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Higher education is no longer a man's world. In December 2011, The New York Times reported that the percentage of women enrolled in colleges and universities now exceeds the number that are in the labor force. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 11.7 million women were enrolled in degree-granting institutions in 2009, compared to only 8.8 million men.

Though the wage gap is still present, with women earning 80 cents to the dollar in 2011 according to the U.S. Department of Labor, women are dominating the halls of academia. Kristie Velasco, coordinator of the Media Management MBA Program at Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), speaks of the trend from the inside. "In our experience, [women who return to school instead of men] are more willing to sacrifice today and take on the additional challenge of balancing family financial and education obligations needed to advance their education in an effort to advance in the workforce tomorrow," she says.

A 2011 survey by the Pew Research Center found that more women than men see the value of higher education in the U.S., with 77 percent of survey respondents claiming that a college education is necessary for a woman to get ahead in life. With startling statistics like that, it's no wonder enrollments are on the rise.

Find your passion and build your toolbox

Dr. Robyn Odegaard left the workforce, sold her house and went to college for the first time at 32 to pursue her passion. "Younger generation women feel a stronger need to be able to stand on their own," says Odegaard, the owner of Champion Performance Development, a speaking and consulting business.

Though the desire to stand on your own is a good starting point, you might need a little help getting propped up during finals week. That's where your "toolbox" comes into play. Resources like sanity guide for student moms, for example, offer smart ideas on how to balance work and life. Another powerful tool can come from the school itself: if you've already started a career and have years of work experience behind you, schools like MCNY offer life experience credit, giving working women a chance to complete their requirements in a shorter time and draw upon knowledge gained through practical field experience. "No matter what your education level, you have to make yourself noticed to get ahead," Dr. Odegaard advises.

The must-answer questions

Dr. Odegaard suggests women find their motivation and start to form a concrete plan by answering five simple questions:

1. What do you hope to gain?
2. Is it legitimate to think that more education is going to get you there?
3. What research have you done for the job/career you want?
4. What are the opportunity costs of going back to school (lost wages, time away from family, putting off having a family, etc)?
5. Will you be in the workforce long enough to make it worth it?

You don't need to have all the answers in order to be a good student, but narrowing your focus to the five points above can help you hone your reasons for returning to education.

Get smart about heading back to school

If you're thinking of joining the trend and heading back to school, start by doing your homework. Returning to school as an adult student is hard enough, but women -- particularly working moms and those with other family responsibilities -- can find it particularly challenging to make the transition. Consider the following tips before you make the commitment to higher education:

1. Seek out aid: Financial aid resources like the FAFSA are essential money-saving tools, but you shouldn't stop there. Talk to your school's financial aid department about scholarships and higher education funding for women.
2. Build a community: Look for study groups and women's organizations that offer a sense of belonging while you're a student.
3. Make a plan: Create a budget and organize your childcare resources before you sign your first tuition check.

In the end, heading back to school often means more for women than simply being a part of a current trend; it's the act of making a better future for yourself and your family. "My decision had a huge dose of passion and I'm thrilled I made it," Dr. Odegaard confirms.

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• 5 time management tips for working students