Hi, I am currently trying to decide if I should continue with my dream of becoming a mechanical engineer or not. A year ago a decided to go back to college at 29 and enrolled in an Engineering Science degree at Mercer County Community college. However, since I work full-time (as an HVAC technician), have kids, and other family responsibilities I am just taking classes part-time (2 or 1 class per semester). I got a total of 22 courses so far but I don’t seem to find information online of 4 year institutions offering part time classes so I am afraid that once I complete my associates I won’t be able to complete the degree anyway. I’ve consider changing to electronics systems engineering technology and continue my education at Thomas Edison State University (an adult education program 100% online), but I’m not sure if employers would take an engineering technology degree seriously and if they will look at my degree down because it was an online university with less reputation. I’m starting to believe that starting engineering at age 29 was just crazy. I wanted to provide some context but in reality my question is: do you know if there are options out there to complete a mechanical engineering degree part time for adults? If you want to provide any other advice or suggestions I am open to it. Thank you!
My dad had a BS/MS in Civil from MIT and started Medical School at that age, full time, with kids. Anything is possible.
I dont know much about engineering except you want the school to be ABET certified. I did a search on your phrase there and ABET and found these:
https://www.abet.org/accreditation/find-programs/
If you are close to Rutgers and that is feasible for you you might reach out to them. You may be able to take night classes.
I think it’s great you are going back to school. It will be a hard few years but I dont think you will regret it.
30 years old is still young. I don’t know what state you are from. If CA, I would go to closest CSU offering Mechanical Eng. They offer part time tuition and night classes. I got my MBA degree from Cal State East Bay about your age, working full time and taking night class only during my commute back home from work. I used to do homework in my car during lunch break 
. Good Luck.
No meaningful advice but I still remember watching my dad graduate from college. I was very young. He was probably the first in my family to attend let alone graduate from college. I’m still amazed how he did it.
Is your family supportive and what is the end goal? Even if it’s just for personal growth and satisfaction that would be ok in my book. My dad never used his degree professionally. I think it was personal and a backup plan for him. It worked out just fine. Good luck.
My take on this is that starting engineering school at 30 is better than starting engineering school at 35. It is better to do this now than later. I do not think that 30 is too old.
When I was in graduate school there were students in the same program who at least looked to be over 30. One was a good friend although I will admit that I never asked how old he was.
One daughter is getting a DVM and I am sure that there are students who are older than 30. One similarity: They are doing 4 years to get their DVM and you will be doing at most 4 years, or probably less, to get a bachelor’s in engineering. Another similarity: You and they will both have a job after graduation. I am not completely sure which will pay better but my guess is that you might win out in this regard.
You might want to talk to the transfer advisors at your community college about which universities you should be considering. One option, if you can manage the financing, is to “bite the bullet” and go back to university full time and just run up as much debt as you need to and get it done. You might have already done this but you might want to see if parents or other close relatives can at least help a bit.
I did some poking around on the Rutgers site and I think the status you would be looking for is nontraditional student.
It looks like you need to apply for this status, which would then allow you to take a part-time course load.
My father-in-law earned his undergrad in business at 37, with a wife and two kids. It took him a long time and he went to a couple different schools (he moved for work), but he did it. Ironically, he used to teach at the college level as an adjunct before he had his BS.
I also worked with a MEP engineer who went back for his MechE degree after working as a pipe fitter for years. It’s hard, but it can be done.
Are you a veteran? There might be programs or benefits that help you earn your degree.
You had me at dream.
Contact the ABET accredited engineering programs in NJ to see if they’ll allow part time.
Fairleigh Dickinson Teaneck
TCNJ
NJIT
Princeton
Rowan
Rutgers
Stevens Inst
I did that too. I went back to school for a masters degree at 30 while working fulltime and a family. I took an online program too. “Engineering technology” really sounds similar to computer science or IT. If that’s the case, you should be fine. There’s no particular curriculum you need, just a background in computers and some proficiency in a computer language.
I would sit down with your family and really create a plan that is obtainable.
I know someone that started her engineering journey closer to 40 when her kids were a bit older and worked in the field for well over 25 years.
You might need to cut back greatly on expenses. You might need to not be making car payments (if that applies). Maybe go to a less expensive living arrangement. Etc etc.
You have to plan for success not failure. It won’t be easy.
I am totally impressed with you.
I call this “betting” on yourself.
Keep us updated.
There are 2 options here.
- Do online study with proctored exams at ABET places and you should have 0 problems. You should get identical diploma to people who studied face to face.
Just make sure that program helps with employment. - Find local evening classes. They should exist in state flagship or many major college.
There a lot of nontraditional students. More people study remotely these days.
Many people with BS degrees gainfully employed.
My husband took a lot of years off between his first college try…and returning to college for an engineering degree at age 28 or so. We always say he went to college on the 12 year plan.
He returned to a local community college which happened to have an articulation agreement with a bunch of four year colleges. He chose University of Hartford primarily because they offered all of the bachelors of engineering courses as evening or weekend courses, and he could attend part time and work during the day…which he did.
So…check to see if there are any colleges in your orbit where evening and weekend courses are offered. A plus for my husband was that his college also offered co-op if you wanted it…so he did that too. School one semester, job one semester…repeat until done. Which he did. But he landed a great job out of undergrad at his co-op place…another bonus.
You can do this if you want to!!
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