Category: Degree360

Most Employable Tech Degrees In 2020

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

Remember Rosie, the robot housekeeper, from the Jetsons? The way tech is progressing, she might just become a reality sooner than you may think.

The fields of robotics, computers, and technology are changing the world as we know it. In fact, there’s barely any aspect of our lives that are untouched by them. CompTIA reports that that the tech industry is expected to hit an incredible $5.2 trillion in 2020 and the United States is expected to have a 32 percent ($1.7 trillion) share of it.

While many popular majors can prepare students for job titles that would be familiar to all generations (teacher, engineer, physician’s assistant, etc.), jobs like network administrator, software QA specialist, and database manager are products of our informatics age. And high demand in these new fields might explain why computer and technology majors top the list of degrees providing the biggest “bang for your buck” to students looking to maximize the value of their learning investment. Many of the occupations associated with them come with median wages at the higher end of the wages spectrum.

If you are familiar with terms like cloud computing, deep-learning, neural networking, then perhaps an online technology degree is the one for you. And it goes without saying; computer and technology degrees can be really compatible with online learning.

Purdue University Global

Experience world-class education online with more than 175 programs at associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
Apply eligible work experience and prior college credits toward up to 75% of your undergraduate degree.
You have the option of trying out a Purdue Global undergraduate program for an introductory 3-week period. There’s no cost beyond the application fee.
Competency-based ExcelTrack™ programs may allow you to earn your degree faster and for less money

Visit School

Featured School

1. Information Technology

Have you ever seen people wonder why their computer isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do? IT professionals are the superheroes that can help them figure it out. Apart from helping people solve tech problems, individuals in IT often look for ways to make existing business processes more efficient. As nearly every industry needs IT guys, it’s no wonder that it tops our list of the most employable tech degrees of 2020.

CompTIA reports that 86 percent of IT professionals are confident about their future job prospects. Information Technology, or IT, is a broad field that allows you to have a number of different careers in a number of different industries. So if any industry stirs your interest along with IT, like healthcare for example, you may be able to choose a specialization during the course of your online IT degree program which may help you align your interests and orient your career in that direction.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $110,090
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 16.57
Projected Employment: 2,955,300
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 108

2. Information Technology Project Management

Every booming industry needs competent managers and the IT industry is no different. With companies investing huge amounts in IT, projects need to be delivered on-time and within budget. The industry needs project managers who understand the entire process – right from how IT ideas are conceptualized to their delivery. Careers in this field combine management techniques along with technology. People management skills are definitely crucial.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) expects information services to be one of the largest sectors to create project-related job openings, needing individuals with the right mix of technical and leadership skills in the decade leading up to 2027. Project management jobs can be well-paying too with the PMI reporting that wages in this industry were far higher on average than non-project oriented jobs. Online IT project management degrees can help you gain the technical and business know-how to make a significant impact on the projects you may manage in the future.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $109,658
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 14.23
Projected Employment: 1,921,000
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 8

3. Computer and Information Sciences, General

Here we have one of those catch-all categories, this one encompassing many fields and positions having to do with both computer science and information management. Online computer and information science degrees typically focus on a wide range of computer and information related topics rather than specific majors. Students typically take a few classes in business as well. This field can act as a cross-over between computer science and information technology. You may be able to choose to specialize in an area that interests you the most as you explore the field.

This multidisciplinary approach can qualify you for a wide range of careers in tech and business including those in computer programming, software development, systems administration, and web development to name a few. An online computer and information sciences degree can be a great way to gain generalized knowledge of the field before deciding on a career path.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $100,409
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 10.11
Projected Employment: 2,175,500
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 67

4. Computer Science

Computers and IT are the most popular fields of study, after business, for students of online degree programs according to a 2019 Learning House survey of online students. Computer science can be broadly differentiated from IT as computer scientists focus mainly on the theoretical side of developing computer applications as opposed to IT professionals who look into making them user-friendly. It would be unfair to say however, that computer science professionals ignore the human aspects wholly, as the work they do can have a direct impact on peoples’ lives. For example, a computer scientist may be behind a computer program that helps vision-impaired people.

Students of online computer science degrees study the theory behind the design of computers and computational processes. The College Board recommends that those interested in studying computer science have a mathematical yet creative mindset along with the ability to think logically. A degree in computer science can lead to careers in software development, systems analysis, programming, and research among others.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $96,184
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 13.14
Projected Employment: 3,155,900
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 35

5. Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance

With more and more of our information (including details about our personal and financial lives) being stored on computer networks, the role of the information security specialist is more in demand than ever. This one has jumped up on our list as security becomes increasingly relevant due to malicious attacks and the number of devices connected to the internet increase. Everything from airplane navigation systems and government databases to financial services and mobile phones can be threatened, making cybersecurity a major area of concern.

With so much information under threat, it’s no surprise that the industry is growing rapidly. PR Newswire reports that the global cybersecurity industry was valued at $ 118.78 billion in 2018, and is expected to reach $ 267.73 billion by 2024. The BLS projects job growth at a rapid 32 percent compared to 5 percent for all other occupations. All said and done, it can be a good time for individuals interested in a career that keeps them on their tiptoes, staying abreast of all the latest tech – one step ahead of malicious attackers at all times.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $97,465
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 12.07
Projected Employment: 1,476,200
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 66

6. Information Science/Studies

The role of the information scientist is to push forward our understanding of how computers and information work and interact, developing theories and practical applications that advance the technology and processes that underlie our information age. Businesses all over the world are generating huge amounts of data, making its systematic storage and ease of access a necessity. This is where information science majors can shine designing efficient, secure and user-friendly systems that guide us through to the information we need. Information science majors may also design systems that analyze massive amounts of data to find patterns that help businesses provide better services.

