Many working adults are hoping to go back to college someday and finish what they started. There are many others who have never been to college before but want to get that elusive higher education degree as well. With the advent of online college classes and the ease with which working adults can earn their college degree, that evasive someday has changed to today.
There are many reasons why online college classes are the best options for working adults who want to obtain a higher education degree.
1. Variety
Online universities offer a variety of courses that cover almost every aspect of education. Since distance from the college is not a pivotal factor, working adults can pick any university that offers them a chance to study in the specialization of their choice. From the large spread of options that are made available to online college students, it is inevitable for you to find the exact course that you were looking for.
2. Remaining Current
Though students from all walks of life are choosing to study via online colleges for a variety of reasons, one reason why these courses are great for working adults is that they are designed keeping the current industry standards in mind. This means that most of the online college classes are created keeping industry needs in mind and will help to attain that promotion or indeed a better job with batter pay, altogether.
3. No Commutes
There is no commute involved. In the past, working adults have chosen part time courses as a way to acquire their further education. With online college classes, there is no need to work about commuting at the end of a long day or traveling for many hours if the college of your choice is far away. Your living room can be the location of your quest to attain a higher degree if that is what you wish. Worried about the lack of social interaction? Do not worry, online programs, such as what Univ. of Phoenix offers, incorporate huge amounts of team work and through these classes you can meet professionals from all walks of life. Yes, professional networking and job connections can be woven, formulated, and breached in these programs and classes.
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4. Flexibility
One of the primary factors why working adults should choose online college classes is that they offer an incredible amount of flexibility when it comes to timing. In most cases, lectures, and other important information, are uploaded online and real time presence is not mandatory every time. Classes are scheduled at all times that are considered feasible for working adults which includes days, night, as well as weekends. This means that your classes can be worked around the job schedule that you are keeping as well as the time that you need off to focus on your family and friends. There are deadlines and responsibilities but compared to a traditional program model and a fixed in class room schedule, online is far more flexible. It is like night and day.
5. Savings
There is a perception that online college classes tend to be a whole lot cheaper than traditional colleges. While this is not necessarily true when you consider the tuition fee, working adults can save loads of money when it comes to accommodation expenses, travel expenditures, as well as other usage fees associated with the use of the college premises. Textbook costs are kept at a bare minimum as most of the study material that is needed is made available to you online. Not only does this mean that you will spend less while taking up online college options but you will be able to route the money you save and earn toward the paying of any educational loan that you might have opted for. Chances are high that you will end up returning the loan amount much faster than students who are encumbered with on-campus lectures and compulsory attendance.
6. Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of scholarships and other grants are available for working adults who opt for online college classes as well. If you want to engage & shoot for that degree that you have in mind but you don’t have the money that you will need to complete the courses successfully, you can easily apply for financial aid that is readily available for working adults who are also students.
7. Help from Employers
Employer contribution toward an online college education program is also possible in today’s day and age. Working adults can opt to apply for an employer’s contribution so that they pay you back for the career training that you will obtain through this type of study.
8. Gentle Learning Curve
Many working adults find it difficult to get back into the study groove after having stayed away from studying for so long. Online college classes allow for increased interactions with instructors as well as fellow students. You can get the help you need by forming study groups and enjoying the benefits of technology such VoIP calls, utilize Skype, and schedule video conferences without leaving your home at all. There is no fear of losing out on on-campus human interaction since online college classes involve webinars, discussion boards, and other forums that help to initiate and maintain a significant amount of interaction with instructors and fellow students.
9. Saving Time
Studying through traditional colleges will mean that you will have to dedicate four years to a bachelor’s degree, two years for a master’s and almost eight years for a doctorate level course (total). While regular students may be alright with this, working adults cringe at the long amount of time that is needed to weave their way through an advanced curriculum. With online college classes offering accelerated programs that you can further speed up depending on your needs, you will be able to attain the degree that you want in much less time than you would have through a traditional college. For instance, one class at the Univ. of Phoenix is full time whereas 4 classes are full-time at a traditional college. That is a huge advantage. Don’t mistake this situation though, online classes at Univ. of Phoenix are research paper and work heavy, don’t expect this to be a cake walk! You may not be able to watch the show House every week or read for entertainment or pleasure as much as you used to. Sacrifices will still have to be made.
10. Accelerated Classes
Working adults can opt for accelerated learning programs offered by online colleges without worrying about deterioration in the quality of education that they will receive. Though the courses are sped up, the quality of education remains the same and many students manage to obtain a higher education degree in perhaps 3 years (if starting from scratch or 0 credits/units).