Sir Francis Bacon once said, “knowledge is power.” I am a huge believer in this statement, feeling empowered when I learn something new that could help me in my career.
\r\nIn many industries, continuously learning is key for optimal performance and could lead to higher income.
\r\nAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who have a bachelor’s degree in the United States make a median salary of $1,137 per week as opposed to people with just a high school diploma who make $678 a week.
\r\nIf you’ve been considering going back to school to finish your bachelor’s degree, earn a second bachelor’s, or get a higher degree such as a master’s or doctoral degree, completing a degree online has its advantages especially when time is scarce.
\r\nRelated Article: How Can Education Fully Embrace the Digital Age to Help Students Professionally?
\r\nI’ve looked into dozens of online degree programs and each had a trending benefit, classes could be taken at the convenience of students providing deadlines are met.
\r\nWith I took a course with University of Denver’s Creative Writing Master’s track, for example, the professor gave us a syllabus up front that noted deadlines on every assignment. We typically had a full week to get the detailed writing assignment in for the week and a few days to get smaller assignments submitted in between. The course was manageable despite me working a full-time job and doing freelance writing work on the side.
\r\nMonmouth University and Brookdale Community College have the same type of structures, differing slightly between degrees and professors, just to name two other schools.
\r\nBeing close to my family, when I was first started looking into and applying for a degree that I would take online, I told my dad, a now retired manager, and he was skeptical. He felt that there were a lot of schools offering these degrees as a way to make easy money and the quality of degrees along with the reputation of schools offering them was questionable. While I, of course, can’t speak for every school out there I can tell you, there are in fact schools that go against this perception.
\r\nBestSchools.org listed the best online colleges for 2016. Topping the list include reputable schools such as Penn State, University of Florida, UMass, Boston University, Northeastern University and Indiana University.
\r\nThe University of Florida has gained recognition for providing high-value education through a plethora of online programs at different levels. UMass received honors in distance learning earning the United States Distance Learning Association’s Excellence in Distance Teaching Education award. In addition, according to BestSchools, UMass online students receive instruction from the same faculty and earn the same degrees as students who get their degrees on campus.
\r\nStrong online programs “take full advantage of the interactive power of social and multimedia” and “multimedia tools have been scientifically proven to improve memory in our brains by providing strong sensory cues that help us remember what we learn,” reports U.S. News. Because of this, students “use the power or multimedia to remember what they learn.”
\r\nRelated Article: Plug In: 4 Ways Technology Is Changing On-the-Job Training
\r\nAs I write this article, GuidetoOnlineSchools.com notes that there are 22,363 degrees from 604 schools in the online school space. With so many options, here’s how to narrow down the schools and online degree programs that are right for you.
\r\nWhat do you want to learn and get out of your experience? When considering your motivation, be specific by listing your goals. For example, instead of saying “I want to get an online degree in management to help me get a promotion,” you might say, “I would like to learn about the problems businesses of all sizes face so I can lead a team toward successfully solving them.”
\r\nBased on my experience (and the experience of others I spoke to who have taken online courses) in many cases, online courses are a lot more work and harder than on-campus courses. Degrees of any kind are big time and money investments.
\r\nAccreditation sets the quality standards for schools essentially. The University of South Dakota advises steering clear from schools that are not properly accredited, regionally or nationally, adding: Most schools will display this information on their websites, but if they do not, make sure to call and ask.
\r\nIf course descriptions are not listed on school websites, reach out to representatives and get the descriptions of all the courses you would need to complete the degree. While many courses have the same names from school to school, the actual work can be drastically different.
\r\nI looked into so many online degree programs before choosing University of Denver’s. I did not want to take courses that were theory based (as so many were). You have to go back to what your goals are and find out how they match up with what the courses offer.
\r\nRelated Article: Do This Instead: Why Education Doesn’t Equal Entrepreneurial Success
\r\nAs you continue doing your research, here are a few top rated schools that offer online degree programs in select industries.
\r\nHere’s to your success.