The College Board recommends that students of online information science degrees be organized, good with numbers, and have an interest in human behavior. Graduates of these degree programs may find employment as database administrators, systems analysts, and librarians among other occupations.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $108,678
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 11.78
Projected Employment: 1,271,500
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 54

7. Network and System Administration/Administrator

The multiple computer networks we log into each day are designed, built, and administered by people trained in network administration, one of the most vital (and in-demand) jobs in a world of continually expanding interlinked systems. Network and system administrators ensure that computer systems and networks remain functioning for businesses, and even find ways to improve their efficiency. In fact, the work they do is so important that the last Friday in July has been designated System Administrator Appreciation Day or Sysadmin Day!

A degree in computer networking is a popular springboard to these careers. Online network and system administration degree programs can give you not just technical know-how but also the practical skills necessary to put your knowledge to use in real-world situations. The College Board recommends that aspiring network and systems administrators should have strong communication skills and love analyzing and solving problems. Since nearly every industry needs network and system administrators, you may be able to find employment in industries you are interested in.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $98,944
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 12.18
Projected Employment: 1,343,000
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 24

8. Computer Programming, Specific Applications

The National Center for Education Statistics defines the computer programming, specific applications degree programs as programs that prepare “individuals to apply the knowledge and skills of general computer programming to the solution of specific operational problems and customization requirements presented by individual software users and organizational users”. This field combines general computer-programming knowledge with the ability to plan, develop, and maintain software that end users will interact with, products that need to take into account the requirements of individual people and organizations.

After studying general programming topics, students enrolled in online computer programming, specific degree programs may choose an area of programming they want to build their proficiency in alignment with the career goals and interests. For example, those interested in entering the exciting world of video games may be able to choose video game programming as a specialization.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $99,300
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 11.23
Projected Employment: 1,827,900
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 5

9. Computer Programming/Programmer, General

Computers need instruction in specific languages. Programmers are tech wizzes that can speak (or in this case write) that language. They tell computers what to do by using computer code – the language that computers understand. Every software development project requires input from “code cutters,” programming generalists able to write the code that will become part of a product or system used by individuals, companies, government agencies, or other organizations. Programmers usually work in teams writing parts of code for programs and applications that are then put together as a whole.

Computer programmers are typically proficient in computer languages like C++ or Java for example. The BLS reports that those with knowledge of more than one language are likely to have the best job prospects.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $85,387
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 10.48
Projected Employment: 2,269,700
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 23

10. Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

Network systems and data communications analysts are the behind-the-scenes wizards we rely on to build, maintain and protect computer networks. Like a number of majors in this study, this field overlaps with others that involve the management of computer networks, but also includes management and support of telecommunication networks such as telephonic switching systems. Those working computer systems networking and telecommunications often need to have cutting-edge knowledge of existing technology so that they can improve the systems they work with or develop new ones.

Students enrolled in online computer systems networking and telecommunications can gain an in-depth understanding of data communication and modern networking technology and develop the skills needed to deploy and manage a secure enterprise network. Do bear in mind that in some schools, computer networking is a concentration within broader IT program, such as computer information technology.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $89,720
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 12.93
Projected Employment: 1,169,900
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 15

11. Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst

In today’s world of commercial applications and open-source software, many technology projects require skilled systems analysts who can help determine the right combination of new and existing technology needed to solve specific individual and organizational challenges. While computer programmers specialize in building applications for specific needs, computer systems analysts are the ones who recommend particular programs or processes to businesses and organizations. In order to do this, they need to have a working knowledge of both computer systems as well as the industries they work with. The BLS predicts that smaller firms are likely to outsource their system analysis needs to contractors. It also expects the healthcare sector to be a large contributing factor to job growth in computer systems analysis. They may also communicate business needs to computer program developers so that the end users get functioning, user-friendly programs. Analysts may also test systems they design to ensure they are bug-free. Many analysts need knowledge of programming to carry out their tasks.

The College Board has a word of advice for prospective computer systems analysts saying that choosing a minor in fields like math or business can boost career prospects.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $85,688
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 7.83
Projected Employment: 1,084,200
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 10

12. Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design

Ever been on a webpage where the information you need is almost impossible to find? You end up clicking on every single link it can conceivably be on, only to find what you’re looking for in a completely unrelated section. There are plenty of roles to be had with an online degree in page, digital/multimedia and information resources design.

Web designers need to think of more than how a website looks – they need to ensure that users can find what they need easily and that the website functions without any bugs. Additionally, content continually needs to be updated and the look changed periodically to keep it fresh and attractive. Webmasters make sure that websites are kept up-to-date and the servers are working. Some individuals wear both hats and play the roles of both web designer and webmaster.

The BLS expects a large part of the demand for web developers to stem from e-commerce and predicts that those with knowledge of multiple programming languages and digital multimedia tools to have the best job prospects.

Average Salary of Related Professions: $64,107
Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 9.40
Projected Employment: 544,300
Number of Online Schools Offering Programs in this Field: 20

As you look over these rankings, keep in mind that dollar figures are averages, meaning some may earn than these figures while others may earn less. And remember that those at the start of their career are likely to make less than the average wages for those occupations, although salary advancement in the technology field can be quite rapid.

Remember also that the newness of many of these fields means the dividing line between them can be quite blurry. Many professionals in the industry obtain certifications to gain new knowledge and develop their expertise. The blurriness between roles can work to your advantage, as you may be able to move the focus of your career fairly smoothly once you have started work. That being said, it is important that you have a strong foundation in all things tech, so make sure to do your research before enrolling in any degree program to make sure it coincides with your specific career goals.

