How do I Choose the Best Adult Education Programs?

Choosing the best adult education program depends on what you as the learner need. Your needs should be compared to what different adult education programs offer. The categories to consider are your educational goals compared to the program's offerings, convenience and flexibility, format, and cost.

Your educational goals are a major consideration in selecting the program that is right for you. In general, adult education programs are focused on one of a few major areas. Some programs offer adult learners the opportunity to earn their high school diploma. Other programs offer adults the chance to improve their English through English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Various adult education programs also offer adults the chance to improve or enhance their literacy or their job-related skills, such as computer skills or real estate training, or personal hobbies, such as knitting or photography.

Convenience and flexibility are other important concerns in picking which of the available adult education programs is right for you. You may need to be able to take classes that fit the demands of your work and personal responsibilities. You also may need to be able to speed up or slow down your progress based on your individual needs as a learner.

Adult education programs vary in the types of formats in which they are offered. Many adult high school programs meet in person so that students can gain their diploma guided by a knowledgeable instructor. Some continuing education programs offering job skills or enhancement of personal knowledge are offered in an online format. Other programs, depending on students' needs, may be offered in a hybrid format, meeting partially online and partially face-to-face. You will have to choose the format with which you are most comfortable.

Cost is another factor to consider when choosing between adult education programs. You may have to pay for the program entirely on your own, especially if you have made the choice to attend. On the other hand, your employer may partially or fully fund your classes if you are taking them as part of your job requirements. Continuing education programs that are hobby-related, which are usually offered at community colleges, will be your responsibility to fund. Literacy programs designed to help adults improve their reading skills may be offered free of charge or at an affordable price since many of these programs are funded by grants.

There are various ways to find out if the program you are interested in meets your needs. You can talk to other people who have enrolled. You could visit the program and meet with the people in charge. The Internet is also a valuable tool with which to research the available programs.