by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Adult & Continuing Education involves the study of Adult And Continuing Education And Teaching. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Adult Students In Various Settings, Including Basic And Remedial Education Programs, Continuing Education Programs, And Programs Designed To Develop Or Upgrade Specific Employment-Related Knowledge And Skills. Examples: [Workforce Training And Development Instruction]. Continue reading for the key facts every adult & continuing education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering adult & continuing education programs.
In the U.S., adult & continuing education is a widely-pursued major, with 901 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Adult & Continuing Education Schools ranking analyzes these 61 schools to determine the best overall colleges for adult & continuing education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of adult & continuing education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Adult & Continuing Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations adult & continuing education graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a adult & continuing education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a adult & continuing education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several adult & continuing education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 759 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 138 |
People currently working in careers related to adult & continuing education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.6% |
| Master’s degree | 20.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in adult & continuing education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying adult & continuing education opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to adult & continuing education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to adult & continuing education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | 944,792 | 8.8% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 217,050 | 0.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of adult & continuing education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,857 |
| 4 years | $43,846 |
| 5 years | $48,879 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for adult & continuing education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers adult & continuing education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | $77,096 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $62,634 |
With 61 different adult & continuing education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased adult & continuing education school rankings to help you.
Those considering adult & continuing education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
