A person can get a master's degree online while continuing to work, saving both money and time. There are a large number of colleges that offer distance learning options so that students don't have to commute or reside on campus. The varieties of online degree subjects are available, you can choose of your interest. Getting a master's online offers the student enormous flexibility in when classes are attended, study planned and tests taken.
Review the Benefits of Getting a Master's Degree Online
One of the main benefits of getting a masters degree is that it increases a person's earning potential. In fact, a recent College Board study reported that workers who had master's degrees earned an average of $10,400 more per year than workers who had just bachelor's degrees. Over a 40-year work life that totals $416,000 - quite a bonus for earning a master's degree.
Getting a master's degree online allows a student to continue working full time. Attending classes at a college during the day would interfere with nearly all full time occupations. Being able to continue to work full time saves a great deal of money, known as the "opportunity cost" caused if a person had to quit work to go back to school.
Choose an Online Master's Degree Program
Use the U.S. Department of Education's "College Navigator" website to help you choose the master's degree programs and schools that fit your needs. Be aware that this site will include colleges that don't yet offer master's degrees online, so you will have to do some home work to identify those that do in your field of interest. See the College Navigator link in the Resources section below.
Select Two or Three Colleges to Thoroughly Investigate
The search for an online master's degree program and school should be narrowed to two or three colleges and then these can be thoroughly investigated through contact online, by email and by phone. Compare courses, credits required, faculty credentials and ratios, and of course, costs, to make an informed decision.
Verify Certification of the College Chosen
Once a college is tentatively selected, its accreditation should be double checked. There are phony accreditations organizations that are established by diploma mill schools so the accreditation bodies them need to be verified. Fortunately, there is an organization available to help with this. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has a website section called Databases and Directories that lists valid accrediting bodies. See the link below in the Resources section.
Check on Financial Aid
A student may or may not qualify for financial aid, from scholarships and grants to low interest student loans. The school that accepts you will help you apply for federal and private aid sources. Be sure to ask about financial aid, but be aware that less assistance may be available if you still have undergraduate student loans, and that grants are harder to come by at the graduate level.
Get Started Earning Your Master's Degree Online
Once all the financial issues are worked out get started as soon as you can while your motivation and excitement are high. A good start is very helpful and you may be able to earn a master's degree online in less than two years. There are numerous online masters schools that are offering masters program. If it takes a little longer, that's OK. Just be sure that you are able to finish what you started because the return on investment of a master's degree is pretty large.
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