An online degree from a College or University is faster, cheaper, easier, and more flexible, allowing you to work anytime, from anywhere, more important now than ever.
Earn Up to $85,000 With An Associate Degree
For people with an Associate’s Degree and accompanying certification, there exists a large number of high-paying healthcare jobs, which is surprising because these jobs do not require a traditional 4-year degree.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top paying occupation in the healthcare sector at this degree level is that of a Radiation Therapist. Median 2020 pay was reported at $86,850 per year, and pay exceeds $120,000 in some urban locations. These people traditionally administer radiation therapy to cancer patients. Similarly, Nuclear Medicine Technologists ($79,590 per year) help to prepare compounds for imaging and treatment. We’re all familiar with Dental Hygienists, ($77,090 per year) who help us keep proper oral hygiene. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers ($70,380 per year), run advanced imaging technologies like ultrasounds and EKGs. Finally, Radiologic and MRI Technologists, ($63,710 per year), help conduct MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT scans. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is the largest credentialing organization for medical imaging, interventional procedures, and radiation therapy. The additional education needed for these programs can take as little as 12 months. BLS reports 12-month certificate program in nuclear medicine technology, and IUD reports 12 month programs for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Becoming a Dental Hygienist can take longer, around 3 years.
Furthermore, there are at least 5 healthcare careers that do not require a typical college degree, yet still pay over $40,000 a year. Instead of requiring an Associate’s or Bachelors degree, these options require a healthcare certificate from a credentialed program. Programs duration can range from 6 to 24 months. There are a few programs that are even faster, such as a phlebotomist, (someone who draws blood), which is commonly finished in 3 months. As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the top median paying jobs are: Surgical Technologists, ($49,710 per year), Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses, ($48,820 per year), Massage Therapists, ($43,620 per year), Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, ($44,090 per year), and Dental Assistants, ($41,180 per year). Specific requirements by state could vary, so please check the most up to date information in your area.
Some Accelerated Programs Offer Degrees in 12 Months
There are a variety of degrees allowing for completion in a year or less. These include industries like healthcare, cyber security, and management. Within healthcare, 12-month degrees in healthcare administration are prevalent, and this will earn you a Bachelor’s of Science. An Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (ABS-N) is a 12 month program that allows you to become a nurse if you have an existing bachelor’s degree in any other field. If your existing associate’s degree or a diploma is already in nursing, you can attain a Master’s of Science In Nursing in 12 months. The Ivy League’s Dartmouth offers a Master of Health Care Delivery Science in 12 months. Attaining an Online Master of Health Informatics is also possible in 12 months. Many people find it convenient to be able to earn these degrees in such a short amount of time so they can get back to their everyday lives.
Save 90% on Tuition with an Online Degree
There exists immense potential for savings with an online degree based on a few simple selection criteria. Prospective students can find the best savings by: 1. Researching institutions in their area that may offer discounts. 2. Finding and comparing the institutions that offer the degree they want to pursue. 3. Finding an institution that is a match in other metrics like initial cost, flexibility, course load, and time to completion.
An example in the healthcare field showed South Texas College offers In-District online baccalaureate degrees in Medical and Health Services Management for just $77 per credit, which equals $2,310 per year. That represents a 92.7% reduction in tuition costs compared to a traditional 4-year degree! It can pay off handsomely to thoroughly check your local area for the best deals on online learning programs: this particular offer was for local residents only. Now is a great time to research options because in the current climate, mga.edu reports some institutions have become so desperate for new students that they are currently waiving out-of-state tuition; do your research to find institutions near you.
There are many options for online degrees depending on what you’re looking for. OnlineU reports many institutions offering annual tuition for a variety of degrees at just $4,613. OnlineMastersColleges reports 1-year master’s degrees with tuition of just $4,594. StraighterLine offers online courses starting at $59, which they say allow transfer to their 130+ partner institutions. According to U.S. News & World Report, you can gain admission to some of the most prestigious online bachelor’s programs in the country for about $300 per credit. So there is no need to sacrifice quality for price.
Expand Your Opportunities and Be a Part of Something Big
With a good online education, you can find the job you’re passionate about, and live a better life while you make more money. An online degree can not only increase your job satisfaction and your earnings, but with less stress, your health and wellness will be improved as well. The importance of good health has never been on the minds of more Americans. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 2.5 million new healthcare jobs to be created over the next decade. Due to unprecedented demand, it is a great time to seek training from the safety and comfort of your own home.
