College is not just for kids anymore and if you are thinking about becoming one of those non-traditional students (anyone over 25), a good opportunity awaits to find out what several local colleges and universities have to offer.

The City of Danbury Education Fair will take place on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 11 am to 2 pm. at 235 Main St. in the lobby of the law offices of Ventura, Ribeiro & Smith. Parking is available in the city parking garage next to the Ice Arena. (Park in the garage and not in the parking lot of the building.)

College representatives will be on hand to share information on a wide array of undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as degree and certificate programs.

If you don’t yet have your bachelor’s degree, here is a reason to consider visiting the fair: The U.S. Census Bureau says that on average people who have earned a bachelor’s degree make almost $1 million more over a lifetime than those with only a high school diploma, and those with a master’s degree earn approximately $1.5 million more.

Western Connecticut State University, The University of Connecticut Stamford Campus, and the Naugatuck Valley Community College Danbury Center represent the three public colleges participating in this event.

Naugatuck Valley Community College, which has its main campus in Waterbury, offers both credit and non-credit courses at its Danbury Center. NVCC students can earn credits which may be applied toward a two-year associate degree or transferred to a four-year college. Western has two campuses in Danbury and offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in many subjects, as does the UConn campus located in downtown Stamford.

Four of the state’s private universities – Post University, Sacred Heart University, University of Bridgeport, and University of New Haven – will also be represented at the event.

I went back to college as an adult and found the experience exhilarating and satisfying. And in each class I learned things that I could apply to my job. I didn’t think too much about the age difference between myself and most of the rest of the students, who were closer to traditional college age.

Then one semester I had to take a computer course as a prerequisite and as the sign-up sheet went around the classroom, which was filled with 18-year-olds, the kid to my right handed it to me and said, “Here you go, sir.” As calmly as possible, I told him never to do that again.

If you can handle that, college is the right place to be, whether you are working to graduate for the first time or buffing up your skills with a master’s degree. And one of the institutions represented at the open house on Thursday is likely to be a perfect fit.

For more information, please contact Amy Amaru at (203) 695-1559 or Matthew Longcore at (203 )798-9378.