Traditional education typically refers to community colleges and universities. Nontraditional education is any education that caters to adults or students who choose to earn credit in a manner other than a standard course.
The two worlds aren't that far apart, as many nontraditional education opportunities occur in traditional colleges, universities and trade schools. The difference is that these students take a different path to reach their degrees or credentials, and they don't go straight from high school to the dorms to the graduation stage four years later. Some students simply choose different educational avenues, while others are sidelined due to personal circumstances.
These students aren't just a tiny fraction of school-goers, either. According to the U.S. Department of Education, an estimated 90 million Americans "participate in some form of adult education each year, including training and basic education offered outside traditional higher education." The department also states that 40 percent of American college students are 25 or older.
If you don't fit the mold of a "traditional" student and you want to know what other options exist outside of traditional courses, nontraditional education might be the best choice for you. To help you understand what's available, we've put together a list of nontraditional education options and given you some food for thought on each one.
Here is what you should know about nontraditional education:
Distance learning
What it is: Perhaps one of the most widely used forms of nontraditional education is distance learning, which has gained popularity due to the wealth of online courses available.
Why you should choose it: Distance learning doesn't require you to be in any specific location as long as you have a computer and the time necessary to complete assignments.
Why you shouldn't choose it: The freedom to work at your own pace or on your own time works only if you're a disciplined student.
Who offers it: Traditional four- and two-year colleges, online universities.
Credit for experience
What it is: When adults have spent years working for a business or organization, they can sometimes earn college credit at a university for their experience.
Why you should choose it: If your experience translates into lessons taught at a university, and you can prove that you've learned something more than just the task, you could save yourself classroom time and tuition.
Why you shouldn't choose it: The chance to opt out of certain courses could mean you lose out on other valuable lessons that you didn't learn at work.
Who offers it: Many universities and colleges, although they have a strict set of guidelines for granting credit, so discuss it with an adviser.
Standardized exams
What they are: Universities offer standardized exams that allow students to skip certain courses and get credit for them if they achieve a certain score.
Why you should choose them: For some students, a course in Spanish might be redundant if they are fluent (in both written and spoken forms), so testing out of it would be a wise move.
Why you shouldn't choose them: If you know you're proficient in a language or on a certain topic, but also know you have plenty to learn in that area, you might be shortchanging yourself by testing out of the class.
Who offers them: Most universities offer a form of test placement, but for which courses and for how much credit varies.
GED® Tests
What they are: GED (General Educational Development) Tests allow nontraditional students to exhibit command of the subjects and skills found in high school courses.
Why you should choose them: GEDs are an excellent opportunity for individuals who did not receive their high school diploma and need one, or the equivalent, either to qualify for a job or to continue with higher education.
Why you shouldn't choose them: If you have received your high school diploma, GEDs are not a necessary step toward advancing your education.
Who offers them: GED Tests can be taken only at authorized testing centers, but there are testing centers in every state and throughout the world.
GED® and the GED Testing Service® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education® and may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the American Council on Education.
By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama