How to balance career, family, and school through online learning

For parents, family will always come first. But raising a family doesn’t mean you have to put your ambitions on hold. A flexible online degree program lets you invest in yourself and your career while staying present at home, learning at your own pace, and working toward your goals on a schedule that fits your life. That’s one of the biggest benefits of online learning for adults — the freedom to learn without putting life on pause.

Five students share their experiences

We spoke with five students* (and parents!) from The Ohio State University who have learned firsthand how to balance career and personal life with education, and discovered why online learning can be a better fit for many working adults. Though it may not always be easy, these students share how they persevere, why it’s worth it to them, and how it feels to have their children watch them succeed.

Q: Tell us a little about your family.

Catie (Working Professional MBA, online): I have one child who is 13 – she was 10 when I started the program. 

Precious (Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, online): I have 5 kids. Their ages are 13, 12, 6, 5, 5 (the 5-year-olds are twins). 

Todd (Master of Healthcare Innovation, online): When I started the MHI program, my oldest was 5 and my youngest was about 4 weeks old. Now they are 9 and 4. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wife and the understanding of my professors and classmates. There were many times I attended classes holding my newborn son or was interrupted in group meetings by “dad duty.” 

Elena (Master of Learning Technologies, online): I have a son named Luka who is two years old, and I have a fur baby (golden retriever) named Layla. My husband, Andrew, is also a student at The Ohio State University. 

Andrew (Bachelor of Integrated Science Education, on campus): We [Andrew and Elena] have a two-and-a-half-year-old son named Luka. He is smart, hilarious, and loves all things sports. 

 There were many times I attended classes holding my newborn son or was interrupted in group meetings by “dad-duty.”

Q: Why did you decide to pursue an online degree program?

Precious: For years, I wanted to continue my education beyond my associate degree and pursue my bachelor’s and possibly a master’s. However, with the busy lifestyle I had as a mother, wife, and full-time employee, it was nearly impossible to pursue a degree on campus. I decided I would wait until all my kids were in school, then go back and pursue a degree. As time went on, online degree programs started to become an option. This is what motivated and allowed me to pursue my bachelor’s online. It allows me to still do my duties as a mother, wife, and full-time employee while working toward my degree. 

Elena: I am a full-time middle school PE teacher, soccer coach, MS athletic director, and parent to a toddler. My husband and I are on different schedules, so I solo-parent most of the week. I would not be able to take my courses in person while still juggling my day-to-day requirements [without the online degree option]. 

Q: Are you working while pursuing your degree?

Catie: Yes, I am working full-time at Ohio State in human resources. 

Precious: Yes, I am currently working while earning my degree. I am a program coordinator for the Department of Cancer Registry at an institution called MD Anderson Cancer Center. 

Todd: I worked throughout my time in the [Master of Healthcare Innovation] program. Prior to graduating, I was the clinical manager for rehabilitation at a Level 2 trauma hospital, working 40+ hours a week. Since graduating, I’ve moved on to a role as the director of clinical registry solutions for the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. 

Elena: Yes. I am a middle school physical education teacher with Columbus City Schools, working 40 hours per week. I am also the soccer coach at my school (World Language Middle School), dedicating anywhere from 8–15 hours per week to coaching. 

Andrew: I work as the director of hospitality (general manager) for Watershed Kitchen + Bar. My average work week is 40–50+ hours. 

Q: What does a typical day or week look like for you?

Precious: I usually drop the kids off at school, then work my 8-hour shift, pick the kids up after school, help with homework, attend sports practice, cook and eat dinner, manage bath time, put the kids to bed, and then log in to Carmen to do my assignments before bedtime. Then I do it all over again the next day. I would say the best way to manage time for both schoolwork and family is to have a schedule and routine. 

Catie: I work 8–5, balancing school and activities for my child, and attending classes. I remarried right before starting the program, and my spouse helps me juggle everything. 

Todd: When I was a student, I used my lunch hour at work to do some sort of learning — typically reading, watching lectures, or working on projects. Otherwise, I was in synchronous classes for about three hours each week. I tried to preserve my time with my kids as much as possible and utilized nap times and time after bedtime for schoolwork. 

Q: What has been the hardest part of balancing school and family life?

