by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, adult and continuing education was the 432nd most popular major nationwide with 1,074 degrees awarded. This 29 less than the prior year, a decrease of 2.7%.
This year's Best Adult & Continuing Education Schools ranking compares 47 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom adult and continuing ed rankings further below.
Adult & Continuing Education majors are found most commonly in careers in which teaching others how to do something is important. Talking to others to convey information effectively and selecting and using training instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things are all required skills for careers related to this major.
adult and continuing education degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional adult and continuing ed certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Adult and Continuing Ed degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in adult and continuing education to the highest adult and continuing ed degree, a . Depending on the adult and continuing education degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to adult and continuing ed, with approximately 29.5% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to adult and continuing ed tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 28.0% |
| Master’s Degree | 27.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12.5% |
| High School Diploma | 12.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.2% |
Most workers in adult and continuing ed have at least a bachelor's degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in adult and continuing education have received.
This of course varies depending on which adult and continuing ed career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your adult and continuing ed degree? Adult & Continuing Education careers are expected to grow 16.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to adult and continuing education.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Education Teachers | 411,600 | 16.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for adult and continuing ed graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for adult and continuing education graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers adult and continuing ed grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Education Teachers | $44,960 |
With over 142 different adult and continuing ed degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased adult and continuing ed school rankings to help you with this.
Adult & Continuing Education is one of 12 different types of Teacher Education Grade Specific programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Elementary Education | 43,003 |
| Early Childhood Education | 32,920 |
| Secondary Education | 10,547 |
| Teacher Education | 9,949 |
| Teacher Development & Methodology | 6,165 |