The increased hiring in the healthcare sector will help keep Americans safe. There is great opportunity within this sector for Americans looking to make more money. Six of the top ten fastest growing jobs are in healthcare, and this trend is expected to accelerate as America’s population ages. An online degree can help you get one of these hot jobs. There are opportunities available for all education levels, and educational advancement has never been easier with the growing availability of inexpensive online degrees.
Incredible Flexibility
Online degrees have many benefits over traditional programs. Online learning allows you to study whenever you want, from wherever you want and to create your own schedule. Using today’s modern online educational platforms allows students to have an optimal work-life balance, and progress in their studies at their own pace. You, the student, get to decide when class begins and ends. You can work at your own pace. You will therefore get coursework done very quickly if you want, or take it piece by piece in your spare time. By striking a healthy balance that suits you best, you’ll be more likely to finish your new degree successfully.
Your Classroom Follows You
You can study remotely from the library, a coffee shop, or from across the globe. With this freedom, you are no longer obligated to deal with bad traffic nor commit to commuting to school at an exact time. You don’t need to find parking, nor the appropriate classroom. You’ll be able to re-imagine your own customized environment for learning, one that fosters your success. Perhaps that includes working in short bursts, a cup of tea, relaxing music, and sleeping and eating well. You’ll benefit from tremendous time-savings in not having to commute, and will be able to put this extra time into maximizing your learning. All while doing so at a reasonable, healthy pace.
Advance Your Career and Adapt to Current Job Trends
A new degree or certificate will help you move up in your career, and unlock possibilities not otherwise attainable. More so than a traditional degree, an online degree will accelerate and maximize your proficiency in a variety of common and useful technologies that may enable you to achieve lasting success in today’s work environments. The prevalence of remote work is on the rise, and this can require special skills. Online degrees can provide similar firsthand experience with many of the same software suites employers now use for communicating across the various platforms and conducting research.
Student Aid Now Exceeds $242 Billion Annually
There is more free money for students than ever, meaning grants (Federal, State, and Institutional) that do not need to be paid back. The government has an incentive to get people making more money because they will contribute more to society and also pay more taxes. The CollegeBoard reports the most recent (2019-20) total aid benefit of the average full-time equivalent (FTE) student is $14,940 per undergraduate student, and $27,310 per graduate student. Much of this pool, some $140.9 billion, is grants that do not need to be paid back; it is free money to go to school. One of the most common grants is a Federal Pell Grant, which is based on your financial need for the money, not based on age, grades, test scores, or credit score. Adults of all ages should look into options like this to reduce or completely eliminate their out-of-pocket costs of an online degree. Institutions of higher learning are also more generous than ever, given their growing endowments. Together they will offer over $68 billion in free money to students over the next school year. This free money is being given away to encourage new students to attend school, better themselves, their family, and their future. Be sure to learn more about grants when performing your research.
An Online Degree is a Highly Economical and Long-Lasting Investment
Attaining an online degree is cheaper across the board. According to a report on digital learning out of Arizona State University, in conjunction with The Boston Consulting Group, institutions of education save big when providing online degrees: “Digital learning can help institutions reduce costs and pass along savings to students through three primary mechanisms: raising student-to-instructor ratios, drawing on a broader network of adjunct faculty, and avoiding additional operations costs.” Institutions are able to pass these savings on to you. The administrative overhead of online programs is greatly reduced when compared to traditional institutions. There are less real estate needs, less offices, and often no large classrooms.
Online Degrees Have Immense Earnings Potential
Certain job sectors are in high demand with great earning potential. For example, a degree in healthcare administration from Baptist Health System School of Health Professions, which boasts a 90% graduation rate, has a 10 year ROI of $746,500. OnlineU reports healthcare administration degrees are available for as little as $4,200. Compare this to the cost of a traditional degree. Recent government statistics reveal the shockingly high cost of traditional 4-year private education. The findings reported by the National Center for Education Statistics disclose a total average cost of $44,662 per year. This is comprised of $31,875 per year for tuition, and $12,787 per year for room and board. You can begin to understand how an online university would be able to charge less. With a traditional degree, a good chunk of fees aren’t even going towards your education but rather for room and board.
Where to Find More Information on Inexpensive Online Degrees?
Indeed, many people do not know how easy and cheap it can be to get a degree online, and get on the path towards a better career. To be a savvy consumer, we recommend searching around and comparing costs between various institutions, as well as checking their areas of study.
Cost can vary dramatically, but an online degree offers a reliable way to cut these costs, and improve ease and flexibility without sacrificing on quality. We encourage you to search around to find the most up to date information.