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2023 Adult & Continuing Education Degree Guide

Adult & Continuing Education Degrees Decreasing

#432 Most Popular Major
1.1k Degrees Awarded
-2.7% Increase in Graduates

In 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.

2023 Best Colleges for Adult & Continuing Education
2023 Overall Best Adult & Continuing Education Colleges >

Best Adult & Continuing Education Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Adult & Continuing Education
Bachelor's Degrees in Adult & Continuing Education
Master's Degrees in Adult & Continuing Education
Doctorate Degrees in Adult & Continuing Education

 

What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Adult & Continuing Education

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 giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.

Getting Accepted Into an Adult & Continuing Education Program

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 & Continuing Education Degree Types

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%
High School Diploma 12.5%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 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.

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This of course varies depending on which adult and continuing ed career you choose.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Adult and Continuing Ed Graduate

Average Number of Jobs
51.5k Avg. Related Jobs Salary
16% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

High Growth Projected for Adult and Continuing Ed Careers

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%

How Much Money Do Adult and Continuing Ed Grads Make?

As you might expect, salaries for adult and continuing ed graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

Highest Paid Adult and Continuing Ed Careers

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

Getting Your Adult & Continuing Education Degree

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.

Study Areas in Adult & Continuing Education

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

View All Adult and Continuing Ed Related Majors >

References

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