If you’re researching college options and exploring online degree programs, then you already know that college is important. Nearly two-thirds of tomorrow’s jobs will be reserved for college graduates or for trained professionals with credentials beyond a high school diploma.[i] According to average salary reports, most of these graduates will also be going home with bigger paychecks – they’re already earning $5,000 to $15,000 more, each year, than their high-school educated peers.[ii]
Unfortunately, reclaiming your piece of the pie – by going to college or completing career training – is easier said than done. For working adults, busy parents, single moms and dads, it’s almost impossible to imagine setting aside more time, money, and motivation. In all of these categories, your resources are tapped.
That’s why e-learning is a truly revolutionary answer for millions of Americans. Yes, millions. In 2012, over seven million students were enrolled in at least one online course.[iii] Why should you be the next to join them? Consider the following value-based reasons:
E-learning is Offered in a Variety of Flexible Formats
You may be able to choose the times you study, the pace you progress at, and even skip courses that cover material you already know.In addition to its at-home study appeal, e-learning is convenient for anyone with a hectic schedule. Most online courses are designed to be “asynchronous.” Students are not required to attend class, answer questions, or take tests, at any specific time of day. This is probably the most well-known perk of online education.
Many online colleges also offer accelerated and/or self-paced program options. If you think you need more or less time to complete the number of required courses, these options can help you design a personalized timeframe. Accelerated options may be ideal for students with clear goals and career direction. Accelerated study may also be beneficial to students who qualify for employer tuition assistance, since it potentially reduces the amount of time they would be obligated to their current employers.
Finally, schools like Western Governors University offer flexibility in the form of “competency-based” online degrees. Why should you sit through a fifteen-week math course, if you’re confident you can ace the final right now? More importantly, why should you pay for all that extra instruction? At WGU and similar online colleges, you may be allowed to take competency-based exams whenever you decide, effectively moving on to the next level as soon as you are ready.
E-learning is Often Career-Focused
You don’t waste time and money trying to connect the dots between your education and your employment path.Traditional colleges aim to produce well-rounded citizens and critical thinkers. This isn’t a bad goal, but the ideal is sometimes lost on traditional college graduates, who find themselves struggling in a concrete workforce. It’s true that liberal arts and certain soft-science majors are versatile. Still, “versatility expert” is not a job title.
Most adult students view college completion as a career asset. The average online student wants to prepare for a new a role, a new industry, or maximize her contributions in her current position. Online colleges understand this important difference. And they design courses based on relevant, market-driven topics.
Not sure what you want to be when you grow up? You can still find online degrees with broad-based foundations in the humanities and liberal arts. Online degrees in psychology, communications, English, sociology, and even undergraduate business degrees often involve culturally-enriching electives. Better yet, the online versions of these degrees are often taught by industry professionals – instructors who can help you turn your academic interests into tangible career goals.
E-learning Gives you Access to Big Names Schools
Did you ever dream of attending a powerhouse college – a school with athletic teams that compete in national tournaments or whose researchers are mentioned on the six-o’clock news? Thanks to e-learning and a growing number of online degree programs, your college options may include some well-known institutions.
Most likely you’ve heard of the University of Massachusetts, Boston University, USC, Arizona State University, Georgetown, Drexel, George Mason, Gonzaga, Purdue… When you search for online degrees through eLearners.com, you’ll soon discover you can access some of higher education’s biggest name brands without relocating – or without even getting in your car!
All told, today’s online degrees are valued for more than just convenience. When you request information from specific colleges, you may discover even more reasons to love e-learning options. Start your search today!
[i]georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/HelpWanted.ExecutiveSummary.pdf
[ii]bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm/
[iii]onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/gradechange.pdf