For this analysis, we ranked 30 online degrees in technology. To be included in the ranking, each major had to:

Match to a corresponding code in the Classification of Instructional Programs
Be offered online at the bachelor’s level at five or more institutions

We scored each major on the following data points, using a 10-point scale and the weights specified:

Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018
Annual 75^th percentile wage of each occupation matched to the major, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018
of schools offering this degree online at the bachelor’s level, National Center for Education Statistics, 2018-19
Average projected growth rate of all jobs matched to each major, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018-2028
Total number of jobs projected in 10 years of all occupations matched to the major, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018-28
Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018-28

Methodology Sources

2018 Occupational Employment Statistics and 201-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; 2018-28 State Occupational Projections, Projections Central, projectionscentral.com
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Sources

2020 Technology Industry Outlook, Deloitte, 2019, https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/technology-industry-outlook/
Career: Network and Computer Systems Administrators, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/careers/computers-math-network-computer-systems-administrators, accessed February 2020
Career: Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/careers/computers-math-network-systems-data-communications-analysts, accessed February 2020
CIO Jury: 83% of CIOs struggle to find tech talent, Tech Republic, https://www.techrepublic.com/article/cio-jury-83-of-cios-struggle-to-find-tech-talent/, accessed February 2020
Clinefelter, D. L., Aslanian, C. B., & Magda, A. J., Online college students 2019: Comprehensive data on demands and preferences. Louisville, KY: Wiley edu, LLC, 2019, https://www.learninghouse.com/knowledge-center/research-reports/ocs2019-research-report/
Computer and Information Research Scientists, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm, accessed February 2020
Computer and Information Technology Occupation, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, modified September 2019, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm
Computer Programmers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm , accessed February 2020
Computer Programming, Specific Applications, IPEDS, NCES, https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=55&cipid=87246, accessed February 2020
Computer Systems Analysts, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-systems-analysts.htm, accessed February 2020
CS vs CIS vs IT – Which Technology Degree is for You?, Gwynedd Mercy University, https://www.gmercyu.edu/academics/learn/cs-cis-it-difference, accessed February 2020
Information Security Analysts, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm, accessed February 2020
IT Industry Outlook 2020, CompTIA, 2019, https://www.comptia.org/content/research/it-industry-trends-analysis
Job Growth and Talent Gap 2017 – 2027, The Project Management Institute, 2017, https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/job-growth-report.pdf
Major: Computer and Information Sciences, General, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/computer-information-sciences-computer-information-sciences-general, accessed February 2020
Major: Computer Networking and Telecommunications, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/computer-information-sciences-computer-networking-telecommunications, accessed February 2020
Major: Computer Science, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/computer-information-sciences-computer-science, accessed February 2020
Major: Computer Systems Analysis, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/computer-information-sciences-computer-systems-analysis, accessed February 2020
Major: Information Science, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/computer-information-sciences-information-science, accessed February 2020
Major: Information Technology, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/computer-information-sciences-information-technology, accessed February 2020
Network and Computer Systems Administrators, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htm, accessed February 2020
The global cybersecurity market was valued at USD 118.78 billion in 2018, and is expected to reach USD 267.73 billion by 2024, registering a CAGR of 14.5%, during the period of 2019, PR Newswire, 2019, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-global-cybersecurity-market-was-valued-at-usd-118-78-billion-in-2018 — and-is-expected-to-reach-usd-267-73-billion-by-2024 — registering-a-cagr-of-14-5-during-the-period-of-2019 — 300955378/
Web Developers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm, accessed February 2020
What Is a Computer Systems Analyst? A Spotlight on These Behind-the-Scenes Tech Pros, Rasmussen College, 2019, https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/what-is-computer-systems-analyst/

Our Partner Listings

Tags student-focus

5 Future Jobs That Artificial Intelligence Might Create

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

The use of artificial intelligence or AI has become an integral part of many areas of modern life — from the obvious smartphones and computers to healthcare, business, manufacturing and many more areas. But what is artificial intelligence? The science of artificial intelligence involves developing systems that help machines to reason, deduce and even learn from past experience so that they can intelligently perform tasks in a way that is similar to humans.

A recent report from the World Economic Forum names artificial intelligence as one of the four drivers of change that may positively affect business growth between 2018 and 2022. This means that artificial intelligence could lead to the creation of 58 million net new jobs in the next few years, according to a recent article from Forbes. Earning a degree in AI may open new doors for you in the coming years. You could explore various online degree programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning and choose one that fits your career plans.

What Kinds of Jobs in AI Can We Look Forward To?

Research suggests that AI and machine learning may lead to entirely new and unprecedented jobs coming into being. A recent global study by Accenture identifies six novel categories of uniquely human jobs that may reshape the ways in which people will work in the future — trainers, explainers, sustainers, amplifiers, interactors and embodiers. Here we have narrowed down five new and exciting jobs in AI that you could pursue in the future.

1. Artificial Intelligence Business Development Manager

Although more and more services are being created and managed using AI, humans may still be needed to drive sales and business development for these services. An AI business development manager can develop strategies and collaborate with teams related to product management and development, sales and marketing as well as other stakeholders in order to increase sales and engagement on AI opportunities.

What you would need: You typically need to have more than five years of experience in fields such as sales, business development or product management, and particularly experience selling to major corporations. Employees might also look for experience in AI or machine learning platforms, cloud computing or other related fields. For this position, an MBA might be a valuable qualification.

2. Data Detective

A data detective generally discovers or examines data from multiple sources and comes up with meaningful answers and recommendations for businesses. The data may be from sensors, biometric monitors, traditional computing infrastructure, Internet of Things end points and other sources.

What you would need: This role may be an excellent choice for curious individuals with the capacity to investigate relentlessly. A background in law or law enforcement can be useful and qualifications or experience in data science could be an asset. Entry level candidates who are interested in data, math and investigative work might find this job exciting.

3. Man-machine Teaming Manager

As the interaction between humans and machines for business purposes increases, managers who monitor and moderate these interactions may be needed. A man-machine teaming manager defines roles and responsibilities and devises a system for communication and collaboration between humans and machines.

What you would need: If you are passionate about programming and robotics, the role of man-machine teaming manager may be for you. Graduates in experimental psychology or neuroscience and with a master’s in AI, computer science, engineering or HR can be a good fit for this AI future job.

