How to go back to school while working full time with a family
Continuing education feels impossible when you have a family and a full-time job that pays the bills, since standard programs and assistantships rarely provide a living wage. Support from partners or employers can also be a major roadblock, forcing people to hide their educational ambitions or risk losing critical income. Without financial flexibility or schedule alignment, adults trying to learn new skills are left trapped between supporting their dependents and pursuing career advancement.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 13.3× more often in r/Accounting than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Hiding the education plans from the employerDid this help you?
- 2Switching to union work or alternative employersDid this help you?
- 3Prioritizing immediate income and family stability over formal schoolingDid this help you?
- 4Looking into online programs or Ed.D. degrees instead of traditional Ph.D. programsDid this help you?
- 5Taking a year or so off from work or studying to alternate between themDid this help you?
- 6Taking on credit card debt or student loans to survive during practicum and schoolingDid this help you?
- 7taking fewer classes per semesterDid this help you?
- 8working a morning shift to attend classes in the afternoonDid this help you?
- 9completing assignments during lunch breaks, after work, and on weekendsDid this help you?
- 10adjusting work schedules for daytime classes and taking night classesDid this help you?
- 11Sharing notetaking duties with a cohort groupDid this help you?
- 12Accepting lower grades ("C's get degrees") instead of aiming for straight A'sDid this help you?
- 13Putting friends and hobbies on pauseDid this help you?
- 14Communicating with professors when feeling overwhelmedDid this help you?
- 15Getting a Teaching Assistant (TA)Did this help you?
- 16reaching out to multiple universities to compare required credits and costsDid this help you?
- 17taking extra classes at an online community college to save moneyDid this help you?
- 18choosing competency-based or flexible programs designed for weird schedulesDid this help you?
- 19Accepting the overtime pay as compensationDid this help you?
- 20Finding an alternative job or employer with better hoursDid this help you?
- 21Upskilling or leaving the industryDid this help you?
- 22Working a reduced schedule with a pay cutDid this help you?
- 23Relying on a partner to solo parentDid this help you?
- 24Looking for a new job outside of public accountingDid this help you?
- 25Going straight from work to a coffee shop or library instead of going home firstDid this help you?
- 26Packing a study bag before leaving for workDid this help you?
- 27Listening to lectures during commutes and reviewing notes on phones during downtimeDid this help you?
- 28Setting strict time limits or uninstalling social media appsDid this help you?
- 29Waiting to enroll in the new program structureDid this help you?
- 30Spreading modules out over multiple years instead of finishing them beforehandDid this help you?
- 31drawing serious boundaries with workDid this help you?
- 32Having a spouse with a flexible schedule or who handles the majority of childcareDid this help you?
- 33Outsourcing with nannies, cleaners, and afterschool programsDid this help you?
- 34Relying on nearby family members like grandparentsDid this help you?
- 35Working a regular shift and logging back on after the children go to bedDid this help you?
- 36Leaving public accounting for industry jobs with better work-life balanceDid this help you?
- 37Pacing out the courses instead of overloadingDid this help you?
- 38Improving time management and sacrificing social lifeDid this help you?
- 39Pushing through with perseverance and treating it as a temporary struggleDid this help you?
- 40Squeeking by and starting out in a simple clerk or bookkeeping roleDid this help you?
- 41Attending networking events and mixers to explore career pathwaysDid this help you?
- 42Attending competency-based online universities like Western Governors University (WGU) to accelerate coursework and test out of classesDid this help you?
- 43Delaying further education until children are older or teenagersDid this help you?
- 44Evaluating whether employer tuition reimbursement and degree requirements justify the time commitmentDid this help you?
- 45banning late-night closing shifts on school nightsDid this help you?
- 46making up income differences if rules reduce a teen's working hoursDid this help you?
- 47Hiding the accepted job or upcoming interview commitments during the hiring processDid this help you?
- 48Trying to work part-time or juggling both positions simultaneouslyDid this help you?
- 49Negotiating hours or school-work load arrangements with employersDid this help you?
- 50Limiting the course load to only one or two classesDid this help you?
- 51Taking summer classes to stay on track for graduation without overwhelming the internship semesterDid this help you?
