After a few years of a sluggish economy and slow hiring, things are looking up for college graduates.

According to a study done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers expect to hire 14 percent more college graduates this year than in the previous year. That means salaries will also be higher.

“It’s the best [college job market] in four years,” Andrea Koncz at NACE was quoted as saying in a recent USA Today article. “With the economy improving, there is more demand for college grads.”

Even those who are not college graduates can take advantage of the increase in hiring. The number of accelerated training and degree programs means that you could literally enroll in a program today, and be a college graduate in a year. As long as the economy continues to improve, hiring will increase. That leads to stronger starting salaries and more job choices for college graduates.

If you are not currently a college graduate, now is a great time to consider a degree program or a career training program.

Whether you’re a part-time student, an adult student or a transfer student, according to your university, you are a “non-traditional student.” This doesn?t mean you?ll be wearing the scarlet letter A. You will hardly be alone. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and the University Continuing Education Association, the fastest-growing group of people who are taking college courses are working adults 25 and older who are raising a family.

Sometimes it?s not as easy to make the transition back to school if you are older or a single mother, but there are plenty of others doing the same thing and succeeding.

Here are a few things that academically successful, non-traditional students understand:

• Time is of the essence
  All categories of non-traditional students understand one thing: In order to get their degrees, they cannot afford to waste money, and more so, precious time. Counseling is crucial. Set an appointment with the advising department at the college of your choice and come prepared to discuss what interests you at length.
• Attend free workshops schools offer
  Take advantage of these whenever possible. You will need every advantage once you return to school. Don?t be afraid to look into your local schedule and see what the academic staff is offering.
• Be prepared for a major life change
  Make sure you and your family understand the adjustments that may need to be made. Trying to balance your family, work and school can be overwhelming; be prepared for any situation by discussing what may change and how to handle it.
• Consider buying a laptop
  Yes, it?s an extra cost. But the return on your investment for the convenience and organization that laptops offer can pay for itself in the long run. Having one of these can give you a chance to study anywhere, anytime, and improve your grades and lesson retention. Check and see if your school also features a student discount rate with local or national vendors.
• Remember that organization is vital
  Keeping on top of your academic schedule is absolutely important. A good way to do this is seek out at least three classroom peers and swap phone numbers and e-mail addresses. That way, if you miss a day, you can get study plans and important lecture points from them.
• Plan ahead for financial aid
  A financial aid office can be as busy the first week back to campus as the streets of New York City at rush hour. Don?t fall into the waiting trap, and be prepared. Contact your financial aid office early, even before you have picked your classes out. Also, as a non-traditional student, don?t be afraid to seek out alternative sources of financial help. Every little bit helps.

Higher education can open up a lot of opportunities for you ? and it?s important to put yourself in the best possible position to take advantage of them! One of the best ways to do this is to pay close attention to your budget and make sure you?re living within your means. Many students find, upon enrolling in a higher education institution, that they receive a number of credit card offers. While a credit card can be a useful tool to charge your books or just grab coffee or a meal in between classes, it?s important to really pay attention to how often you use it and for what purposes.

A few tips to using credit cards:

• Use it for things you can afford!
  Remember, anything you put on a credit card, you do have to pay back! The best way to use a credit card is for the little things that you would be buying anyway ? not for buying something that?s so expensive you wouldn?t be able to afford it if you started saving for a few months.
• Pay the balance off each month
  While it can be tempting to just pay the minimum fee and let the rest sit, every time you do that ? you?re losing money. And while the interest might be only a few dollars each month, why pay what you don?t have to?
• Always pay on time
  Not only are late fees expensive, paying late can really affect your credit history ? and your chance of getting a great loan in the future. Not only will paying on time save you money now, it?ll also save you money later if you plan to finance a car or house!

With these tips in mind, you can make credit cards work for you ? instead of you working for the credit card company!

In their quest for higher education and training, students sometimes encounter ?diploma mills??dubious providers of educational offerings or operations that offer certificates and degrees that are considered bogus.

