What’s it Like to Earn a Degree Online?

No matter your academic interest or level of study, there’s a good chance you can find an accredited online program that meets your needs. You can earn everything from an associate degree to a four-year degree, to a graduate degree and beyond. You can also study to obtain endorsements and licensures relevant to your profession. Academically, there’s almost no subject that can’t be taught at least partially through an online interface. Programs can even offer numerous specializations within a course of study.

According to Forbes, the average college student has $37,172 in debt. Anything you can do to lower this amount helps. Fortunately, online degrees are often more financially reasonable than their traditional counterparts. In addition to pricey tuition, campus programs often require expenses related to housing, food, parking, facility use, and a host of other amenities. Online programs forego many of these. Additionally, online programs allow you to continue working while you attend school.

Gone are the days of online education stigma. Today, earning a degree online means you’ll have a real opportunity to gain the skills employers value and put them to work right away. Earning your degree online doesn’t just allow you to study high-opportunity job fields. It enables you to immediately apply your new skills to your work and increase your effectiveness as a professional.

Online learning is wonderfully convenient. You can log on and learn any time, day or night, and can attend class from anywhere you have internet access. And you can work at a pace that’s right for you. Having the ability to customize every aspect of your program means the ability to craft the kind of learning experience you want, and keep work and life commitments balanced in the process.

College degrees increase your earning potential. According to the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn about $32,000 more per year than peers who only have a high school diploma. When you earn your bachelor’s degree, you are also poised to make more money throughout your career. Additionally, you are 47% more likely to have health insurance through your job and are half as likely to be unemployed.

If you become an online student, you can usually transfer any academic credit you’ve earned through a community college or two-year degree program. Not only does this cut down on expenses, it enables you as a working adult to get the degree you need in a shorter amount of time, allowing you to back to the workforce and professionally advance at a quicker pace.

Colleges and universities are known for the relationships students build during their attendance. Although you may not meet your fellow students face-to-face, there’s no shortage of meaningful interactions between peers in a digital classroom. Instructors with years of real-world experience are there to mentor you and improve your understanding of course materials. And your program ensures you’ll be in constant communication with others through emails, forums, live chats, and other methods. When it comes to community building, online students truly don’t sacrifice anything.

All online students have different time needs. Some students can progress quickly through course materials. Others go slower, or need additional academic support. They may need to put school on hold for a semester or study double-time to meet a deadline for their job. Whatever your time requirements, online degrees give you the option of moving through your program exactly in the way that works best for you.

Technology is in a constant state of evolution. As an online student, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills along with it. Whether it’s navigating basic programs or honing advanced skills, online programs enable you to navigate learning management systems to build skills that transfer to many careers and industries.

To succeed in an online degree program, you must be a self-directed individual who works well independently. You must be able to effectively schedule their study time, meet deadlines, initiate conversations with your instructors and peers, and keep yourself on a long-term plan toward graduation. Earning a college degree is not a casual process. Therefore, you’ll learn an extraordinary amount of self-discipline and fortitude, which will serve you well throughout your life.

Critical thinking involves having the ability to think clearly, rationally, and with an open mind. When you have excellent critical-thinking skills, you can help employers better solve problems and make sound decisions.

Communication involves writing, speaking, and presenting ideas effectively. When you are an effective communicator, you can present yourself and represent your employer in the best light possible. Communication skills also improve interactions with fellow employees and clients.

Time management is the ability to understand how long tasks take and how to best utilize time available to complete projects. If you possess excellent time management skills, you increase your marketability in the workforce and can help companies complete projects quickly, efficiently, and realistically.

The ability to work in teams means understanding how to delegate, compromise, and collaborate with others to achieve common goals. If you are good at working in teams, you are better able to help employers synergize their workplace.

Organizational skills mean the ability to systemize, prioritize, and otherwise take independent parts of a system and integrate them into a whole. This skill enables you to stay on track with your work and help others in your workplace do the same.

When someone has effective research skills, they can find a variety of credible sources of information about a topic. This ability is necessary for any position that requires gathering knowledge.

Those who have a strong work ethic are able to prioritize and don’t quit. Successful online students are excellent at these things. So are successful employees.