7 Degrees to Consider Pursuing Online in 2019

According to a 2018 report by Forbes, the total cost of a four-year private college education in the US is an average of $104,480. Despite still being one of the only ways to guarantee yourself a lucrative career in the future, it’s a cost that most Americans simply cannot afford.

Couple this in with a lack of time and flexibility to work any decent job while studying, and obtaining a tertiary education without making some significant sacrifices makes for an even more daunting premise. Fortunately, there is a much better alternative.

With the education sector molding itself further into the tech-driven decade, online study opportunities are opening up in a variety of subjects, giving students from all walks of life a more accessible way to obtain a degree. In addition to being more affordable, online colleges also offset the many time-constraints that come with attending physical classes.

But for those who prefer to learn through hands-on work, online colleges do offer programs that accommodate to this. In this post, we’ll take a look at seven degrees that you should consider pursuing online in 2019 based on their subsequent salaries and job opportunities.

Why Study Online?

There are many reasons why studying online is becoming increasingly popular. Aside from a lower total cost, you can learn from the comfort of your own home. This negates the need to find accommodation and transport, as well as giving you more time to spend with family. It also helps you concentrate on your work and still have time for a social life.

Psychology

Mental health is an increasingly prevalent concern for many Americans. The ADAA reports that anxiety affects 40 million adults in the United States, while PTSD affects 7.7 million adults and major depressive disorder is something more than 16.1 million Americans are affected by.

This has naturally resulted in a high demand for psychology majors who can enter the industry and make a meaningful difference in helping people fight their mental and emotional concerns. You can either work in research, or enter a private practice. This sector is set to grow by 19% in the next ten years.

Associate in Arts

This degree is earned by completing courses in humanities, business and social science fields. After completing the two-year program, you can become anything from a teacher, to an industrial designer, paralegal, interpreter, woodworker, librarian, human resources manager and many more well-paying professions.

Payscale reports salary ranges for associate in arts majors to be between $30,000 and $100,000 per year. If you wish to further your education before working, you can use your credits from this degree to pursue a bachelor’s. Here’s some more information on what to expect from an associate in arts degree.

Finance

Unlike an accounting degree, which revolves more around working with taxes and balance books, a degree in finance will prepare you to analyze the economy, work with credit, invest money and become a personal advisor. This not only puts you in the running for a variety of career paths, but is also extremely valuable for your own financial knowledge.

Many finance graduates become financial managers, perhaps mainly due to most of them making more than $100,000 per year. With more and more businesses popping up around every corner, and an ageing population that’s in need of financial help, the entire industry is expected to see significant growth in the next ten years.

Information Technology

Both at graduate and undergraduate level, information technology degrees have risen by measurable amounts. Whether your interests in technology lie in software, hardware, development, manufacturing, support or engineering, an online degree in IT will help you get there and bring forth many lucrative employment opportunities after graduation. You can find a lot of tech jobs available in San Francisco Bay area, where many tech hubs and giant companies offer high salaries and awesome employee perks.

As you might expect, salary ranges are rather broad, but a median for those with a bachelor’s or master’s is between $80,000 and $100,000 with the possibility of being much higher. A well above average job growth outlook of 12% is expected in the next decade.

Nursing

With the previous generation exiting the industry, there’s a strong demand for nursing graduates in the US. Registered nursing positions are the most popular, which require a bachelor’s degree. Online master’s and doctoral programs are also available if you wish to pursue a higher qualification.

Job growth for this industry is expected to increase by an impressive 15% over the next ten years and graduates with advanced degrees can easily make over $100,000 per year. If you have a passion for making a difference in people’s lives and furthering the healthcare industry, then a career in nursing is well-worth some consideration.

Engineering

Engineering encompasses a wide variety of concentrations. This includes not only electrical and mechanical engineering, but also chemical, computer, aerospace, nuclear and a multitude of others that you can choose based on your interests. Starting salaries are significantly higher than just about any other career path, often going well over $100,000 per year.

Petroleum engineers in particular can expect an annual starting salary of around $150,000. Job growth in the engineering industry is promising, with the BLS reporting that around 130,000 new jobs will be added in the next decade.

Business Administration

Business administration has long been a popular choice as an online degree. Aside from a wide variety of employment opportunities, you can also use your newly acquired skills and knowledge to become your own manager, CEO, analyst or business owner. Graduates with a business administration degree can enter a number of industries.

This includes anything from human resources to healthcare to finance to public relations. The versatility of this degree ensures that even if one employment opportunity falls through, you’ll have more than enough lined up to replace it. An online bachelor’s degree will put you in an industry that’s expected to grow by 8% in the next ten years.

Regardless of what you choose to pursue, studying online is one of the best decisions you can make in furthering your career. Whether you’re a high school graduate, or you’ve been working for a few years and are looking to move up the ladder, your time will be put to good use by investing in an online degree.

Thanks to Zaklina