4. Ethical sourcing officer

The main responsibility of an ethical sourcing officer is to ensure that a company’s expenditure follows the standards set by stakeholders and laid down by the corporate ethics board. You are usually required to gather and analyze data on categories of spend, track and test the suppliers of goods and services, and make modifications to plans so that both terms of contracts and ethical wishes of stakeholders are followed.

What you would need: This role could be a good option for individuals with a background in business, law, governance or philosophy and with experience in defining ethical behavior in the corporate context. Communication, interpersonal and analytical skills as well as a flair for negotiation and networking are important in this job.

5. Personal memory curator

These professionals typically create virtual reality experiences for aging individuals or those with memory loss to help them relive past experiences. Doing so help patients cope better with stress and anxiety due to memory loss. A personal memory curator might have to work closely with customers and specialists to construct memory experience plans, complete with historically and geographically accurate information.

What you would need: For this job, you might need a qualification in psychology, a talent for storytelling and a grounding in virtual reality simulation techniques. Excellent communication skills and exceptional emotional intelligence will place you at an advantage because a certain sensitivity and tact might be required when working with customers to uncover lost memories and experiences.

Sources

Forbes, “Is AI Going to Be a Jobs Killer? New Reports About The Future of Work”, published on 15 July, 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/gilpress/2019/07/15/is-ai-going-to-be-a-jobs-killer-new-reports-about-the-future-of-work/#405a220cafb2 , accessed December 2019
Forbes, “Artificial Intelligence To Create 58 Million New Jobs By 2022, Says Report”, published on 18 September, 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2018/09/18/artificial-intelligence-to-create-58-million-new-jobs-by-2022-says-report/#231a211d4d4b , accessed December 2019
World Economic Forum, “The Future of Jobs 2018”, http://reports.weforum.org/future-of-jobs-2018/ , accessed December 2019
Wired, “AI and the Future of Work”, https://www.wired.com/wiredinsider/2018/04/ai-future-work/ , accessed December 2019
Built In, “AI and The Future of Jobs”, published on 27 August, 2019, https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-replacing-jobs-creating-jobs , accessed December 2019
Accenture, “Process Reimagined”, 2018, https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/pdf-76/accenture-process-reimagined.pdf , accessed December 2019
Cognizant, Center for the Future of Work, “21 Jobs of the Future: A Guide to Getting – and Staying – Employed Over the Next 10 Years”, https://www.cognizant.com/whitepapers/21-jobs-of-the-future-a-guide-to-getting-and-staying-employed-over-the-next-10-years-codex3049.pdf , accessed December 2019

2019 Best Online Business Administration Colleges In Texas

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

The Lone Star State is home to 48 Fortune 500 companies ranking third in the United States after California and New York. Twenty-two of these Texas-based companies have their home in the Dallas-Fort Worth region which has one of the largest concentrations of tech workers in the country. According to the Dallas Regional Chamber, Texas is on several lists of top-performing states, including the best state for female entrepreneurs and being the No. 1 state for wind energy. The 2019 Chief Executive Magazine’s survey of CEOs put Texas as the best state for doing business.

Texas also holds a record for being one of the highest earning majors for bachelor’s degree holders in Texas, according to a 2017 report by the Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. If you have a job or other life commitments that keep you from earning the degree you want, online colleges in Texas offer flexible online degree programs in business administration. These are fully online or hybrid programs that take into consideration your busy lifestyle allowing you to balance work, life and study. But read on to find out why the Texas job market is so hungry for business professionals!

Business in Texas is big; so is the job market for business professionals

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Texas would make it the tenth largest economy in the world if it was its own country contributing to 9 percent of the U.S. economy, according to the American Enterprise Institute. The wide variety of industries — from manufacturing to aeronautics to oil – translates to a variety of occupation choices for business professionals in Texas.

According to the 2018 Texas Workforce Commission’s report, professional and business services were listed among the 4 largest private industries when combined accounted for over 58 percent of the jobs in Texas, at the end of fiscal year 2018. The same report mentions a variety of growth occupations (2016 to 2026) including general and operations managers, sales and customer service representatives, sales managers, business operations specialists, first-line supervisors, meeting convention and event planners, and public relations specialists across top-growing industries in Texas. For those wanting to start their own business, Texas is home to 2.6 million small businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, and is one of four states without corporate income tax.

Read on to know more about the colleges that make it to our list of the best online degrees for business administration in Texas!

15 Best Online Business Administration Degrees in Texas

Our methodology explained

Our unique methodology uses data from the Integrated Postsecondary Data Systems (IPEDS), a government database. In crafting this ranking we have considered factors that are most likely to be important to online students, such as the percentage of students participating in distance education, along with factors like placement services, accreditation, and financial aid. We invite you to take a look at the methodology to see how these factors align with your needs.

Here are our top 15 picks for the best online business administration degree programs in Texas.

Wayland Baptist University

Wayland Baptist University is a private Christian University offering online business administration degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. It is associated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). It also participates in the National Council for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and the university can accept students from all 50 states, according to their website.

Students enrolled in the online Master’s in Business Administration program can choose a concentration from accounting, general business, healthcare administration, human resource management, international management, management, management information systems, or project management while students of their online Bachelor’s in Business Administration degree program can choose a specialization from business administration, cybersecurity, economics/finance, management information systems, and marketing/management.

Apart from a low student to faculty ratio of 10 students to one faculty member, they also have the largest electronic library collection on our ranking of the best online colleges in Texas for business administration.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $14520
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4698
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 13,099,737

LeTourneau University

LeTourneau University is a Christian polytechnic university. It is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). It offers online business administration degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels through its School of Business. It also offers a unique 4+1 MBA program where you can earn your master’s degree in just five years after graduating from high school.

Online students of the business administration bachelor’s degree program can choose concentrations in finance, general business, human resource management, management and nonprofit management.

The school boasts of a 90 percent graduate placement rate which can help recent high school graduates secure their first jobs or career changers finally make the switch. LeTourneau also has a special endowed scholarship fund specifically for home schooled students, according to their website.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17:
Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $28770
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5255
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 288,437

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, non-profit Christian university. It offers online business administration degrees at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) as well.

