Online Education Is Typically More Affordable
When compared to traditional on-campus programs, online degrees are usually far cheaper to obtain. This can be attributed to a number of factors for one, online students dont use on-campus facilities, which lowers the amount of money the institution needs to spend on building and property maintenance and management. Similarly, if you enroll at a university or college that is entirely online, the institution does not need to pay support staff and personnel, which again saves money and lowers the tuition fees. Plus, students enrolled in online programs dont need to commute to school, which saves them even more money.
Additionally, in certain cases, online institutions save money by hiring part-time and/or less experienced professors. Forbes reported in 2018 that the American online college Arizona State University was able to save money and therefore charge lower tuition fees for students by hiring more adjunct or part time faculty who tend to be less costly to hire than tenure-track faculty to teach online courses.
How Will Potential Employers View An Online Degree On Your Resume
As technology becomes more central to our lives, employers are getting more open to online degrees at every level of study.
The institution and type of degree will be far more important than whether or not you earned it online. So, an online degree from an accredited school with a good reputation will get you as far as an equivalent on-campus degree would. And if you have several years of work experience under your belt, experience will come before education in employers eyes.
If youre in or looking to enter a field where hands-on experience is key, make sure to seek out this experience during your online course of studythrough fieldwork, practicums, residencies, a hybrid program, or something similar. Ask the college what opportunities they provide.
So Clearly College Is Not Making People Smarter Than When They Started
Reportedly, Many Students Never Really Studied. With 35 percent reporting less than 5 hours a week in study time.
In fact, 2.67 hours a day is all that is reported. However, there is Twice that time in shopping, eating, partying. Priorities seem off, but this is the reports.
Consistent increase in Adult illiteracy. Most College Grads fall below average in Cognitive Tasks. .
College Grads in the US test at or less than High School kids in several other Countries. Meaning High School kids from other countries are out testing our College Grads.
Top Universities are declining in their Academic Rigor. Seems it is more and more watered down. Raising the grades but not the outcomes.
College Classes get flimsier. Yet College GPA averages are over 3.0 averages. Grade Inflation Highest at Private Schools. More Students are Failing, but yet nobody fails.
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Are Online Degrees Respected By Employers
Although students might worry that their degree will be discounted because it was earned online, for many employers this is not the case. As long as the college awarding the degree was a legitimate one with proper accreditation, the degree is just as valid as one that may have been earned through traditional learning. In some professions, it is more important that the degree was obtained in a particular field than where it was earned.
There are instances in which an online degree is more attractive to potential employers than one that was earned in-seat. An employer may find it appealing to see that the student was able to manage a career and family while also earning an education. Excelling while earning an online degree shows a high level of commitment, intelligence and a strong work ethic. It also shows potential employers that the student is self-sufficient and able to work well without direct supervision.
It is important to remember that not all employers will look at online degrees in the same light. Some may have had bad experience with employees who used online diploma mills to earn an education. This is one reason a student might consider attending an online campus that is connected to a traditional, brick-and-mortar school. Employers might be more apt to hire an individual who has a degree that is backed up by a solid reputation whether or not it was earned online.
College Gives You The Opportunity To Build A Strong Network
Another benefit of college is that it gives you the opportunity to build a strong network.
Especially if you attend a pretty renowned university, you can get in touch with many students who have influential parents and who will also work in demanding management jobs sooner or later.
If you connect with those people and spend plenty of time together, chances are that you will also stay connected after you graduated and you will also have many different contacts to companies those people will work in afterward.
Therefore, through this strong network, you will also have much better chances to get a demanding job in one of those companies.
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What Will It Cost
Generally, online credits cost about as much as in-person credits, so this question shouldnt be difficult to answer. Because in-state residents typically get big tuition breaks, it might still be worth the cost and effort to cross state lines to establish residency in the state where youd like to enroll in a public online degree program.
Does A College Degree Matter
As weve stated throughout, the evolution of technology and the internet age has been rapid. As a result, there are careers and job positions that didnt exist as little as five years ago. So, how important is college?
- A study by the World Economic Forum exhibited this change in 2016 already. This means that by the time a student graduates college the world may have changed. And the problem with depending on a college degree is that, at some point, it may become irrelevant. Learning multiple things from different alternative methods of education can keep a person savvy and adaptable to new opportunities.