\n","docType":"article","guid":"articles_1e59e361f097539f32a66d739def0be4","lastModified":"2016-09-28T17:00:00.000Z","published":"2016-09-28T17:00:00.000Z","structuredData":null,"subtitle":null,"template":"legacy","title":"Continuing Education: The Value of Online Degree Programs & How to Choose One","type":"article","author":{"avatar":"https://staging.business.com/images/author/566/58f7b3187b1e74f8b45f4/100-100","bio":"Marisa is an award-winning marketing professional and contributing writer. She has worked with businesses large and small to help them drive revenue through integrated marketing campaigns and enjoys sharing her expertise with our audience.","name":"Marisa Sanfilippo","image":null,"slug":null,"social":{"facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisasanfilippo","twitter":"https://twitter.com/marisaasan","website":""},"status":"enabled","title":null,"type":"Contributing Writer","user":{"imagePath":"https://staging.business.com/images/uploads/user/profile/5fbafa7f76459be0d51c0191bf5472c18037c.jpg","profile":{"company":"Fortune Web Marketing","jobTitle":"","website":""}}},"breadcrumbs":null,"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Career","slug":"career"},"sub":{"name":"Education","slug":"education"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Learn about the benefits of getting an online degree and how to choose the right school.","title":"The Value of Online Degree Programs - business.com"},"parsedContent":{"toc":[],"json":[{"component":"p","children":["Sir Francis Bacon once said, “knowledge is power.” I am a huge believer in this statement, feeling empowered when I learn something new that could help me in my career."]},{"component":"p","children":["In many industries, continuously learning is key for optimal performance and could lead to higher income."]},{"component":"p","children":["According to the ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm","target":"_blank"},"children":["Bureau of Labor Statistics"]},", people who have a bachelor’s degree in the United States make a median salary of $1,137 per week as opposed to people with just a high school diploma who make $678 a week."]},{"component":"p","children":["If you’ve been considering going back to school to finish your bachelor’s degree, earn a second bachelor’s, or get a higher degree such as a master’s or doctoral degree, completing a degree online has its advantages especially when time is scarce."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/education/how-can-education-fully-embrace-the-digital-age-to-help-students-professionally/"},"children":["How Can Education Fully Embrace the Digital Age to Help Students Professionally?"]}]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["1. Convenience"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["I’ve looked into dozens of online degree programs and each had a trending benefit, classes could be taken at the convenience of students providing deadlines are met."]},{"component":"p","children":["With I took a course with University of Denver’s Creative Writing Master’s track, for example, the professor gave us a syllabus up front that noted deadlines on every assignment. We typically had a full week to get the detailed writing assignment in for the week and a few days to get smaller assignments submitted in between. The course was manageable despite me working a full-time job and doing freelance writing work on the side."]},{"component":"p","children":["Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College have the same type of structures, differing slightly between degrees and professors, just to name two other schools."]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["2. Quality and Reputation"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Being close to my family, when I was first started looking into and applying for a degree that I would take online, I told my dad, a now retired manager, and he was skeptical. He felt that there were a lot of schools offering these degrees as a way to make easy money and the quality of degrees along with the reputation of schools offering them was questionable. While I, of course, can’t speak for every school out there I can tell you, there are in fact schools that go against this perception."]},{"component":"p","children":["BestSchools.org listed the ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.thebestschools.org/rankings/best-online-colleges/","target":"_blank"},"children":["best online colleges for 2016"]},". Topping the list include reputable schools such as Penn State, University of Florida, UMass, Boston University, Northeastern University and Indiana University."]},{"component":"p","children":["The University of Florida has gained recognition for providing high-value education through a plethora of online programs at different levels. UMass received honors in distance learning earning the United States Distance Learning Association’s Excellence in Distance Teaching Education award. In addition, according to BestSchools, UMass online students receive instruction from the same faculty and earn the same degrees as students who get their degrees on campus."]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["3. Increased Knowledge Retention"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Strong online programs “take full advantage of the interactive power of social and multimedia” and “multimedia tools have been scientifically proven to improve memory in our brains by providing strong sensory cues that help us remember what we learn,” reports ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/2015/10/16/3-academic-advantages-of-online-programs","target":"_blank"},"children":["U.S. News"]},". Because of this, students “use the power or multimedia to remember what they learn.”"]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/technology/4-ways-technology-is-changing-on-the-job-training/"},"children":["Plug In: 4 Ways Technology Is Changing On-the-Job Training"]}]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["How to Choose an Online Degree Program"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["As I write this article, ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/online-schools","target":"_blank"},"children":["GuidetoOnlineSchools.com"]}," notes that there are 22,363 degrees from 604 schools in the online school space. With so many options, here’s how to narrow down the schools and online degree programs that are right for you."]