Their online bachelor’s degree program in business administration allows students to add on an additional associate degree to their BBA’s in accounting, human resource management, management and marketing.

Their online degree programs are geared for students above the age of 22. Students can save up to $25,000 toward their bachelor’s degrees through experiential learning credits, according to their website information.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $19700
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4530
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 263,862

Dallas Baptist University

Dallas Baptist University is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC while its online business administration degree programs are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). It also participates in NC-SARA making it easier to transfer credits from other states.

The University offers a range of online business administration degree programs including associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It also offers an accelerated online Bachelor’s and Master’s Business Administration degree programs with concentrations in accounting, finance, management and music business.

Dual online MBAs are also offered in different disciplines like Children’s Ministry, Christian Ministry, Discipleship, Global Leadership and Student ministry. It also offers various MBAs in education as dual master’s degrees.

The website states their online library offers personal research aid to students and allows them to access to materials owned by other libraries through their inter library loan program.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $26580
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4757
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 194,273

Texas A&M University-Texarkana

Texas A&M University-Texarkana is accredited by SACSCOC and participates in NC-SARA. The University’s College of Business, Engineering and Technology is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB International).

The school offers an online MBA with students being required to complete a capstone project in their last semester.

Students have access to their online library which has over 50,000 e-books apart from journal subscriptions, per website information. Students can also access VAST, Films on Demand and NBC Learn HigherED which gives them access to large multidisciplinary video databases to help connect their learning to real world situations.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $5178
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4821
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 747,399

Concordia University Texas

Concordia University Texas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The university offers its online business administration programs through the College of Business and Communication which has specialized accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) to offer the online MBA program.

Apart from the MBA the university also offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration with concentrations in global health and economic development, healthcare administration and human resource management. MBA students can choose from two concentrations namely Health Care Administration (HCA) and Organizational Development and Learning (ODL). Students of online business administration degree programs may be required to attend synchronous sessions periodically.

A tie-up with tutor.com means that online students can make use of online one-to-one tutoring services offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students working with non-profit organizations can also benefit from a $70 per credit hour non-profit discount as stated by their website. The school’s Center for Vocation & Professional Development can also help students find internship positions.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $29840
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5134
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 708,629

Parker University

Parker University is a private university with a focus on healthcare. It is accredited by the SACSCOC. It offers an online Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Healthcare Management as well as an online Master’s in Business Administration with a healthcare management focus. The MBA program is currently a candidate for accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Business Programs (ACBSP).

Its healthcare management BBA takes in new enrollments every month making it convenient for students to align their classes with their busy schedules. The MBA program offers four concentrations in health care management, management, information technology and practice management.

A hundred percent of the university’s students received financial aid last year and this college also has the lowest student to faculty ratio on our list with just seven students per faculty member. Their job placement rates for graduates of both the BBA and MBA programs were 100% in 2017-18, according to IPEDS data.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $25128
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $3100
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 109,072

Our Lady of the Lake University

Our Lady of the Lake University is accredited by the SACSCOC. It offers an online MBA program through its School of Business and Leadership (SBL). SBL’s business programs are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The online MBA program offers concentrations in management and healthcare management.

Students can access their library online and use the TexShare Card Program to gain access to books and other material offered by participating libraries in the state of Texas, per website information. It also offers a number of tutoring services including writing consultants, peer tutors and online tutorials through smartthinking.com.

Students received an average of $5667 in federal grant aid which was the highest amount on our list!

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $27364
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5667
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 226,276

University of the Incarnate Word

University of the Incarnate Word is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The H-E-B School of Business & Administration offers an online Bachelor’s and Master’s in Business Administration while the School of Professional Studies offers a blended Doctor of Business Administration program. The bachelor’s and master’s degree program are fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

The BBA program offers 10 concentrations including ones in sports management and professional golf management while the MBA offers specializations in asset management, data analytics and human resource management. Students who would like to choose a specialization in human resources may be eligible to sit for the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) Certified Professional exam.

According to their website, the Writing and Learning Center offers writing support for undergraduate students while the student success center can help in other aspects like career planning and life skills coaching.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $27900
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4992
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 131,910

Central Texas College

Central Texas College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and offers an online Associate of Science in Business Administration. It prepares students for transfer into four year institutions. The college has articulation agreements with many senior institutions which guarantee that every course they take at Central Texas College can transfer to a four-year degree program.

Adults returning to college are also offered transition services to take the next steps to advance their education or return to the workforce. Their website states that the college offers online tutoring and online help for the military and their families at no cost via a government agency. Students can also ask for assistance during the admissions and enrollment process from the Student Services Advisors.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $3390
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5027
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 34,584

University of Houston-Downtown

University of Houston-Downtown is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). It offers eight online Bachelors of Business Administration degree programs through the Marilyn Davies College of Business, all of which are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB International).

Business administration students can choose majors from finance, general business, insurance and risk management, international business, management, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management.

Online students can benefit from a range of services including the TexShare card for libraries, academic advisors, and departmental scholarships for eligible students, as per website information. The University also has a joint admission partnership with Lone Star College allowing students to be simultaneously admitted and co-enrolled at both UHD and Lone Star College.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $4996
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4903
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 598,837

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC to award baccalaureate and masters’ degrees. It offers both the Bachelors’ and Master’s in Business Administration online which are accredited by AASCB International. The university offers six start dates through the year making it easy to enroll at a time that’s convenient to you. The university participates in NC-SARA and Texas Distance Education of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) electronic marketplace which can make it easier for students from Texas and other states to enroll in their educational offerings ensuring a quality online learning experience.

Undergraduate students can choose from specializations in management and marketing while MBA students can choose from a general business administration degree, finance, accounting or obtain their MBA with a certificate in health systems policy and management.