Todd: The hardest part was getting started. Initially, I thought I had a handle on all of my assignments and work, but I missed a deadline early in my first semester. This felt like a huge let-down, having to rush to get the assignment done in a single day, submitting it a day after it was due in the late hours of the night. I started to question whether I could manage school, work, and a family, but after submitting the assignment and moving on, I regrouped and made a better plan for how to handle my workload week by week and month by month. 

Andrew: Not having quality time with my family is draining, especially with the added stress of work and school. That is the main reason I decided to switch careers. I handle it by trying to make sure that any free time we have together is used to the fullest. Sundays have become sacred to our family, and we do everything in our power to make them count. 

Elena: The hardest part is always having to think one step ahead. I have to always be in preparation mode so that I don’t get behind. I want to make sure my son is at the top of my priority list, even though I have so many other responsibilities. I like to keep a bag, swim clothes, etc., in the car so that when I pick him up from daycare, I can still have special and fun moments with him. 

Q: Has the program faculty been supportive of your needs as a parent?

The faculty emphasized the importance of managing our workload and priorities our way, and that there was no one “right” way to be an MHI student. 

Todd: The [Master of Healthcare Innovation] faculty were immensely helpful in supporting every student’s life outside of school. Many of the students in the class were parents, and you would often see kids enter the screen to ask a question during class, or see a student walk off camera and come back holding a baby. The faculty emphasized the importance of managing our workload and priorities our way, and that there was no one “right” way to be an MHI student. 

Catie: The majority of the [Working Professional MBA] faculty acknowledged that most students are working full time and juggling families, and they were extremely understanding. They had flexibility with attendance requirements and never had issues with babies making appearances during Zoom classes or students logging in from different locations.

Q: What has been the most rewarding part?

The light at the end of the tunnel – the prospect of a new career, better work-life balance, and more time with my wife and son – is very exciting.

Todd: Taking my then 7-year-old son to my graduation to show him the reward of all my hard work. I treasure the pictures I took with him on campus more than the pictures from my previous two traditional graduations. 

Precious: Good grades and gaining more knowledge. I really doubted myself because it had been so long since the last time I was in school. 

Andrew: Just being back at school has been rewarding. I went to Ohio State right out of high school and really struggled with the transition to college. I beat myself up for a lot of years for not succeeding in college as an initial undergrad, so being able to complete what I started has meant the world to me. The light at the end of the tunnel – the prospect of a new career, better work-life balance, and more time with my wife and son – is very exciting. 

Q: What does earning your degree mean to you as a parent?

I think it is important to teach our kids that nothing is permanent, and you can always change your life for the better

Catie: It helps enforce lifelong learning with my daughter — my dad always said to try to learn one new thing every day, and I say the same to my daughter. 

Precious: It means that I didn’t give up and that I can show my kids that anything is possible when they don’t give up and put their mind to it. It also means I can provide a better life for them. 

Andrew: I think showing my son that you can always change the path that you’re on is very important. Not every decision you make in life is going to move your needle in the right direction for you or your family. I think it is important to teach our kids that nothing is permanent, and you can always change your life for the better. It might require some really hard work, but that just means it’s worth it. 

Q: What advice would you give to other students who are parents?

Online education allows you to continue the busy lifestyle of a parent while also pursuing your degree and furthering your education.

Catie: Know your limits. Don’t feel like you have to push yourself. Take a lighter course load or even take a semester off if you need it. 

Todd: Take an honest inventory of your time, think outside the box about how to get it done, and then commit to starting, knowing that you are going to have to be flexible because things won’t go exactly according to plan. 

Andrew: If you are at all questioning going back to get your education or a different education, I say go for it. Start small with a few classes so you can understand the demand it will have on your life outside of coursework. Try to find asynchronous courses in the beginning that fit your schedule. Also, understand that it may take longer to finish your degree or program than “normal.” The goal is the degree, not the race to finish it. I have found that returning to school as an adult and a parent has made learning so much more important and impactful to me now that I am at an age to appreciate it. 

Precious: Just do it! You have nothing to lose, and I’m quite confident you won’t regret it. Online education allows you to continue the busy lifestyle of a parent while also pursuing your degree and furthering your education. 

A degree that fits your life

Balancing family, career, and school is no small feat, but it can bring incredible rewards and fulfillment. Ohio State’s flexible online degree programs put your goals within reach, and with the guidance of our dedicated student support team, faculty, and fellow students, you’ll have a community behind you every step of the way.

*Interviews have been lightly edited for length and clarity.