At midlife, many people are watching their kids go off to school. Some are choosing to go with them. The population of college and university students over the age of 35 heading back to the college campus is 2.857 million.* The issues a nontraditional college student faces are quite different from that of a typical college freshman.

The growing number of nontraditional students has certainly not gone unnoticed by college administrators. Many schools now offer programs and services designed especially for adult learners. If you are heading back to school, look for schools that hire personnel trained specifically to meet the needs of nontraditional students such as admission counselors, academic advisors and coordinators of support programs.

Day care programs can be found at some family-friendly schools, and many campuses have found that maturity and experience make adult students excellent candidates for work-study programs.

Choose a campus that offers support groups for adult students. Support groups offer adults a network of peers in their age group to help reduce feelings of isolation.

Look into academic assistance. Another key to success as a nontraditional student is to take advantage of academic resources that provide writing, reading, and computer labs. You might also discover that you qualify for free tutoring.

You dart around the house, get the kids ready for school, make lunches, and sign permission slips. It's your turn to carpool. You drop the clothes off at the dry cleaner, and rush to work. You work a full day, then race to make it to a little league game, and rush home to make dinner. Then it's time for homework, baths and getting the kids ready for bed. You try to squeeze in some "me" time, and finally fall into bed—your eyes shut before you even hit the pillow. Sound familiar?

Days like these are all too common for many of us. How will you find the time?—Make the time. Going back to school doesn't have to mean a full load of classes and 30 hours of study time each week. Going to school part-time is an attractive option for many career-minded, family-minded adults.

Establish a strong network of support ahead of time. Talk to your family about your goals and solicit their support. No matter how hard you try to do it all, you are still going to need help and support to incorporate school into your already hectic life. Chances are your family will admire your ambition and want you to succeed. Communicate with them. Make sure everyone is on the same page.

Chances are you're not the only one in your family who is busy. That's why it's important to make sure everyone stays connected. Set aside a special time each week for the family to reconnect, and keep the lines of communication open.

Now that you're ready to go for it, you're likely asking yourself, "How am I going to pay for it?" Finding a way to pay for college is a common concern for many nontraditional students and their families. Before doing anything else, check with your employer about their tuition reimbursement program. Some companies offer 75, 80, even 100% reimbursement for career-related education.

Sit down with your family and a qualified financial professional to take a realistic look at your financial situation. Create a budget to reduce spending and decrease expenses to help build up your education nest egg. Take advantage of tax-deferred solutions such as 401(k) plans and health and dependent care spending accounts to reduce your taxable income.

Higher education is an invaluable tool that can advance your career and improve your quality of life. You only live once, why not live smart?