- A study by Georgetown University back in 2012 showed that degree holders werent immune to unemployment. With the rate then being as high as 8.9%, a figure thats sure to have risen as a result of the financial difficulties that accompanied the 2020 pandemic.
Ultimately, its up to every individual to decide what is right for them and what path they want to follow to get there. College is not for everyone and that is perfectly acceptable. It is up to you to decide if college is not worth it. Choosing an alternative means of getting an education that suits you is smart and financially beneficial. College should not be thought of as an experience to be had or missed. Rather it should be considered as a possibility. Hopefully, in time, high schools can begin to teach students about other opportunities that could be considered for their futures as well.
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College Degree Vs No College Degree Statistics
If we were to compare the statistics, the college degree holders are winning over non-college degree holders in every aspect. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, college degree workers earn on average $468 more per week than non-college degree workers who have high school diplomas.
Another Research concluded that those with higher education consider their job as something more than a job, they perceive it as something that is part of their identity. Their statistics show that this is how 77% of post-graduate workers and 60% of workers with a bachelors degree feel, compared to the 38% of those who have a high school diploma or less=. They further investigated how they perceived their work, and as expected, 70% of those who have college degrees saw their job as a career, which is much more than 39% of workers with no college degree.
Additionally, they claim that highly educated workers are among those most satisfied with their jobs: higher education means higher paychecks and 59% of those with an annual family income of $75,000 or more say theyre very satisfied with their current job, compared with 45% of those making $30,000 to $74,999 and 39% of those making less than $30,000.
Another statistic that speaks in favor of gaining a college degree comes from the Lumina Foundation report which confirms that those with a bachelors degree are more likely to have a bank account, 9.4 times more likely, compared to those with just a high school diploma.
Can I Transfer My College Credits
The courses you can successfully transfer depends on where youre transferring from, and what school youre transferring to.
We cant speak for other online or traditional universities the best we can do is tell you how WGU handles transfer credits as an example of what youre likely to find. Heres how transfer credits work at WGU.
When transferring TO WGU.
If youre coming into WGU from another institution, its very likely you will have some undergraduate credits that will transfer. From AP credits, concurrent-enrollment courses, junior college credit, and more, there are many options for how to get credit to transfer. Because there are so many options, its valuable to talk to an enrollment counselor to get it all squared away.
While graduate students will also need to submit transcripts as proof of earning their bachelors degree, actual graduate course credit does not transfer to WGU.
When transferring FROM WGU.
WGU is regionally accredited with the NWCCU, which is good news for anyone who wants to earn some credits with us then transfer them to another school with relative ease. That said, each college or university sets their own criteria, so they have the final say on what transfers and what doesnt. Be sure to check their transfer policies for specifics, but very likely the process will be similar to transferring in to WGU.
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Taking Top Tier Courses On Your Own Time
More and more, the concept of obtaining an excellent education through an online university is becoming the norm. With so many of you out there needing to attend to routines that take up most of your time, opting for a schooling system that allows you to take top tier courses according to your own schedule is the perfect answer.
Higher Earnings Better Quality Of Life
In 2015, college graduates earned 56% more than high school graduatesthe largest difference to date. The disparity goes beyond just money a college degree is changing Americans prospects for everything from home-ownership to voting to geographic mobility to retirement.
The effects of a college education spill into quality of life, income, and even success in marriage.
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You Can Choose From A Variety Of Different Courses
College education also offers you the opportunity to try yourself out in various different fields.
For instance, when you start college as a freshman, you may not exactly know what you want to study and what you want to do with your life.
However, by taking many different courses, you may soon be able to realize what is really interesting to you. In turn, you may also be better able to decide what major you want to take.
Is College Worth The Debt
We know that a good college degree is a solid path to avoiding unemployment, but attending college is in no way an easy undertaking.
The average tuition for higher education is not affordable for many people. Almost half of all college students drop out before completing their degrees.
The average cost of tuition is more than twice what it was in 1986, and many people incur significant debt in order to attend.
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You Can Meet Many New People
Since you will have many different courses in college, you can also meet many new people over time.