Master’s degree students can complete their online MBA in as little as 12 months through their accelerated program. Information on their website states that online students can make use of 24/7 tutoring services through the Smarthinking Online Tutoring system.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $4529
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4274
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 1,074,625

Amarillo College

Amarillo College is accredited by the SACSCOC to award associate degrees. It offers an online Associate in Business Administration with a focus on computer information systems. Students can choose to transfer to a four-year institution after completing their associate degree as the college has transfer agreements with over 20 universities and four-year colleges. Online students can also access tutoring at no cost, through the Smarthinking Online Tutoring system.

Apart from the financial aid office which can provide help with grants, loans and scholarships, the college also offers a money management service to help students achieve financial literacy, as per website information. With average in-state tuition rates of $ 1128, Amarillo College is one of the most inexpensive colleges on our list.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $1128
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4307
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 75,744

Trinity Valley Community College

Trinity Valley Community College is accredited by the SACSCOC to award associate degrees. The College offers an online Associate of Applied Science in Business and Office Administration designed for students who plan to enter into employment upon completion. The online courses are open only to Texas residents. The college also has articulation agreements with 25 four-year colleges and universities for students who do wish to transfer into a more advanced degree program.

The student advisement center helps students with goal setting and scheduling. Tutoring services at no cost are available to all students, according to their website. The average in-state undergraduate tuition rates of $1080 can make this college choice the most inexpensive on our list.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $1080
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4517
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 86,210

Southwestern Adventist University

Southwestern Adventist University is accredited by the SACSCOC and has further accreditation from the Adventist Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges, and Universities. The university also offers online degrees to students from other states through NC-SARA. It offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as well as an online certificate in senior living management.

The university offers counseling services at no cost for its students as well as career planning and tutoring while enrollment counselors guide out-of-state students through the admissions process. Website information shows that students and alumni also have access to their Purple Briefcase System which is a private social media platform for networking and video education content and can help students get started on their careers and find internships.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $20112
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5321
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 34,600

Methodology

In order to qualify for our ranking a college needed to have the following requirements:

Offer a degree or certificate program in that subject, either in an online or hybrid format
Have at least 1% of students attending some form of distance education
Have awarded at least one degree or certificate in that subject in 2016-17
Have reported data for all 11 ranking variables listed below

After applying the above criteria, we ranked 50 colleges and universities in the United States offering an online business administration degree program, using 2016-17 data from the National Center for Education Statistics on the following criteria:

Bachelor’s Program prominence, based on how many of the degrees and certificates awarded in 2016-2017 were in this particular subject
Ratio of undergraduate students participating fully or partially in DE to Total Enrollment
Average in-state tuition for undergraduates
Retention rate
Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal, state, local, institutional or other sources of grant aid
Average amount of federal, state, local, institutional, or other sources of grant aid awarded to undergraduate students
Student-to-faculty ratio
Total electronic library collections, including digital books, databases, and media
The availability of any tuition plans (Payment, Guaranteed, Prepaid, Other)
1. Payment
2. Guaranteed
3. Prepaid
4. Other
Services (Academic/Career Counseling, Placement for Completers)
1. Academic/Career
2. Placement for Completers
Credit offerings (Dual, Life, AP, Military)
1. Dual
2. Life
3. AP
4. Military

