Ask Brianna: How do I afford college as an older student?

While only you can decide whether college is the right move, in most cases, a postsecondary degree is a straight path to more money and more job security.

Median after-tax earnings of bachelor's degree holders were 61 percent higher than high school graduates' in 2015, according to a report by the College Board; median earnings of associate's degree recipients were 23 percent higher.

If you plan to keep working — generally the most cost-effective option for students juggling other financial obligations — many companies offer tuition reimbursement up to a certain amount each year.

Siemens, for example, offers subsidized apprenticeship programs that can lead to full-time jobs in fields like manufacturing technology; participants are paid while they attend classes and work for the company.

Contact your nearest community college or state apprenticeship office , listed on the U.S. Department of Labor's website, to learn about programs available near you.

On the FAFSA, students age 24 or older are considered independent students, so only your income and assets — not those of your parents — will be used to determine eligibility for aid.

If a Pell Grant won't cover your college costs, prioritize taking out federal student loans before private loans, as the federal ones come with more flexible repayment options.

While in school — or if you're saving up for it — you'll likely need to re-evaluate spending to address any lost income or to cover out-of-pocket education costs.

Avoid thinking of it as budgeting if that sounds restrictive; frame it as a spending plan that aligns your purchases to your values, says Megan Lathrop, lead money coach at Capital One in San Francisco.