College Dropout? Here’s 3 Reasons to Finish Your Degree

College Dropout T-shirt via Zazzle.com

You began with good intentions, but for some reason, life got in the way and you dropped out of college. Maybe you gradually stopped taking college classes to focus on your full time job and pay your bills at the end of the month. Maybe you decided being a full time mother was a bigger priority than your college degree.

This unfinished business may loom over you and threaten your confidence, whispering that you never finish what you start. If you are among the 50% of U.S. college students that didn’t finish your degree, the “college dropout” label doesn’t have to haunt you anymore. Here are 3 reasons to reconsider going back to college to finish your degree.

1. You can do it at your own pace. Instead of having to have your ass parked in your seat at 8am every morning for your classes, the educational system has become more accommodating for non-traditional students, allowing full time moms and employees the flexibility to study at their own pace with online college classes.
2. You can earn more with a college degree. If there’s too much month at the end of the money, consider that having a college degree will make you more employable than if you don’t. According to the Census Bureau, a high school graduate earned an annual salary of $26,894, while college graduates with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $46,805, representing nearly an additional $20,000 per year.
3. Financial aid is available. Contrary to popular belief, the reason American college students don’t complete their degrees isn’t because of a lack of interest in education, but because of a lack of financial aid from family members. There are plenty of financial aid resources, including scholarships and grants, that can help pay for your degree. For more information, read Ten Financial Aid Resources for Mothers Wanting to Go Back to College and New Financial Aid Programs for 2011.