At a time when unemployment rates are high and the economy is low, community colleges that offer associate degrees are said to be growing in programs and enrollment numbers online and on campus. Whether the student is new out of high school or a returning student in their 40’s, earning college degrees online is growing in popularity.
It’s well known that furthering one’s education past high school, whether through an on campus or online college is an expensive affair. It involves an incredible investment of both time and – especially these days – money. No average American can consider matriculation without some sort of financial package, as well as the necessary grades. Also, with the cost of college tuition rising faster than the national rate of inflation, even the well off are now planning assistance along with what school they enroll in. All these factors make obtaining an accredited degree online even more attractive.
A bachelor’s degree might allow students to make more money, improve the quality of life for themselves and their children and enjoy greater job security, as well as have higher levels of savings and more hobbies and leisure activities, according to reports in an article from the Washington, DC-based ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education. Students with a college education from a traditional or an online school, might also become less authoritarian and more open-minded, cultured, rational and consistent, passing these traits on to future generations, the 2002 article noted.
With this current economy, making ends meet is getting pretty tough. It can be even tougher while participating in degree programs online. Even if you hold down a regular job and go to school, that won’t stop the landlord wanting the rent. And even if the federal government does offer the maximum for a Pell Grant ($5,750), it’s often not enough. This is one of the leading reasons why most students drop out in their first two years.
Every student thinking of going to college has heard of the Pell Grant. It cuts the cost considerably for those who are pursuing traditional and online degrees. At the same time, even though President Obama pushed through a raise on the Pell, it’s currently only good for less than $6,000 at max, and that might not cover the entire cost of tuition, much less living expenses.
There will be more money available than ever to help college-bound students pay for their education. That’s great news for people who are already enrolled or want to go back to school to earn their university degrees. A new government bill aims to help students find funding for school or pay off their college loans. The additional finding is part of the governments plan to make higher education available to more people by reducing the cost and the stress of finding money to pay for school.
As part of the plan to stimulate the economy, the Obama administration has launched a number of programs to help defray the cost of getting college degrees and help the American public obtain higher-paying careers. He hasn’t finished and promises more, but one of the key areas addressed has been the long term costs of student loans and a push for online schools.
One thing a high school student has to do when planning their college education is list all the reasons why they should be matriculated to the college of their choice, either traditional schools or schools online. This means listing more than just their grades. It actually should include exceptional extracurricular activities, ranging from sports to civic responsibility. Another good reference is belonging to an honor society. Still, one has to be careful about which societies one lists.
If you want to be a more sellable commodity in a flooded job market or to earn more money in the future, you might consider higher education. And Internet-based classes and online degree programs these days offer the flexibility to accomplish this goal on your own time, in your own space and when you don’t have to tend to your career or your family.
One of the most famous stories Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ever wrote was “The Red-Headed League”. In it, Sherlock Holmes uncovered a strange case regarding a man who was handsomely paid to sit in a lonely office and basically do nothing…only because he had a perfect head of red hair. Well, that was fiction. Quite frankly, truth can be even stranger, especially when it comes to getting financial aid for an online college course.
