Online Degrees in Missouri (MO)
The economic news has not been good for colleges around the country, and that certainly has been the case for campus-based schools in Missouri, which is one of 43 states that have cut services to higher education in recent months.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, declining tax revenues have forced most states to either make cuts to education and state services, or raise taxes. And the effects in Missouri could be felt for years to come. For instance:
- In fiscal year 2011, Missouri's budget has been reduced by 60 percent for the state's only need-based financial aid program, which helps 42,000 students in the state go to college. Some of that money has been restored with other scholarship money, but the reduction remains at 24 percent, the center reported.
- Missouri's higher education officials say class sizes are likely to increase, and that some schools will have to share academic programs and services.
Future budget cuts could reach 20 percent, according to Missouri Higher Education Commissioner Robert Stein.
Get the 411 on Missouri Online Degrees
These changes could make Missouri online degrees more attractive to those hoping to further their education. Missouri online programs include independent courses that allow you to study at your own pace, and interactive courses that roughly follow a regular semester. Courses run the gamut from philosophy and literature to architectural studies or vocational training.
Many students who have a full-time job find taking classes online very convenient. Most courses have a web page where assignments, grades and class lists can be found. You can e-mail classmates or chat online with your professor.
Online Degree Programs in Missouri: Which Degree Levels Do They Offer?
Associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs are available online through online degree programs in Missouri, with degrees in business administration, criminal justice, and education among dozens of others being offered. Missouri online classes can easily be blended with on-campus classes as you earn your degree.
What Benefits Can Missouri Online Degree Programs Offer You?
This flexibility of being able to study at your own pace is just one of the advantages of taking Missouri degree programs. Here are some others:
- For many schools, it's often easier to get the classes you want. Popular campus-based programs often fill up fast, and this can increase the time it takes to earn credits toward your degree.
- You save time. By taking an online class, you save the time spent driving to campus, hunting for a parking spot, or waiting around between classes.
- It pays off. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school graduates earn a median weekly income of $626. Those with an associate's degree earn $761 and those with a bachelor's degree earn $1,025.
Which Jobs Are Available in Missouri Once You've Earned Your Degree?
According to the Missouri Department of Economic Development, there should be an increasing demand for jobs in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors as the growth of biofuel plants in the state continues. Since the burgeoning biofuel industry in Missouri favors in-state farmers, the money stays in the state and is expected to create demands in other employment sectors as well.
The best Missouri online degrees should be for fast-growing occupations such as:
- Biomedical engineers
- Financial examiners
- Home health aides
- Network and data analysts
- Medical scientists
Of the nearly 3 million workers in Missouri, about 460,000 work for the government in various capacities. In fact, government jobs are the fast-growing sector of the jobs market in Missouri. Education and Health Services jobs are also growing, while most other job categories showed a decline in the first six months of 2010.
The mean annual salary in Missouri is $39,250, with managers making an average of $93,000 a year and those in the business and financial sectors making nearly $58,000 annually, on average.