},{"component":"h4","children":[{"component":"em","children":["1. Consider your motivation for wanting an online degree"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["What do you want to learn and get out of your experience? When considering your motivation, be specific by listing your goals. For example, instead of saying “I want to get an online degree in management to help me get a promotion,” you might say, “I would like to learn about the problems businesses of all sizes face so I can lead a team toward successfully solving them.”"]},{"component":"p","children":["Based on my experience (and the experience of others I spoke to who have taken online courses) in many cases, online courses are a lot more work and harder than on-campus courses. Degrees of any kind are big time and money investments. "]},{"component":"h4","children":[{"component":"em","children":["2. Make sure the school you choose is accredited"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Accreditation sets the quality standards for schools essentially. The ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://online.usd.edu/news/online-degree-completion-program","target":"_blank"},"children":["University of South Dakota"]}," advises steering clear from schools that are not properly accredited, regionally or nationally, adding: Most schools will display this information on their websites, but if they do not, make sure to call and ask."]},{"component":"h4","children":[{"component":"em","children":["3. Learn as much as you can about the courses"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["If course descriptions are not listed on school websites, reach out to representatives and get the descriptions of all the courses you would need to complete the degree. While many courses have the same names from school to school, the actual work can be drastically different."]},{"component":"p","children":["I looked into so many online degree programs before choosing University of Denver’s. I did not want to take courses that were theory based (as so many were). You have to go back to what your goals are and find out how they match up with what the courses offer."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/entrepreneurship/why-education-doesnt-equal-entrepreneurial-success/"},"children":["Do This Instead: Why Education Doesn’t Equal Entrepreneurial Success"]}]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Top Schools by Degree"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["As you continue doing your research, here are a few top rated schools that offer online degree programs in select industries."]},{"component":"h4","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Accounting (Bachelors)"]}," "]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Colorado State University Global Campus"]},{"component":"li","children":["Old Dominion University"]},{"component":"li","children":["Auburn University (tie)"]}]},{"component":"h4","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Business (Bachelors)"]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Penn State World Campus"]},{"component":"li","children":["University of Massachusetts"]},{"component":"li","children":["Florida International University, Landon Undergraduate School of Business"]}]},{"component":"h4","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Human Resources (Masters)"]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Colorado State University Global Campus"]},{"component":"li","children":["University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign"]},{"component":"li","children":["Trident University International"]}]},{"component":"h4","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Marketing (Bachelors)"]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Tiffin University"]},{"component":"li","children":["Dallas Baptist University"]},{"component":"li","children":["Southwestern Assemblies of God University"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Here’s to your success."]}]},"resource":null,"sponsorship":null,"thumbnail":{"path":null,"caption":"Fizkes / Getty Images","isBlurred":true},"bestPicks":null},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"Continuing Education: The Value of Online Degree Programs & How to Choose One","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/continuing-education-the-value-of-online-degree-programs-and-how-to-choose-one/","slug":"continuing-education-the-value-of-online-degree-programs-and-how-to-choose-one","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/career.jpg","dek":"Learn about the benefits of getting an online degree and how to choose the right school.","lastModified":"2016-09-28T17:00:00Z","published":"2016-09-28T17:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Great Online Resources for Improving Accounting Skills","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/online-resources-improve-accounting-skills/","slug":"online-resources-improve-accounting-skills","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5aa/19d3a51ee4767418b4582/1500-0-","dek":"Modern accounting requires both hard and soft skills, and businesses want accountants with the most up-to-date skill sets. These online resources will help you improve your accounting skills.","lastModified":"2020-02-14T14:50:00Z","published":"2018-03-09T14:50:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Résumé Gaps Be Gone: Utilizing Ad Hoc Education to Boost Your Qualifications","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/resume-gaps-be-gone-utilizing-ad-hoc-education-to-boost-your-qualifications/","slug":"resume-gaps-be-gone-utilizing-ad-hoc-education-to-boost-your-qualifications","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/55b/f9ac32f87b17e378b45d0/1500-0-","dek":"Take initiative to fill employment deficits with ad hoc education to hone your expertise and prove your commitment to a long-term position.","lastModified":"2015-08-03T17:00:00Z","published":"2015-08-03T17:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"How to Hire for Your Business","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-staff-business/","slug":"how-to-staff-business","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ea/9c8bb9c658aee018b456c/1500-0-","dek":"Sterling Staffing Solutions CEO Stephen Carter shares his tips on staffing your business.","lastModified":"2020-07-31T15:00:00Z","published":"2018-08-16T12:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Top New Year’s Goals for Job Seekers in 2020","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/job-seekers-employment/","slug":"job-seekers-employment","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e2/86f165a215ea2278b4579/1500-0-","dek":"Job hunting is one of the top New Year’s resolutions for job seekers.