Diploma mills mislead students into thinking they?re gaining a valuable education. In the U.S., degrees and certificates from diploma mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school.

There is no single definition of diploma mills in higher education. While a few states have laws or regulations regarding these operations, most do not. Many diploma mills would not pass a review of an accrediting organization.

Identifying diploma mills is not easy. A number of the features of diploma mills are similar to familiar higher education institutions. However, prospective students can look for several indicators that suggest an operation may be a diploma mill.

Here are a series of questions you can ask to determine whether a school you?re considering is a diploma mill. If the answer to a majority of the questions below is yes, you should take this as highly suggestive that you may be dealing with a diploma mill:

• Can degrees be purchased?
• Is there a claim of accreditation when there is no evidence of this status?
• Does the operation lack a state or federal license to operate?
• Is little, if any, attendance and are few assignments required of students?
• Is a very short period of time required to earn a degree?
• Are degrees available based solely on experience or resumé review?
• Does the operation charge very high fees as compared to average fees charged by higher education institutions?
• On the other hand, is the fee so low that it does not appear to be related to a legitimate education?
• Does the operation avoid providing any information about a campus or business location?
• Does the operation avoid providing a list of its faculty members and their qualifications?

The instructor-student relationship is very important. How well students get along with their instructors, how well students understand the lessons their instructors are trying to impart and how well instructors understand the needs of their students is essential, especially at the career college level.

Some people may have the misconception that career college instructors don?t care as much about their students as professors at four-year universities do. There is also a misconception that career college instructors are not as open to communication from their students as four-year college professors are. This is partly because most four-year professors consider teaching their only career while career college instructors are often active experts in their field.

These misconceptions are inaccurate. Career college instructors care a great deal about their students? growth and education. Here are some tips on how to have a good relationship with your instructors.

First, always feel free to ask questions, be it before, during or after class. Certainly keep in mind that your instructor may have somewhere to go after class, so be reasonable. But never feel afraid or intimidated to ask questions. You are paying to learn. If you don?t understand a concept, ask that it be explained further.

Second, ask if your instructors offer an easy way to contact them outside of class. Many teachers put their home or cell phone numbers or their e-mail addresses on their syllabus. If your teachers have not done so, ask them if there is a good way to talk to them if you need help between classes.

Third, treat your instructors with respect and participate in their classes. Sit toward the front of the class. Don?t speak while they are speaking. Answer their questions if they pose questions to the class. Stay alert ? don?t slump in your seat or doze off. If you give respect to and communicate with your teachers, they will likely do the same for you.

Remember ? great communicators are often great listeners and vice versa. If you show your instructor respect they will usually show you the same respect.

For years, the Associate degree has been looked upon as the starting point for higher education. Most people who complete their Associate degree at a community college transfer to a four-year college or university. But there are many high-paying jobs available to Associate-degree holders.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has ranked the following careers as the highest-paying jobs typically held by those with Associate degrees.

Computer Specialist ? $59,480
Computer specialists perform tasks ranging from managing network security to providing technical support to help-desk consulting. Career opportunities are expected to increase by 19 percent through 2014.

Nuclear Technician ? $59,200
Nuclear technicians will probably experience a 14 percent growth in job opportunities over the next eight years. Nuclear technicians are needed to monitor radiation levels and operate nuclear test and research equipment.

Dental Hygienist ? $58,350
Now that dental hygiene has taken a front seat in personal grooming, dental hygienists are in high demand. Aside from a 43 percent growth in job opportunities, they also enjoy high salaries. Dental hygienists assist with routine dental services, such as teeth cleanings and X-rays.

Radiation Therapist ? $57,700
Cancer and tumor patients interact with radiation therapists on a regular basis. Radiation therapists are responsible for administering radiation therapy to cancer patients. Increases in the number of cancer patients should fuel the 26 percent projected growth over the next eight years.

Nuclear Medicine Technologist ? $55,840
Organ monitoring tests that require radioactive materials are generally administered by nuclear medicine technologists. This field is expected to grow by more than 21 percent through 2014.