Number one, and the most obvious advantage to education is Money, but it could be getting that job you have always wanted. Our daughter wanted to be a teacher and recently she earned her Masters Degree, online in teaching. Not only did she get the job she wanted, her pay was a lot higher than if she had not pursued her Masters. The average increase in pay for a Masters Degree from a Bachelors Degree is $7,000 - $15,000 per year for teaching, multiple that by the number of years she will be teaching, and you can easily see the benefits of online schooling. Statistics show that a person with a Masters Degree earns $31,900 more per year on average than a high school graduate, that is a difference of about 105%!
Average Annual Earnings for College Graduates and Non-Graduates:
Professional Degree $109,600 per year
Doctoral Degree $89,400
Masters Degree $62,300
Bachelors Degree $52,200
Associate Degree $38,200
Some College $36,800
High School Graduate $30,400
Some High School $23,400
Average Annual Earnings-Different Levels of Education. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys, March 1998, 1999, and 2000.
As you can plainly see, a person with a Bachelors Degree will earn, just about twice as much as workers with a high school diploma over a lifetime ($2.1 million compared to $1.2 million).
Workers-Life Earnings for Full-Time Employees, Including College Graduates and Non-Grads: (In $ Millions)
Professional Degree $4.4 million
Doctoral Degree $3.4
Master Degree $2.5
Bachelor Degree $2.1
Associate Degree $1.6
Some College $1.5
High School Graduate $1.2
Some High School $1.0
Average Lifetime Earnings-Different Levels of Education. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys, March 1998, 1999, and 2000.
So, how do you get from here to Master? There are numerous ways, but the first step is that you need to get started.
You can go to any online schooling educational portal, or a college of your choice, and do a search for online classes in the career field you are interest you.
We suggest that you contact at least three schools, because, they will each have different criteria and programs. When the counselor calls you about enrolling, listen to what they have to say, and if they don't answer these basic questions then ask, where classes are held, if they're completely online or on campus and online? If you are not sure of the field of study you should be in, ask if the school offers career testing, this will narrow down what area of study you should concentrate in. Also, ask about financing, see what type of financial aid they have and scholarship programs that could apply to you. There is plenty of financing out there for you, it is just a matter of finding it, and ask your boss if they pay for any educational programs.
Other questions to ask a counselor:
How many online courses does the school offer?
How long has the school been offering courses online?
What is the student to instructor ratio?
What are the direct costs to take courses from the school?
What is the schools refund policy?
What type of financial aid is available to you? - Again, this is a very important question, you want to find out what types of aid is available (grants, scholarships, loans), their sources (federal, state, institutional), and whether you meet the eligibility criteria.
Does the school accept transfer credits?
Does the school accept test credits?
Does the school require you to spend time on campus?
What are the student services that will be available to you if you enroll? Many colleges offer tutorial services, career planning, and general counseling to students on-campus. Find out if these services are available to you as a distance learning student.
What are the job-placement rates for graduates of the programs you'll be taking?
How will lectures be conducted?
How will you be expected to submit assignments and collaborate with other students?
What is the dropout rate for the programs you will be taking?
What is the graduation rate for the same programs?
Advantageous to online schooling:
Setting your own schedule - not having to be in class at a certain time.
No drive time - saving you time and money.
Studies - you can complete most of the coursework when it is convenient for you.
In conclusion: Remember schools make their profit by working with you, they need you, and we all know that everybody benefits from a higher education, but you'll have the biggest benefit of all, the knowledge and a diploma.