In the long run, you can also make really good friends and you will stay connected with many of them over the course of many years or even for a lifetime.
Hence, if you are a person who loves to connect and to talk to other people, college can also give you a great opportunity to do so.
Quality Of Education Greatly Varies Across Colleges
Another disadvantage of college education is that the quality of education greatly varies across colleges.
In fact, while some institutions like Harvard or Princeton offer world-class education, many community colleges only offer rather limited educational quality and degrees from those colleges may therefore not have too much value.
Hence, if you really want to go to college, make sure that you choose a good university that really is worth the large amounts of money you have to spend on it.
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Unaccredited Programs Offer Little Value
While the prospective student should not overestimate the risks associated with borrowing to cover the cost of a for-profit degree program or decline to pursue a postsecondary credential due solely to concern over the future possibility of default, they should absolutely be clear-eyed about the financial risks of a degree that doesnt serve them well. The Brookings study found that nearly half of students graduating from for-profit institutions in 2004 subsequently defaulted on their loans.
This sky-high default rate is partially attributable to the fact that some for-profit institutions are unaccredited diploma mills that offer only the thinnest pretense of quality education. They exist to confer degrees for the sake of conferring degrees degrees worth little more than the paper theyre printed on.
Many employers simply wont consider job applicants wielding degrees from unaccredited institutions. Before enrolling in any online degree program, for-profit or otherwise, confirm that its accredited by a reputable organization vetted by the U.S. Department of Education.
Which Degree Programs Can You Complete Online
Good news. Online degree programs are growing faster than traditional degree programs, and more colleges and universities are getting on board. Youre most likely to find an online coursework option at a two-year college or a public four-year college, where about 90 percent of institutions offer online courses.
Chances are whether you want an associates, bachelors, masters, or professional degree, you can find an online program matching your field of study.
Two types of schools offer online degrees. One type is an online-only college such as the University of Phoenix. Another type is a college with a physical campus which includes online education programs.
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Pros Of Online Courses
Online college courses and degree programs have multiple appealing advantages. Notably, theyre much more flexible and convenient for working students and students at nonresidential institutions. They can also be less expensive than in-person education, and they can increase technological competency in students with less tech experience.
You Can Assess The Value Of Certain Colleges
Fortunately, there are online tools you can use to weigh the costs and benefits to various programs across various institutions. For example, you can consult websites like BestValueSchools.org, which outline the accreditations of several colleges, as well as the fees each one charges and the programs offered.
Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue an online college degree is an important decision that will greatly affect your life. While the costs associated with online education are typically far lower than traditional on-campus education, it is still a costly investment to make. This is why its essential to inform yourself of your options as well as which colleges offer the best value so you can ensure you make the best decision for yourself and your future.
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So Is College Worth It
People who argue that college is worth it say that college graduates have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates. They say college graduates also have better interpersonal skills, live longer, have healthier children, and have proven their ability to achieve a major milestone. College is more than worth
Not Feasible For All Subjects
Ultimately, there are some subject areas that arent particularly well suited to online learning at the moment. Although you can learn some of the fundamentals and key principles of just about any subject online, many of the more technical and specialist roles involve some level of hands-on experience.
An example is this group of veterinary students who recently returned to university education. The practical side of their study is essential to becoming full-fledged professionals.
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How Can I Tell If A Degree Program Is High
This will require a bit of research and legwork on your part, but if you take the time to do your homework, you’ll be able to sort out the high-quality online degree programs from the pack. While there are a number of factors that affect quality, some of which you will be best off discussing with an admissions representative for the individual institution, there are some key things to look for when assessing your options. These include:
- Small class sizes, or low teacher-to-student ratios
- Faculty with real-world, industry experience in the subjects they’re teaching
- Non-profit status
- Student support options, including dedicated academic advisors, financial aid officers, career services advisors, and academic support resources
- Programs with positive career outcomes
- Testimonials from real students – or reviews online
Lower Risk To Slide Into Poverty
College graduates also have a significantly lower risk to get into poverty.
This is due to the fact that the salaries of people with college degrees are much higher and also due to lower unemployment rates.
Both factors are closely connected to poverty and therefore, getting a college degree may also minimize your risk to slide into poverty.
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