Online Degrees in Connecticut

Connecticut brings together the quality of life of New England with the career opportunity of New York City. The southwestern region of the state is an easy rail commute away from the New York metropolitan area. Online degree programs in Connecticut colleges help residents access the rich local and regional job markets.

Get the 411 on Connecticut Online Degrees

Online degree programs in Connecticut help residents take advantage of the college and professional opportunities available throughout the state. In the face of state budget cuts, Connecticut colleges are expanding online education to reduce overhead costs and make higher education more affordable for students.

Connecticut Higher Education Outlook. Like many states, Connecticut is facing a severe budget crunch; 2011 estimates put the budget shortfall at 29 percent. The state has responded with cuts to higher education operating expense budgets and financial aid programs. Both private and public college students are reeling after a proposed $14 million cut to financial aid.

Fortunately, the online format is helping colleges and students alike bring down the cost of higher education. The best Connecticut online degrees allow local students to use the campus library, computing, or lab facilities. Hybrid online programs incorporate periodic face-to-face class meetings. And in addition to cutting overhead and tuition costs, Connecticut online degrees give students the flexibility to earn while they learn. Most online students work part-time or full-time throughout their education.

Online Degree Programs in Connecticut: Which Degree Levels Do They Offer?

Online degree programs in Connecticut generally reflect the education options available on campus. Available degree levels include:

• Vocational certificate
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree (including MBA)
• Doctoral degree

Career-focused programs such as the MBA and vocational training are traditionally the most popular online degrees. But the best Connecticut online degree programs span all disciplines, including hands-on specialties such as medical and scientific lab training. Healthcare and lab science programs may favor the hybrid format, incorporating lab work at a local Connecticut campus.

What Benefits Can Connecticut Degree Programs Offer You?

Online degree programs in Connecticut offer access to the vibrant local economy at an affordable price. Nationwide averages indicate a steady increase in earning power and job security with a college degree. Graduates with a bachelor's degree earned forty percent more per week, on average, than high school graduates. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate was nearly half as high for college degree holders in 2009--5.2 percent compared to nearly ten percent for high school graduates.

With the nation's highest-paying labor market--i.e., New York City--a short commute away, Connecticut college graduates have the potential to reap an even bigger return. Connecticut online degrees offer a necessary edge to compete in a local job market glutted with highly educated workers.

Which Jobs are Available in Connecticut Once You've Earned Your Degree?

Connecticut offers a home-grown industry steeped in a tradition of manufacturing and defense production, shipbuilding, and insurance administration. Today, the primary industries are:

• Financial services, including insurance and real estate
• Healthcare and education
• Manufacturing
• Government

Financial services accounts for about a third of the gross state product. The sector is also a major draw for Connecticut residents who commute to New York City, the epicenter of finance. Other major employment sectors include sales and all levels of business administration. Together, sales, management, and office occupations make up a third of all Connecticut occupations.

Connecticut online degrees offer entry into one of the most lucrative and competitive job markets in the nation. With metropolitan New York an easy commute away, there are no limits to your career potential. Online degrees let you realize that potential without disrupting your life or finances.