Back to School
Higher education institutions are helping students navigate nontraditional learning models and schedules.
Recently, there has been a trend in students waiting to start their degree program instead of going to college right after high school. As national and regional conversations about student loan debt, the job market, higher costs of living and alternative education pathways are prevalent, many prospective college students are taking a step back to reflect on their goals and skills before making a decision.
Even if that decision takes years, there are now options to continue or begin higher education with ease. Especially after the pandemic’s need for evolved learning models, one can go to school in person and experience all the social and lifestyle factors that come with college life—or they can obtain their degree from the comfort of their home. This is also encouraging students to consider pursuing advanced degrees before embarking on their career.
South Jersey Magazine spoke with Vice Chancellor for Admissions Jeff Gant at Rowan University’s Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Tracey Meilander, associate provost for Curriculum and Compliance at Stockton University, to learn more about continuing education, graduate programs and curriculum developments.
What have been the trends in adults going back to school to get advanced degrees?
Across the region, we are seeing a steady rise in adults returning to college to complete degrees or pursue advanced credentials. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, nationally, more than 1 million adults with prior college credit reenrolled last year, and New Jersey’s Some College, No Degree initiative has already helped more than 13,500 adults return to higher education to finish what they started. Post-pandemic career mobility continues to reshape the workforce, and many adults in South Jersey are seeking flexible pathways to pivot into new or emerging fields. Graduate education, along with targeted upskilling opportunities, is increasingly viewed as a viable route to career advancement and stability.
At Stockton, we are seeing prospective graduate students prioritize flexible, affordable and accelerated programs that allow them to retool, upskill or transition into new careers. There is particularly strong interest in microcredentials and stackable certificates that carry immediate workforce value while serving as on-ramps to full graduate degrees. These trends point to a growing demand for accessible, high-quality graduate education and present a strategic opportunity for Stockton to support adult learners while strengthening our region’s talent.
—Tracey Meilander
What programs were created to address their needs?
Rowan continues to innovate and evolve with the needs of its learners, as well as the economic and workforce needs of New Jersey and the region. Some examples of recent program development include:
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Veterinary Medicine: The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine welcomed its first class this year, addressing a critical national shortage of veterinarians and a dearth of veterinary schools in the region.
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Emerging Industries: We have partnered with Green Flower to offer career training certificates in the Cannabis industry. This is a sector that is growing rapidly but has very little formal educational infrastructure.
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Flexible Tech: We continue to scale Rowan Online and develop new programs, including an M.S. in cybersecurity and a B.S. in health care management, specifically designed for the working adult who needs to balance a full-time job with their studies.
When new programs are developed at Rowan, we take into careful consideration the labor market needs, access to jobs after graduation, earning potential and flexible preparation for the future as industries evolve.”
—Jeff Gant
Stockton has recently launched the Office of Graduate & Continuing Studies to strengthen support for current and prospective graduate learners. The office is focused on expanding pathways that meet emerging workforce needs, enhancing the graduate student experience, and increasing access for adult learners who are looking to pursue continuing education, advance or complete their graduate degrees.
One of our strategic priorities is to develop coordinated outreach and support strategies to help students who have previously earned credits return to finish their graduate or professional programs. By offering clearer program pathways, flexible learning options and more centralized resources, we aim to make degree completion more attainable and responsive to the needs of today’s adult learners. Stockton is also analyzing market data to identify potential new program offerings and determine which options best align with current workforce demand and the university’s strategic priority of supporting regional economic development.
Stockton is planning for new program options in graduate and undergraduate education that will expand opportunities for students in the region including a joint degree program combining graduate degrees in criminal justice and social work, K-12 health and physical education, [and] health science dual degree pathways to graduate school in chiropractic, clinical nutrition, athletic training and medical laboratory technology.
—Tracey Meilander
Are more students pursuing these options to further themselves in a current career or to help them pivot to a new field?
It is a healthy mix of both. We generally see two distinct groups: the “upskillers” and the “skill-stackers.” Upskillers are professionals, like educators and nurses, who are returning to deepen their expertise. They are getting that specialized degree in special education or administration to move into leadership roles within their current industry. And the skill-stackers are a very interesting and growing group. We see professionals who already have strong foundational degrees returning to “stack” a technical skill on top of their critical thinking background.
For the skill-stackers, returning to school is not about fixing a broken career path; it is about evolution. They are taking the communication and critical thinking skills from their original degree or professional experience and adding a technical layer like project management or data analytics to stay agile in a modern economy.
—Jeff Gant
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Published and copyrighted in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 23, Issue 4 (July 2026)
Published and copyrighted in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 23, Issue 4 (July 2026)
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