I am sure that many readers of this website are aware of degree programs that allow individuals to attend classes at night, on weekends, or over the internet. For working individuals, part-time programs are critical, since they afford the flexibility necessary to obtain a degree while employed full-time. However, such programs can also help you minimize the amount of student debt you borrow to earn your degrees, since you could offset educational costs while working as a student.
Although I had various work-study jobs as a student, I was not employed full-time while obtaining my degrees. I applied to a few law schools that had evening programs, but I obtained my college and law school degrees through traditional, full-time programs. Nevertheless, I attended a law school that had well-regarded part-time programs, and one semester during law school, I took classes at night with part-time students because I was working at a clinic during the day. Interacting with these students and hearing their stories showed me that it is definitely possible to defray a large amount of educational expenses while working full-time as a student.
Many different programs allow individuals to complete their degrees at night, on weekends, and through the internet. Indeed, I am sure you have seen advertisements for MBA programs, MPA programs and others relating how students can earn their credentials in non-traditional ways. Many law schools also have part-time degree programs, and it typically only takes one extra year (four in total) to obtain a JD degree from a part-time program.
One reason you should consider attending a non-traditional degree program, aside from the financial implications, is since it is usually easier to be admitted to such programs. In fact, while applying to law schools that had part-time programs, I indicated that I would consider enrolling in a non-traditional degree program, and some institutions only admitted me if I committed to being a part-time student. I eventually turned down offers to enroll in part-time law school programs, but it is important to mention that one critical advantage of part-time programs is that they could be your only way of being admitted to a particular institution.
There are a number of things you should consider when deciding if a part-time program is best for you. For one, you should usually only matriculate into a part-time program if you already have a job lined up. This is the primary reason I never enrolled in a part-time law school program.
I attended law school right after graduating from college, and I had never previously entered the workforce. In addition, I was entering law school at the worst part of the Great Recession, and it was very difficult to find employment at that time. The prospect of attending school part-time and not having a full-time job was scary for me, especially since I would likely accumulate more debt this way because I would have to pay for more years of living expenses as a part-time student. It might seem obvious, but you typically do not want to enroll in a part-time program just to be admitted into a given institution, and you should definitely have a job lined up first.
Also, make sure that you do the math, and evaluate whether a part-time program will actually cost you less money than being a full-time student. Usually, the total tuition costs for degrees earned through part-time programs will be the same as full-time programs, but you will have to front living expenses for the longer period of time it will take to earn the degree. If you need to borrow money for these living expenses, and cannot make ends meet, a part-time program might not be right for you.
Also, make sure that you can see yourself handling the crushing workload of a full-time job coupled with the responsibilities of being a student. As previously mentioned on this website, student debt is not everything, and it is also important to do well in school because this will open more doors for you in your career. Being a part-time student is tough, and I remember classmates in my evening courses in law school telling me about the rigors of working full-time as a student. If your job requires too much energy and attention, it might not be worth it to attend a part-time program, since you might not be able to do well enough to build the foundation for your future career.
You should also make sure that if you attend a part-time degree program, students in that program have the same resources and advantages as full-time students at that institution. Some schools, like my law school alma mater, have many resources for part-time students, and basically treat part-time students the same as individuals who attend the school full time. However, other institutions do not treat part-time students the same. It is great to use a part-time program to reduce the amount of student debt you need to borrow, but this should not be at the expense of any advantage you might obtain as a full-time student.
All told, part-time degree programs can be a great way to reduce the amount of student debt you need to borrow, since you can use earnings from a full-time job to subsidize the cost of obtaining a degree. However, prospective part-time students should be aware of a number of factors that will help ensure that they reduce their debt while maximizing future job prospects and other opportunities.