Tired of bringing home the same meager paycheck every other Friday? If you're feeling like your job's going nowhere and your wallet's always empty, maybe it's time to consider updating your skills through an online degree program. No matter what your current employment and earning situation, increasing your knowledge in your chosen field can help you earn more in your current job or find a better position. So get off of You-Tube and get into some inspired income solutions:
More Education Means More Pay
You don't have to be a brain surgeon to know that people with education usually earn more than their untrained peers. However, in case you need to be convinced, here are a few figures. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), in 2004 people with a bachelor's degree or higher earned 67 percent more than people holding only a high school diploma. Sixty-seven percent! That's like the difference between earning $25,000 a year and $41,750--much more than just pocket change.
Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reinforces this point. In almost any occupation, the higher the level of education attained, the higher the paycheck. In the field of business, for example, secretaries and administrative assistants made a median annual salary of $34,970 in May 2004, while the chief executives were pulling in $140,350. Although an online education isn't going to win you that spot in the corner office right away, the difference between an associate degree and a bachelor's degree holders' paychecks cha-chings at roughly $20K per year. And MBA recipients see their incomes leap a hefty $25K over the average Business Bachelor's grads. A few years of school can make a big--and ongoing--difference with each paycheck.
Learning: Getting Popular with Employers
Remember that classic '80s movie Revenge of the Nerds? Although this depiction of the triumph of socially awkward undergrads was a bit over the top, it turns out that the smart kids have an edge in real life when it comes to getting that desirable position at work. You don't have to adopt the geek look or even a dorky laugh to take a few online classes, and the experience could do wonders for your résumé. In addition to showing potential employers that you are a motivated, self-starter (who wouldn't want to hire one of those?), the skills you learn in a degree program could help you get that coveted second interview, and ultimately, the job.
Thanks to our friends at the BLS, we have some statistics you can use to impress your date as you discuss your new educational venture over dinner. According to BLS surveys, in 2005 the unemployment rate among men and women with college degrees averaged about 4%. This figure contrasts dramatically with the unemployment rate for those without a high school diploma, which averages around 18%. It's a no-brainer--education makes a difference.
No More Excuses with an Online Degree Program
OK, there is a slight chance that the dog slobbered all over your laptop. And I'll grant you the occasional technical difficulty (like those days when you'd like to "fix" your computer with a sledgehammer). But on the whole, getting an education has never been easier with online courses and training options. Choose from hundreds of online schools, each offering a variety of degree programs. You name it, there's an institution online that can train you in it, from the briefest certificate course to the most in-depth PhD program.
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Fast Facts about Online Education
- Ivy League colleges, large state universities, online for profit universities and training schools--all offer online degrees.
- College Board reports that 95% of the $134.8 billion in financial aid students received in 2005-6 is from government grants and loans--for which online students are now eligible.
- Employer tuition assistance is quite common. An estimated half of today's major corporations either pre-pay or reimburse 100% tuition.
- The Sloan Foundation predicts the market for online higher education to exceed $69 billion by 2015.
Online courses take the hassle out of furthering your education. Instead of battling rush-hour traffic or dangerous weather conditions to get to class on time (after a full day of work), you can head home, enjoy a nice meal, and turn on the computer when you're ready to begin. Classes and homework are conducted on your schedule, from wherever is most convenient for you. Hey, you know you're online almost every night anyway. Instead of playing Jewel Quest, why not put that time towards something productive, like your future career?
Become Your Own Success Story
You've thought about it. You've read about it. Step up to the plate. You don't even have to get up from the computer to enroll in online courses in your preferred field of study. Seem like a big commitment? Maybe so, but every dollar and each minute invested in your education is wisely spent. Whether you're interested in business, technology, criminal justice, education, healthcare, media arts, or something in between, there's an online program for you. Seize the moment and take that first step towards a rewarding, and lucrative, future.