Find advice for college graduates who are job searching in a challenging economy. Plus, creative ways to gain professional experience and boost skills.
Lifelong Learner column
Precollege programs help teens explore academics, build confidence and prepare for college, with options across Wisconsin and scholarships available.
Try these popular learning trends to gain skills, improve mental health and encourage personal growth in 2026.
Nontraditional students are a growing majority in higher education. See how flexible degree programs help adult learners earn a degree on their terms.
Badger Ready helped Alex Smith finish his UW-Madison degree, continuing the lifelong learning vision of his grandfather, Howard Martin.
Bridge programs like UW–Madison’s Badger Ready help adults with college credit but no degree return to school and complete their education.
Whether you’re just starting college, returning after some time away or continuing your education as an adult learner, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – known widely as the FAFSA form – is your main gateway to grants, scholarships, work-study funds and loans.
Embracing an attitude of lifelong learning can help seniors combat the effects of aging and find meaning in every day. In a study by Scientific American, seniors who regularly engaged in learning over three months performed similarly to adults 30 years younger on cognitive tests.
A UW–Madison college advisor offers tips to help students from small-town backgrounds find support and access resources to succeed in higher education.
Lifelong learner: Tips for first-generation adult college students.
In 1981, the first Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award (OURASA) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was presented to just one recipient, Sally Peterson, a civil water engineer and single mother of three children. Forty-five years later, UW–Madison continues to celebrate its returning adult students.
Anne Niendorf tells us her advice to secure a UW-Madison scholarship as an adult student.
Microcredentials help fulfill the specialized learning needs of our changing workforce, empowering individuals to take control of their education and career paths. They are offered by colleges, universities, companies, professional organizations and online education platforms like Coursera and edX.
With the growing popularity of podcasts in recent years, there has never been a better — or more convenient — time to be a lifelong learner.
A UW–Madison career counselor explores education opportunities at community colleges, universities, extension programs and more to enrich your career and life.
Whether you've kept up with the latest trends, skills and stories in continuing education, or you're just curious to see how much you know, here’s a fun way to revisit highlights from 2024. Dive in and see how much you've learned along the way!
Balancing an internship with a full-time job and family is challenging for adult students. Learn how Jason Glomp managed his unpaid internship and succeeded.
UW-Madison Academic Advising Manager Beth Jaggers interviewed an enrollment coach about professional degrees and certificates.
Explore one UW–Madison adult student's inspiring journey of overcoming addiction and how recovery shaped her academic and personal growth.
Our academic advising manager shares tips from learners for adult students returning to school this fall. Have a great year!
Explore educational resources and financial aid options for low-income students, including scholarships, state aid, online education and more.
To celebrate National Higher Education Day, we talked with one of our education experts out how adult students can better access higher ed.
Learn some tips from our experts on how to assess and revive your online presence for professional purposes.
It’s the season for reflecting on our accomplishments, setting new goals and celebrating how we’ve grown over the last year. Challenge your memory and review the lifelong learning topics we explored this year with our quiz.