Sources

2018-2019 Academic Catalog, Concordia University-Texas, https://www.concordia.edu/sitefiles/w3/registrar/18-19-course-catalog.pdf, accessed May 2019
2019 Best & Worst States For Business: An Overview, Chief Executive 2019, https://chiefexecutive.net/2019-best-worst-states-for-business-an-overview/
22 Dallas-Fort Worth companies make the 2018 Fortune 500 list, Dallas News, https://www.dallasnews.com/business/economy/2018/05/21/22-dallas-fort-worth-companies-make-2018-fortune-500-list, accessed May 2019
6 Reasons Why Texas Trumps All Other U.S. Economies, Forbes, 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2018/10/23/6-reasons-why-texas-trumps-all-other-u-s-economies/#6c09c89b58be
About SAGU Distance Education and Online Learning, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, https://www.sagu.edu/admissions/about-sagu-distance-education-and-online-learning, accessed May 2019
About the Host-Provider Model, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, http://cep.tamus.edu/about, accessed May 2019
Academic Advising, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/Guidance/article.aspx?deptid=138&zoneid=57&articleid=611,accessed May 2019
Academic Coaching/CASA, Southwestern Adventist University, https://www.swau.edu/casa, accessed May 2019
Academics, LeTourneau University, https://www.letu.edu/academics/all-academics/, accessed May 2019
Accreditation Information, University of the Incarnate Word, https://www.uiw.edu/hebsba/about/accreditation-information/, accessed May 2019
Accreditation Statement, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/accreditation/default.aspx?zoneid=777&deptid=257, accessed May 2019
Accreditation, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/accreditation, accessed May 2019
Accreditation, Central Texas College, https://www.ctcd.edu/about-ctc/accreditation/, accessed May 2019
Accreditation, Dallas Baptist University, https://www.dbu.edu/about/accreditation, accessed May 2019
Accreditation, Our Lady of the Lake University, http://www.ollusa.edu/s/1190/hybrid/18/default-hybrid-ollu.aspx?sid=1190&gid=1&pgid=7891, accessed May 2019
Accreditation, Parker University, https://www.parker.edu/accreditation/, accessed May 2019
Adult Education, Central Texas College, https://www.ctcd.edu/students/adult-education-and-texas-certificate-of-high-school-equivalency/, accessed May 2019
Amarillo College Distance Education, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/de/index.php, accessed May 2019
Articulation Agreements, Central Texas College, https://www.ctcd.edu/students/current-ctc-students/tools-for-transfer/articulation-agreements/, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Online, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, https://degree.utpb.edu/programs/online-degree-bachelor-business-administration-management.aspx, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management (BBA-HCM) Fact Sheet, Parker University, https://www.parker.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BBA-HCM-Fact-Sheet.pdf, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration, Concordia University-Texas, https://online.concordia.edu/online-programs/bachelor-of-business-administration/, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration, Wayland Baptist University, http://www.wbuonline.com/programs.php?d=bachBusAdmin, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration: Online, Parker University, https://www.parker.edu/academics/bba-health-care-management/, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Business Management, LeTourneau University, https://www.letu.edu/academics/business/business-mgmt/, accessed May 2019
BBA Degree Programs, University of the Incarnate Word, https://www.uiw.edu/hebsba/bachelor-of-business/index/, accessed May 2019
Borrowing From Other Libraries, University of Houston-Downtown, https://www.uhd.edu/library/services/Pages/borrowingother.aspx, accessed May 2019
Business Administration and Management, Central Texas College, https://www.ctcd.edu/academics/instructional-departments/business-administration/program-information/, accessed May 2019
Business Administration, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/bus_admin/, accessed May 2019
College of Business Undergraduate Advising Office, University of Houston-Downtown, https://www.uhd.edu/academics/business/Pages/business-advising-index.aspx#advising2, accessed May 2019
College of Business, Dallas Baptist University, http://www3.dbu.edu/business/, accessed May 2019
Counseling and Outreach Center, Southwestern Adventist University, https://www.swau.edu/counseling-and-outreach-center, accessed May 2019
DBA Program Overview, University of the Incarnate Word, https://dba.uiw.edu/, accessed May 2019
Distance Education Students, Central Texas College, https://www.ctcd.edu/students/current-ctc-students/academic-advising/distance-education-students/, accessed May 2019
Distance Education, Southwestern Adventist University, https://www.swau.edu/distanceeducation, accessed May 2019
Distance Learning, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/Distance-Ed/default.aspx?zoneid=132&deptid=151, accessed May 2019
Enrollment Counselors, Southwestern Adventist University, https://www.swau.edu/enrollment-counselors, accessed May 2019
Free Tutoring, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/Cardinal-Success-Center/article.aspx?a=1648, accessed May 2019
Frequently Asked Questions About the Online Master of Business Administration, Our Lady of the Lake University, https://onlineprograms.ollusa.edu/mba/faqs?cmgfrm=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F, accessed May 2019
General Business, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/Business-and-Computer-Science/Category.aspx?z=375, accessed May 2019
General MBA in the College of Business, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, http://tamut.edu/Academics/Colleges-and-Departments/CBET/pdf/Structuring-the-Catalog-and-Web-Pages-for-the-General-MBA.pdf , accessed May 2019
General WBU Information, Wayland Baptist University, http://catalog.wbu.edu/content.php?catoid=8&navoid=709, accessed May 2019
Hazlewood Act, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/fin/hazlewood-act, accessed May 2019
H-E-B School of Business and Administration, University of the Incarnate Word, https://www.uiw.edu/hebsba/index/, accessed May 2019
Homeschooler Success, LeTourneau University, https://www.letu.edu/admissions/resources-for-homeschoolers/, accessed May 2019
ILL, Dallas Baptist University, http://libguides.dbu.edu/disted/disted_ILL, accessed May 2019
Library Orientation: Library Resources, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, http://libguides.tamut.edu/c.php?g=385126&p=2611523, accessed May 2019
Major Matters Most: The Economic Value of Bachelor’s Degrees from The University of Texas System, 2017, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2017, https://1gyhoq479ufd3yna29x7ubjn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/UT-System-1.pdf
Marilyn Davies College of Business Scholarships, University of Houston-Downtown, https://www.uhd.edu/academics/business/Pages/business-scholarship.aspx, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Concordia University-Texas, https://online.concordia.edu/online-programs/master-of-business-administration-mba/, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Southwestern Assemblies of God University, https://www.sagu.edu/landing-pages/master-s-degree-in-business-administration-mba?utm_source=travel&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=mba&utm_content=&utm_term=&sys:field:utm_source=travel&sys:field:utm_medium=video&sys:field:utm_campaign=mba&sys:field:utm_content=&sys:field:utm_term=&sys:field:campus=fac45edf-b83d-4ed7-91a2-eca953c4c4a3&sys:field:attendance_type=f3d32498-a7b9-4f81-afb9-deee9ecbb731&sys:field:degree_level=123dc136-01c5-44be-a845-9638d6475e2a&sys:field:lead_form_type=6d632670-0205-47ba-9b33-7008dd2f87de&sys:field:major_grad_preferred=176873fc-cf07-4109-b84b-b3542a497432, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration Online, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, https://degree.utpb.edu/programs/online-degree-master-of-business-administration.aspx, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration Online, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, https://www.utpb.edu/business/graduate/master-of-business-administration-online/index, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration, LeTourneau University, https://www.letu.edu/academics/business/mba/, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration, University of the Incarnate Word, https://sps.uiw.edu/academics/graduate/master-of-business-administration/, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration, Wayland Baptist University, http://www.wbuonline.com/programs.php?d=mastBusAdmin, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration: Online, Parker University, https://www.parker.edu/academics/mba-healthcare-management/, accessed May 2019
