For a long time, if someone wanted to go back to school to earn a degree, then they either had to quit their job or basically balance two full-time careers at once. While the latter is still the case, now more than ever, it’s easier to balance going back to school with a full-time job.
The point being, you don’t have to quit your job to go back to school. There are accredited online and continuing education degree programs available that allow you to take courses when you want and also finish your schoolwork when it’s convenient for you.
Here are just some of the reasons why an online degree can make it easier for you to balance school with a full-time job.
You don’t have to go to campus
One of the main benefits of an online degree is that you don’t have to go to campus for lectures. Your lectures take place in an online setting that have typically already been recorded or written, so you can access them when you want. This means you won’t lose time to a commute, making it easier to balance your coursework with work for your job. No commute also means you save money.
Around 33 percent of college students are taking at least one course online, and not having to go to campus for the class is a big reason why. Nonetheless, online classes are on the rise and even traditional on-campus programs are incorporating them.
Flexible deadlines and lectures
In many online settings, there are weekly deadlines and lectures. However, deadlines for work might be two to three times a week and you could have the entire week to watch the lectures and finish the readings. This gives you time throughout the week to finish your coursework. Not to mention, in a traditional college setting, lectures take place at a specific time that’s mandatory.
As long as you meet your assignment deadlines, you can finish the lectures and readings at your own pace. You can also do the work anywhere you want and you no longer have to live near (or even in the same state) a college to attend classes.
The ability to get ahead
While this can depend on a program-by-program basis, some online degrees allow students to get ahead. That’s because the entire course could be accessible at once, meaning you can get ahead on lectures, papers, assignments, readings, etc.
Of course, there still might be weekly assignments you have to participate in, but it’s a huge benefit to have the ability to get ahead on lectures and readings, especially if you have a busy week of work coming up.
A wide range of classes and degrees
Thanks to technology, there are now a wide range of classes and degrees a student can take online. Not only that but associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and even Ph.D programs are offered online.
With that said, it’s important to point out that not every degree is offered online. As an example, if you want to be a dentist in Red Bank, NJ, then some of your program will take place on campus because of the nature of dentistry, labs, the practice, etc.
There are many great jobs you can get with an online degree, and whether you plan on changing careers in the long run or are seeking career advancement at your current job, now more than ever, it’s possible to balance school with a full-time job thanks to online programs. Gone are the days of having to quit your job to go back to school. In fact, your full-time job can support your online studies.