Regardless of the Cost, College Still Matters
“In most respects, a college degree has never been more valuable. As highlighted in a recent Hamilton Project piece, recent college graduates earn more money and have an easier time finding employment than their peers who only have a high school diploma. What may be less intuitive is that these gaps have been growing in recent years. As the graph below illustrates, a young college graduate earned about $4,000 more per year in the 1980s, adjusting for inflation, than someone of the same age who did not attend college (averaged across the entire population, not just those in the workforce). Over the last three decades, that figure has climbed to $12,000 per year.”
Vocational Education and Training
“After completing nine years of required schooling, two-thirds of 15 and 16 year olds choose Vocational Education and Training (VET), which combines three years of part-time classroom instruction with training at a company. The youth unemployment rate in Switzerland is less than 3 percent.
VET apprentices generate more revenues than they cost in salaries and instruction, so most companies profit from VET participation, even if they train more apprentices than they need. On average, VET graduates start at $50,000 a year.
Most young Americans won’t earn a college degree, says Nancy Hoffman of Jobs for the Future in a Nation interview with Dana Goldstein. A Swiss-style apprenticeship system would motivate young people and qualify them for good jobs, she argues.”
Where to Begin with Getting an Online Degree
I need some assistance getting started on an online degree. It was suggested I start with an associates. I am currently a temp working as a Buyer for our Purcahsing Department. One of my sups pulled me aside and told me most of the permenent positions require a degree but, if I have a plan laid out, and present it with my application, it may open some doors So, the question of where to begin. Are these online classes a pay as you go or do you need to plop down you cash in advance? The company I work for does have a reimbursment plan, though I’m not sure of the structure. I received an email saying there is counseling avaialbe here. I’m hoping to get in touch with someone that can help me ask the right questions….
Thanks!
Hello Ron,
If you have no college course experience to date then yes, beginning by looking at an associate degree would be a good first step.
An associate degree takes only 2 years (rather than 4 for the bachelors degree) AND is a good first degree that you can transfer toward a 4-year bachelor degree later.
To get the full story read our great article What Is an Online Associate Degree
Get Educated profiles 100 online associate degrees
in our directory of accredited online degrees.
Here are the steps
STEP 1: Get a copy of your company’s tuition reimbursement program and have someone explain to you.
Understand what you qualify for and how much money $ you qualify for.
—Will your company pay for individual courses or only degree programs?
—Will your company pay for courses or degrees from nationally accredited colleges as well as regionally accredited colleges.
SEE: Online college accreditation
—How much and when will your company pay for courses? Most companies cap the pay out at $2,000 a year max AND will only pay you after you successfully complete a course with a C or above grade. Some companies only pay after you’ve been employed for at least a year.
STEP 2: Once you know what your company will pay for and how much they will pay per year match that to the type of education that is available.
STEP 3: For a look at the most affordable or cheapest online degree at the associate level search all our online associate degrees and then HIT the ORDER by COST button at the top of your search. The system will rank all the degrees by cost for you.
PLUS …
STEP 4: To check for a low cost community college in your state that has online degrees and free counseling to help you better understand the college degree process and financial aid, check our great list of low cost online community college sites.
Regional vs. National Accreditation: Which Is Better for Online Colleges?
Question:
Help! Comparing online colleges is an overwhelming task. I have a list of more than twenty possible colleges. I’m favoring one online university that is accredited by the Distance Education & Training Council (DETC). Is the DETC a valid accreditor? Will my online degree be widely recognized? My career counselor told me national accreditation (like the DETC) is not as good as regional accreditation. Which is best when it comes to online colleges: regional accreditation or national accreditation? And does it really make any difference?
—Michael
Atlanta, Georgia
Answer:
The truth? One type of online college accreditation is not necessarily “better” than another if you take “better” to mean “better academically.” However, there are real benefits to attending a regionally accredited college versus a nationally accredited college.
“Columbia College is one of 64 colleges and universities across the nation participating in Project Win-Win. The goal of the project is to help more Americans obtain college degrees by providing grant money to aid institutions in identifying former students whose academic records already qualify them for a two-year degree and arranging for them to graduate and receive a diploma. These students were originally pursuing bachelor’s degrees but for varying reasons withdrew from school. Institutions also will identify students who are one to three classes short of an associate degree and will advise them on how to complete their degree.”
Military Tuition Assistance Affords Active Soldiers An Online Degree
“The way things are set up, almost any serviceperson should be able to get at least an associate degree while on active duty, because of the Military Tuition Assistance,” says Manfred F. Meine, professor of public administration at Troy University in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a Department of Defense program for active-duty military soldiers and personnel.
While provisions differ between branches of service, in TA provides benefits in general cover up to $250 per credit hour, with a maximum of $4,500 per year. Using these benefits active duty soldiers can potentially get a free college degree online while serving in the military.
What Level of Education Do I Need?
Been told you need a degree to advance at work? Want to change your career? Confused about the difference between a master’s and a bachelor’s degree? Uncertain if you even need a degree? Remember the Golden Rule: Never Buy More Education than You Truly Need.