- 52Taking the semester off from school entirely to focus on the internshipDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“how tf do you even have time to pack their lunch, pick them up, take care of them while working. Leaving no time for yourself and your hobbies?”source ↗
“In the past four weeknights, I’ve only managed to study for an hour on Tuesday. I can’t seem to get into a rhythm. I keep thinking it’ll be okay if I take a break, lie down, and scroll on my phone for 30 minutes—but it never is.”source ↗
“I didn't do well on my first exam in Intermediate Accounting II, so I'm feeling really depressed and questioning what the hell am I doing.”source ↗
“I work full-time at Walmart to help my family (I live with my parents and younger siblings) and pay for school. Because of that, I'm only able to take online classes.”source ↗
“I think there's something wrong with me because I have very little energy on my days off and I feel like I'm dragging my feet doing my homework and preparing for quizzes.”source ↗
“I only have an associates degree in accounting and want to go back to school and get my bachelors. I have 3 children so my only option is online. What online school does everyone recommend? Obviously I want a good education, but also have to factor in the amount of time I have to give, which can be very limited.”source ↗
“Both parents come home exhausted, have no time for hobbies, and are perpetually cranky. They have little mental bandwidth left to address their kids’ behavior or academic success.”source ↗
“It was a nightmare for me as I had no family or friend support and child care is expensive and also unavailable at the worst times”source ↗
“I have talked extensively with Purdue Global. It seems to be one of the more intense programs. I’m not sure I could devote the time needed to do well there.”source ↗
“Unfortunately I only manage it by working a “reduced schedule.” Aka, I’m expected to work 44 hours a week with a 20% pay cut. And I still somehow end up working more hours than that.”source ↗
“I tried 1 busy season full time after having my first kid and it was miserable. I saw my son at dinner time and on Sundays.”source ↗
“I’m just not cool with how little I saw my kiddo.”source ↗
“I’m trying to get a new job before busy season comes around again because I’m just not finding public to be particularly conducive to being a parent.”source ↗
“once i’m through the door at home i’m cooked, doesn’t matter how firm my intentions were.”source ↗
“Hi guys, I have an upcoming 15 minute interview with a local PA firm. However, I accepted a job recently. Should I mention that or should I try and hide it and try to do both?”source ↗
“I’m only taking one class- ACCT 1A, and I’m wishing I could have four day weekends to fully learn the material & instill a solid foundation to properly keep building upon.”source ↗
“Now, it’s Sunday morning & I’m just staring at the homework like 😵💫 and looking at the time. I have only 12 hours until sleep then work tomorrow.”source ↗
“I tried working full time and going to school full time, and it was too exhausting.”source ↗
“I want to begin studying as soon as possible.”source ↗
“Ideally I pass all the knowledge parts before I start working full time.”source ↗
“I’m also a bit worried about how I’ll manage studying on top of transitioning to full time work”source ↗
“I’m also worried that by not pursuing it right away I would be wasting time because I’d eventually want to study for it anyway.”source ↗
“Started taking 9 credit hour prereqs to get into an MS in Accounting program while working 40 hours a week.”source ↗
“Just worried about stretching it out and costing more”source ↗
“Is taking Accounting Info Systems, Intermediate I and Income Tax I gonna be almost impossible online with fulltime work would you say?”source ↗
“Idk how you can manage in office timing for both. Up to you.”source ↗
“Your GPA will suffer, but this is doable.”source ↗
“I’m in the process of interviewing for a winter internship at a top 10 public accounting firm and was told interns aren’t allowed to take classes during the internship.”source ↗
“I took a full class load (12 credits plus internship) during my busy season internship, do not recommend at all if you can help it.”source ↗
“There is no better way to get students to become disinterested in accounting then to instantly hit them with 50-60 hour work weeks.”source ↗
“I'm relatively new to the profession and I do way too much work outside of my contract hours that seems to take forever. I can't imagine caring for a child in this position.”source ↗
“So I need to keep my job”source ↗
“I'm in an online grad program right now, and I'm feeling very overwhelmed between everything I need to do work and for school.”source ↗
“I feel like I never have time for hobbies, my bf, or my friends.”source ↗
“Would have to drive downtown to take night classes after teaching. Was not fun. Wednesday classes were until 9 pm. So 6 am to 10 I was on my feet.”source ↗
“I'm just not sure how you survive on that. How can any adult just not have a job? No way assistantships and scholarships are paying a living wage.”source ↗
“I’ve never heard of a PhD student who was allowed to have any job, especially not a full time job.”source ↗
“I applied for a fully paid scholarship to a local trade school.”source ↗
“I have 5 kids, a family dependent on me. I can’t afford to lose this job, but I also don’t want to skirt any opportunities to learn more.”source ↗
“he doesn’t believe I should enroll in schooling and believes it would be a hindrance to the schedule”source ↗
“Now between working 40-50 hours a week and having two kids whom are in sports and having hobbies and everything else idk that I have the time”source ↗
“I was in my 30s when I decided to finally finish my degree. I had a lot of experience, young kids, and little time... and WGU was great.”source ↗
“My concern is that late shifts, time on the phone, and her social life may be leaving too little room for sleep and schoolwork.”source ↗
“I told her she could keep working, but could no longer close on school nights. She’s upset and says she needs to work.”source ↗
“It was really hard for me in HS when my parents would try to enforce me doing what they wanted over what was necessary to keep my job.”source ↗
“I am considering the next stage in my career and am interested in pursuing a PhD (I already have a Master’s) but can’t afford to live off a graduate stipend.”source ↗
“I’m imagining a situation where I could work close to full time and study full time without putting in 80+ hour weeks because the content would be overlapping… is this a pipe dream!?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 9How to balance wedding planning with a full time job
- 2How to date when teaching leaves you with zero emotional energy
- 27How to balance a corporate career with having kids
- 40Why are teachers expected to be available 24/7?
- 22How to stop teaching from taking over your entire life
- 3How to raise a puppy when you work full time alone?