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You can now earn most types of degrees online, including degrees from top-rated universities. Earning an online degree remains a popular choice. In the fall of 2023, 53.2 percent of students in postsecondary institutions were enrolled in some form of distance education, with roughly 80 percent of online learners opting for degree programs[, ].In this article, we鈥檒l go over what types of degrees you can earn online, the benefits of earning a degree virtually, and how you can find the best online degree program for you.听

What is an online degree?

An online degree is any type of undergraduate or graduate degree (associate, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, or professional) that you earn online. Rather than relocate to attend an in-person program, you'll work through your coursework online, either by attending virtual classes or completing asynchronous classes on your own time.

Online degrees can either come from prestigious colleges or universities that offer specific online programs鈥攗sually in college majors conducive to being learned virtually鈥攐r entirely online colleges that do not offer an in-person experience.

What degree can you earn online?

You can earn every level of degree online: associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, doctorate, and professional. But for the purposes of this article, we'll focus on the three most common online degrees below.

Online associate degree

Earn your associate degree online in a number of subjects that are more typically geared toward helping you move into a specific career path, such as computer science or business administration. You can expect to complete a minimum of 60 credits, with a portion of those (usually a minimum of 12 credits) going toward your focus or major.

• Degrees: Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

• Popular majors: Liberal arts and sciences, general studies, humanities, health professions, business, homeland security, law enforcement, and computer and information sciences听

• Average time: Two years when you attend full-time听

• Requirements: High school diploma or GED

When you earn either your AA or AS, you can transfer into a four-year bachelor鈥檚 program. The AAS, on the other hand, tends to provide more practical training so you can use your degree to begin a career as a paralegal, welder, or dental assistant.听

Online bachelor鈥檚 degree听

Earn your bachelor鈥檚 degree online, choosing from a number of majors that either prepare you for many career options or for a particular career or industry. You can expect to complete a minimum of 120 credits, which include both general education, major, and elective courses.

• Degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)听

• Popular majors: Business, health professions, social sciences and history, psychology, biomedical sciences, and engineering听

• Average time: Four or five years when you attend full-time

• Requirements: High school diploma or GED

Online master鈥檚 degree

Earn your master鈥檚 degree online to either deepen the subject knowledge of your bachelor鈥檚 degree or move in a new direction. Whether you鈥檙e interested in pursuing a theoretical or practical subject, there are an array of programs available. The number of credits you鈥檒l need to earn will depend on your program鈥攔equirements can range between 30 and 72.

• Degree types: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Civil Engineering (MCE), Master of Social Work (MSW)听

• Popular programs: Business, education, health professions, engineering, public administration/social services

• Average time: 18 months to two years when you attend full-time听

• Requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree听

Online degree costs听

The cost of attending college in person tends to encompass additional factors beyond tuition and fees. In 2023, the annual total cost of attendance in the US was $17,439 for a two-year public college, $27,146 for a four-year public college or university, and $56,628 for a private non-profit institution []. For a master鈥檚 degree, the average total cost was $62,820 [].听

Online degree programs tend to be less expensive because they don鈥檛 have the same overhead as many in-person programs. The average total tuition for an online bachelor's degree can span between $40,536 and $63,185, according to US News [].听

Looking for an affordable, efficient option to advance your education? You can earn a Master of Science in Management from the University of Illinois in as little as one year for $13,068.

Is an online degree worth it? 5 benefits of earning your degree online听

Many colleges and universities offer the same quality of education online as they do in person, including having the same faculty members teach courses. But when you learn online, you may find that there are added benefits involved:听

1. Greater flexibility听

Because of the way online degree programs are designed and offered, they tend to provide more flexible scheduling. Many courses take place asynchronously so you can learn around your other responsibilities rather than fitting those obligations around your degree.

2. Work full-time or part-time

Many online college students continue working either part-time or full-time while earning their degree, thanks in part to the flexible scheduling we mentioned above. Sixty-nine percent of online undergraduate learners and 76 percent of graduate learners are over 25 years old, making an online degree program a strong option for nontraditional students [].听

3. Typically more affordable

Depending on what you study and where, some online degrees may cost less than in-person degrees. Online colleges don鈥檛 have the same overhead as brick-and-mortar schools, meaning they can charge less. More than that, you likely won鈥檛 have additional expenses, like transportation and on-campus housing, to factor into your budget.

4. Develop unique skills听

With online learning, you get the chance to practice and refine self-discipline and time management. Both of those skills are important given the flexible, often self-paced nature of online learning, and both are valuable workplace skills that are particularly important as more of the global workforce becomes remote.听

5. Network with your peers

Many students opt to learn in person because they want the full college experience or the opportunity to socialize and network. However, many online degree programs offer opportunities to interact with other students. Those exchanges may start off via discussion forums or emails at first, but there鈥檚 an array of virtual resources to foster long-distance connections if you鈥檙e willing to make the time.听

How to find the best online degree program for you

Enrolling in an online degree program has many advantages, as we discussed above, but it鈥檚 important that you find the right online program for you. Because of the self-discipline and time management that learning online requires, when you learn is up to you. That makes it especially important to make sure you鈥檙e set up for success.听

Below, we鈥檝e outlined a few components that you should keep in mind as you research different online degree programs and go about determining the ones you鈥檇 like to apply to.

Look for accreditation.

Finding an online degree from an accredited college or university is one way to ensure that you鈥檙e receiving a quality education that has been vetted by an approved outside agency. But the type of accreditation can become especially important if you want to transfer previously earned credits to a new institution鈥攐r apply for federal financial aid. Note how each program is accredited, regionally or nationally, and speak with an advisor if you have additional questions.听

Consider the course format.

The way your online program is structured will depend on the college or university you attend. Some programs are fully online, meaning you will not be expected to attend any classes on campus. However, others employ a hybrid model, meaning you will be expected to take some classes in person. Learn how each program is structured and think about the best approach for your learning style and schedule.听

Determine how much flexibility you need.

Speaking of how you鈥檒l learn, online programs tend to structure courses asynchronously (in which you learn on your own time) or synchronously (in which you attend a scheduled class virtually). Depending on your schedule and your needs, figure out which option best suits you, and narrow your program choices down based on how they offer courses.听

Pay attention to what you can learn.

Not every major or program is available online at every degree level. Once you know what you want to study and the kind of degree you want to earn, begin researching which colleges and universities offer that track. Pay close attention to the coursework required to graduate, and make sure it aligns with what you hope to gain by earning your degree.听

Research the cost.

Each online degree program charges a different amount for tuition and fees, including in some cases whether you鈥檙e in-state or out-of-state. As you identify different programs that interest you, make a note about tuition costs so you can make a decision that best suits your resources. You can submit a FAFSA form each year, which may help you qualify for grants, scholarships, and federal student loans.听

Review faculty credentials.

As much as possible, you should find out about the faculty who will teach your courses, whether those are led asynchronously or synchronously. Online programs should provide those details, and knowing more about your faculty鈥檚 experience and credentials can help reassure you that you鈥檙e learning from subject experts.

Find an online degree program on 糖心vlog官网观看听

Learn more about online bachelor鈥檚 degrees and online master鈥檚 degrees from leading universities on 糖心vlog官网观看. You鈥檒l find a number of in-demand fields at each degree level. All programs are designed to be flexible, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Attend a virtual session to learn more about each degree.

Not sure if a degree is the best choice for you? Check out a number of Professional Certificates from Google, IBM, and Meta to develop job-ready skills in less than a year.听