\nIn this article, we take a look at the top New Year’s goals for job seekers.\nIf your new year’s goal is to get a good job, then this article is for you.\nJob search goals are easy to make but ac","lastModified":"2020-01-24T23:00:00Z","published":"2020-01-24T23:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Using Lean Strategies to Achieve Team Synergy and Efficiency","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/lean-strategies-team-efficiency/","slug":"lean-strategies-team-efficiency","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5be/480e49c658a51108b458c/1500-0-","dek":"Learn more about lean manufacturing strategies and how to implement them in your business.","lastModified":"2018-11-08T08:00:00Z","published":"2018-11-08T08:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Are You Paying a Living Wage?","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/small-business-living-wage/","slug":"small-business-living-wage","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5a9/4732251ee479b088b4580/1500-0-","dek":"Employees who earn enough to get by improve performance and overall business.","lastModified":"2018-02-27T13:00:00Z","published":"2018-02-27T13:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"From COVID-19 to Hurricane Season: Disaster Preparedness for Small Business","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/business-disaster-prep/","slug":"business-disaster-prep","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e7/a495e5a215eb11d8b4569/1500-0-","dek":"Natural disasters – whether a hurricane, tornado or outbreak like COVID-19 – can have a disastrous effect on small businesses, but they don't have to. Here's how to weather a disaster successfully.","lastModified":"2020-03-25T15:19:00Z","published":"2018-09-26T07:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Hiring: Should You DIY or Use a Recruiting Service?","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/recruiting-services-vs-hiring/","slug":"recruiting-services-vs-hiring","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ea/078fc9c658a74098b456b/1500-0-","dek":"When it's time to hire a new employee, do you court job seekers on your own or hire a recruiting service? Here's what you need to know about each method.","lastModified":"2020-04-24T14:08:00Z","published":"2018-05-17T15:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"5 Best HR and Talent Acquisition Certifications","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/best-hr-talent-acquisition-certifications/","slug":"best-hr-talent-acquisition-certifications","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ef/f39497b4374fa248b456a/1500-0-","dek":"For a career in human resources or recruitment, check out these certifications.","lastModified":"2020-07-03T14:00:00Z","published":"2018-02-06T15:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"What Your Business Can Learn From Peter Drucker","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/management-theory-of-peter-drucker/","slug":"management-theory-of-peter-drucker","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5cf/dd1449c658a33728b456e/1500-0-","dek":"Learn about Peter Drucker's management theory and how it can help your business.","lastModified":"2019-10-11T12:20:00Z","published":"2019-10-11T12:20:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"What to Do if ICE Serves Your Business With a Form I-9 Audit","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/ice-serves-i-9-audit/","slug":"ice-serves-i-9-audit","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e6/64def7b43740a2a8b456e/1500-0-","dek":"Make sure you're prepared should Immigration and Customs Enforcement come knocking.","lastModified":"2020-03-10T15:00:00Z","published":"2018-09-17T18:00:00Z","sponsored":false}],"relatedReviews":[{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5e14b61c9c658a7e408b4573/schedule_AndreyPopov_getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/employee-scheduling-software/","title":"The Best Employee Scheduling Software of 2021","dek":"Looking for the best employee scheduling software? We've reviewed the best and cheapest programs.","slug":"employee-scheduling-software","lastModified":"2021-03-05T15:55:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5e8747da54d26d471c8b457c/cat-image1.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/stg-new-megabestpicks-040320201027/","title":"STG New Mega Best Picks Category 04-03-20-10-27","dek":"This is a test meta description for a new Mega Best Picks category that was added on 04-03-20-10-27","slug":"stg-new-megabestpicks-040320201027","lastModified":"2020-04-03T07:00:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5e7e2d0c54d26dba1c8b456b/cat-image1.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/stg-new-seo-032720201242/","title":"STG New Seo Category 03-27-20-12-42","dek":"This is a test meta description for a new Seo category that was added on 03-27-20-12-42","slug":"stg-new-seo-032720201242","lastModified":"2020-03-27T07:00:00Z"}],"relatedSponsoredArticles":null}},"pageContext":{"displayModified":"2016-09-28T17:00:00.000Z","template":"legacy","title":"Continuing Education: The Value of Online Degree Programs & How to Choose One","meta":{"robots":"index, follow"},"docType":"articles","slug":"continuing-education-the-value-of-online-degree-programs-and-how-to-choose-one","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/continuing-education-the-value-of-online-degree-programs-and-how-to-choose-one/","skipTOC":false}},"staticQueryHashes":[]}