Start graduation In a more mature phase of life, this is a reality for many Brazilians. For various reasons, it may be necessary to start college a few years after finishing high school. If this is the case, know that there are advantages for those who begin higher education at this stage of their professional journey.

For those wondering if it's worth pursuing a degree after age 30, we've listed 6 benefits of returning to study. Check it out!

Advance in your career

Pursuing a degree is an opportunity to improve one's skills in a specific area and achieve career advancement. According to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), having a higher education diploma triples income. The average earnings of a graduate are R$$ 5,110, while those of mid-level workers earn R$$ 1,727. Each year of study represents an increase in income and employability. Employment rates are up to 15% higher for those who complete college compared to those with only basic education.

Therefore, if you are already working in a field but haven't yet completed a college degree, pursuing higher education could be the missing piece to achieving a promotion.

Change area

For those wishing to change careers, studying is an excellent start. Your profession should be aligned with your life purpose, and it's already known, through various studies, that happiness in the workplace is related to increased productivity. Companies, in general, are less conservative with those who decide to change fields.

It's also possible that the change is driven by market demand. It's not uncommon to find cases of professionals who have moved to areas related to those they were already working in, or even to a completely different market, driven by job opportunities.

Regardless of whether the change was driven by personal desire or external factors, a higher education degree can be the best option for entering the new job market. A degree is a prerequisite for many positions and, as we've already mentioned, leads to better jobs and higher pay.

Fulfilling a dream

Many Brazilians dream of pursuing higher education, but are unable to do so immediately after finishing high school due to financial reasons. After all, attending university requires an investment of time and money, and it's not always possible to have these resources when you're very young.

Besides financial preparation, starting a degree a little later can represent an extra advantage, since motivation and commitment tend to be higher. The willingness to make sacrifices and give up leisure time is one of the challenges of pursuing higher education. The routine of exams and assignments demands effort and dedication, and often, success in this journey is linked to personal maturity, which usually increases with age.

Returning to the job market

Often, pursuing a degree can be a way to return to the job market. In Brazil, 2 out of 10 young people neither study nor work, according to Ipea. A large part of this group is made up of women who paused their careers to care for their families and children. Access to university can be the start of a professional path and a guarantee of financial independence.

Technological challenges and the dynamics of the job market have changed significantly in recent decades, and there's always time to start over, acquire knowledge, and learn new skills. If you already have a business or want to start one, that's all the more reason to invest in higher education. A degree in Business Administration, for example, provides a broad and solid education, essential for the smooth operation of a business.

To pursue a second degree.

Those who already have a degree but want to broaden their scope of work can choose to pursue a second undergraduate degree. The advantages are many: adding value to the resume, complementing training, and achieving fulfillment. It is important, however, to evaluate the professional objective and the importance of the new training in this context. If the double degree is useful for boosting the career or for entering a new field of knowledge, the effort will certainly be worthwhile.

A second degree can have an added advantage: it's possible to adapt the curriculum of the degree you already completed and eliminate some subjects. This allows you to optimize your time and graduate faster. However, don't consider the curriculum as the only factor to choose from when selecting an institution. For the investment to be worthwhile, it's necessary to consider the quality of the course, the faculty, student employability, location, and other factors.

Strengthen networking.

Creating a network of professional and academic contacts is important for establishing connections, and one of the best times to do this is during your undergraduate studies. The advantage of starting your degree after 30 is that you already have valuable experience to share with your classmates. Even if you don't work in the field, you will certainly have a lot to contribute to conversations, group work, and relationships in general.

The exchange of knowledge is an important element in establishing relationships that can help you during your undergraduate studies and in the job market. It is very common for professionals to be recommended by colleagues, and for the relationships cultivated in college to create opportunities for career growth, new business ventures, and partnerships.

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