Ten Reasons to Consider an Online Associate's Degree

Online Degrees Are More Popular and Legitimate Than You May Think!

Michy Lynn
Going to college at a university or bricks and mortar campus is simply not an option for many adult learners today. With the economy the way it is competition for remaining jobs becomes fierce. The best way to compete in a tight job marketplace is to have the best skills and education, along with as much experience as possible.

Unfortunately, getting a degree takes time, and you need to work now and want job security along the way. One way to ensure both these things is to seek on online degree, particularly an online associate's degree.

Why an associate's degree and why online? Let's look at ten top reasons to get an online associate's degree.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #1: To Increase your Income

It's been stated by various online colleges that getting an associate's degree can increase your overall lifetime income by more than one million dollars.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #2: Flexibility over campus degrees.

With an online associate's degree, you have more flexibility and can manage your study time around your life and work schedule. While some online degree programs do have 'meeting' times and dates, you can generally do all your work on a computer at your convenience.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #3: Life experience can count as college credit!

Many of the online colleges will accept some life experience and work experience as college credit and allow you to test out of certain entry level classes in which you already have extensive experience in your job or life. This can greatly reduce the amount of time required to earn an online associate's degree, as well as reducing the overall cost of the associate's degree too.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #4: You can get an associate's degree fast!

Associate's degree on ground campuses can take as long as four or five years attending school part time. If you attend part time for an online university, you can consolidate your classes, test out of basic level classes, and often complete an online associate's degree in a little over a year, allowing you to start moving up in work and increasing your income and job security sooner!

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #5: You can transfer associate's degree credits for higher degrees.

All classes and credits received for an online associate's degree are available to be transferred to another college or another online university or online campus to gain a higher degree in the future.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #6: Increase your computer skills.

Working toward an online associate's degree, you will learn many new skills on the computer in order to gain your degree and can use those new computer skills in your job or job/career search immediately.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #7: Get a promotion or a new job!

Many companies require degrees in order to move up the corporate ladder, move into management or simply to take on additional responsibility that leads to additional income for you. An online associate's degree can help you apply for jobs you might not have been eligible for before gaining a degree, or can give you an advantage over non-degreed applications.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #8: Proving to yourself you can do it!

Maybe you've wanted to go back to school for a long time, but you aren't sure you can handle it. An associate's degree program is cheaper than a higher degree and you can finish it faster than a higher degree, so you can reap the benefits of it sooner. If you are uncertain whether going back to school is right for you or not, signing up for an associate's degree program online commits you to less money and less time, and your credits are transferrable to a higher degree later.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #9: Choice of associate's degree programs.

If you're not sure what degree you want to get, an associate's degree that you get online let's you test out a few different programs or degree plans before you commit to anything long-term. You can always change your focus to a different major or course plan with an associate's degree if it's not what you are wanting to pursue once you get into it.

Why Get an Online Associate's Degree?
Reason #10: Associate's degrees are cheaper than other degrees!

If money is a consideration, and let's face it, it is for most of us, an online associate's degree is less expensive than a higher degree, and can get you working in a better job or career path sooner. Once you're making more money, you can always go back and get a higher degree too.

There you have it, ten (10) exceptional reasons why you might want to consider seeking information about online associate's degrees. It's your life and career and education, so it's worth spending a little time researching your options and decide if an online associate's degree is beneficial for you.

Published by Michy Lynn - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness

Michy is an author & freelance writer, with a penchant for fiction, creative nonfiction and topics that pique her passion: alternative medicine, animals & pets, love & relationships, and her all-time favorit...  View profile

  • Online associate's degrees are similar in legitimacy to campus degrees.
  • An online associate's degree is flexible and less time intensive as ground campus degrees.
  • Online associate's degree programs offer a variety of choices.

19 Comments

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  • Gabriella Bertolli11/9/2010

    You should include however to check with your employers, some disregard online degrees.

  • A. Hermitt7/3/2009

    Great article... I just wrote something related to this from a homeschoolers perspective. After learning all those years at home, and online degree would be more natural. I recommend at least getting the associates online and then moving to a 4 year higher on campus degree (for kids) for older adults, I think online might be better.

  • Janet Hunt4/24/2009

    Great article about online education. I can attest to an online associate's degree. I will receive my associate's of business from University of Phoenix next month, my classes are done in two weeks. It's been pretty painless (except for Algebra!)

  • Lori Piper4/15/2009

    excellent work on this

  • Maria Roth4/15/2009

    Great work. :)

  • Charlotte Kuchinsky4/15/2009

    Excellent piece

  • K. Karl4/15/2009

    If I do anymore college, it will be done all online. This is great for those students who have families and work.

  • J. E. Davidson4/15/2009

    I've considered this before, and I really should do it. Thanks for the encouragement!

  • jcorn4/15/2009

    Sure saves commuting time and great for those on a tight budget and also those pressed for time. Nice job!

  • Amy Browne4/14/2009

    I was thinking about going online for the next one. I do not want to do the brick and mortar type of degree again... i loved my online classes and disliked the travel to do the on campus classes..

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