Fayetteville State University caters to a variety of nontraditional students, including adult learners, transfer and military students. Recently, the university has seen a surge in adult learners, or students over the age of 25. 

Many adults are realizing that a four-year degree or additional schooling is necessary for them to excel in their career. Some adults return to college years later after initially receiving a two-year degree, while others are attending for the first time. Either way, the goal is the same: learn the essential material to grow in your profession and earn more for yourself and your family. 

Unlike traditional freshmen attending college right after high school, these adult learners often have additional commitments like spouses, children, full-time jobs or other responsibilities that can make it difficult to find the time for classes. For many of them, money and time are the two biggest factors in them getting their degrees. 

Fayetteville State University offers affordable tuition rates. The North Carolina Promise tuition for in-state students is $500 a semester, and for out-of-state students, it’s $3,500 a semester. FSU offers 15 online degree completion programs, offering students flexibility to attend class remotely. High-impact programs like business administration, cybersecurity, interdisciplinary studies and nursing are all available online.  

Fayetteville State University is dedicated to ensuring that the workforce of North Carolina is prepared, that they are ready and that they can succeed once they graduate.

The university understands that adult learners with full-time jobs may not be available to meet with an advisor between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. So the Office for Adult Learners, Transfer and Military Students offer evening appointments and even weekend calls for students navigating a busy schedule. 

The Student Success Learning Center also offers a resource called Upswing, which is an online tutoring platform for students. Students can connect with a tutor- not AI, a real person- to get assistance with their lesson, whatever that may be. If it's statistics, if it's chemistry, you know, if it's anything that they need assistance with, they're able to get that one-on-one help. Then they can follow up with supplemental tutors that are housed at Fayetteville State University.

FSU also offers counseling services to students, which can be beneficial to adult learners who are trying to balance work, family and school. 

Fayetteville State University ensures students are taken care of in a holistic way, whether it is academically, their mental health or even food insecurity. The Bronco Food Pantry is available to all students, staff and faculty. 

This influx of adult learners is promising for the local workforce. Adult learners strengthen the local workforce by bringing mature, experienced, well-educated and community-rooted professionals into key roles across Cumberland County and the broader Sandhills region. FSU works to help students see the value in staying local to pour into the community that has poured into them and that has invested in them. 

Anyone interested in continuing their education at FSU or getting their degree as an adult should contact the Office for Adult Learners, Transfer and Military Students or Admissions, explain their situation (work schedule, previous credits, goals) and begin a conversation about what their path would look like. Connect with us by phone: 910-672-2700 or email: adultlearnerstransfermilitary@uncfsu.edu.