affordable is to partner with the right school.

You want to enroll in an institution that partners with its students to make their degree programs accessible and affordable. Learn more about what you should be looking for by reviewing our article How to Find the Best Online Colleges for Working Adults.