MBA Curriculum and Format, Concordia University-Texas, https://www.concordia.edu/admissions/graduate/mba/curriculum-and-format/, accessed May 2019
MBA FAQs, Concordia University-Texas, https://www.concordia.edu/admissions/graduate/mba/mba-faqs/, accessed May 2019
MBA Finance, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, https://degree.utpb.edu/programs/online-degree-master-of-business-administration-finance.aspx, accessed May 2019
MBA Program, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, https://www.tamut.edu/Academics/Colleges-and-Departments/CBET/Graduate-Programs/MBA-Program/index/, accessed May 2019
Members, IACBE, https://iacbe.org/accreditation/member-status-information/results/?BCountry=US&BState=TX&BStatus=&BAlpha=C, accessed May 2019
Military Information, Concordia University-Texas, https://online.concordia.edu/admissions/military-information/, accessed May 2019
Money Management Center, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/money/index.php, accessed May 2019
Number of U.S. companies listed in the Fortune 500 ranking in 2018, by state, Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/303696/us-fortune-500-companies-by-state/, accessed May 2019
Online & Graduate Students, LeTourneau University, https://www.letu.edu/online-and-graduate-students/index/, accessed May 2019
Online Admissions, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, https://www.sagu.edu/admissions/online-admissions, accessed May 2019
Online Bachelor of Business Administration, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, https://www.sagu.edu/admissions/bachelors-degree-in-business-administration?sys:field:attendance_type=903784d6-4b09-496e-aa88-3eb28db13044&sys:field:campus=fac45edf-b83d-4ed7-91a2-eca953c4c4a3&sys:field:degree_level=7d5e9890-15aa-4ecd-acb2-d28ecf53b609&sys:field:lead_form_type=6d632670-0205-47ba-9b33-7008dd2f87de&sys:field:major_ugrd_preferred=702e6dc7-9521-41f8-ae9d-706070a7a0fc, accessed May 2019
Online Degrees and Certificates, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/de/online-degrees-and-certificates, accessed May 2019
Online Dual Degrees, Dallas Baptist University, https://www.dbu.edu/online/programs/dual-masters-degree-programs, accessed May 2019
Online Education, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/Distance-Learning/category.aspx?z=133, accessed May 2019
Online Programs and Courses, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, https://www.utpb.edu/online/index, accessed May 2019
Online Programs Offered, Our Lady of the Lake University, http://www.ollusa.edu/s/1190/hybrid/18/default-hybrid-ollu.aspx?sid=1190&gid=1&pgid=7763, accessed May 2019
Online Programs, Central Texas College, https://www.ctcd.edu/academics/programs-of-study/online-programs/, accessed May 2019
Online Tutoring, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/tutoring/online, accessed May 2019
Online Undergraduate Degrees, Dallas Baptist University, https://www.dbu.edu/online/programs/undergraduate-degrees, accessed May 2019
Online Undergraduate Programs, Concordia University-Texas, https://online.concordia.edu/online-programs/, accessed May 2019
Our Accreditation, Southwestern Adventist University, https://www.swau.edu/southwestern-adventist-university, accessed May 2019
Programs And Degrees, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/Programs-and-Degrees/?d=333, accessed May 2019
Prospective Distant Learners, Central Texas College, http://online.ctcd.edu/student_prosp.cfm, accessed May 2019
Putting America’s enormous $19.4T economy into perspective by comparing US state GDPs to entire countries, American Enterprise Institute, 2018, http://www.aei.org/publication/putting-americas-enormous-19-4t-economy-into-perspective-by-comparing-us-state-gdps-to-entire-countries/
Resources For Military Students, LeTourneau University, https://www.letu.edu/admissions/resources-for-veterans/, accessed May 2019
Ratings and Rankings, Dallas Regional Chamber, https://www.dallaschamber.org/why-dallas/ratings-rankings/, accessed May 2019
Report on Texas Growth Occupations – 2018, Texas Workforce Commission, November 2018, https://lmci.state.tx.us/shared/PDFs/Report_on_Texas_Growth_Occupations_2018.pdf
SACSCOC, University of Houston-Downtown, https://www.uhd.edu/academics/sacscoc/Pages/default.aspx, accessed May 2019
SBL Accreditation, Our Lady of the Lake University, http://www.ollusa.edu/s/1190/hybrid/18/default-hybrid-ollu.aspx?sid=1190&gid=1&pgid=8271, accessed May 2019
Small Business Profiles, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, 2018, https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/Texas_1.pdf
Smarthinking Online Tutoring, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, https://www.utpb.edu/online/reach/smarthinking-online-tutoring, accessed May 2019
State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreement, Dallas Baptist University, https://www.dbu.edu/online/about/state-authorization, accessed May 2019
State Authorization, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, https://www.tamut.edu/Academics/Online-Education/State%20Authorization/, accessed May 2019
Student Achievement Goals And Outcomes, Parker University, https://www.parker.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/PDS-STUDENT-ACHIEVEMENT-GOALS-2019_.pdf, accessed May 2019
Student Success, University of the Incarnate Word, https://sps.uiw.edu/resources/student-success/, accessed May 2019
The Exploration of Entrepreneurship, LeTourneau University, https://www.letu.edu/academics/business/index/, accessed May 2019
Transfer Information, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/advising/transfer-information, accessed May 2019
Transfer Information, Amarillo College, https://www.actx.edu/advising/transfer-information, accessed May 2019
Tuition, Wayland Baptist University, http://www.wbuonline.com/about.php?a=tuition, accessed May 2019
Tutor.com, Concordia University-Texas, https://www.concordia.edu/resources/success-center/tutorcom/, accessed May 2019
UHD Online FAQ, University of Houston-Downtown, https://www.uhd.edu/academics/online/Pages/online-faq.aspx, accessed May 2019
UHD Online, University of Houston-Downtown, https://www.uhd.edu/academics/online/Pages/default.aspx, accessed May 2019
University Accreditation and Memberships, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, https://www.sagu.edu/about/accreditation, accessed May 2019
University Information, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/Advisement/category.aspx?z=72, accessed May 2019
Vance Memorial Library, Dallas Baptist University, http://libguides.dbu.edu/disted, accessed May 2019
Veterans, Trinity Valley Community College, https://www.tvcc.edu/Veterans/?d=205, accessed May 2019
Wayland Online, Wayland Baptist University, http://www.wbuonline.com/, accessed May 2019
WBU Online Information, Wayland Baptist University, http://catalog.wbu.edu/content.php?catoid=8&navoid=716#Distance_Education_for_Out-of-State_Enrollment, accessed May 2019
Writing and Learning Center, University of the Incarnate Word, https://my.uiw.edu/wlc/index/, accessed May 2019
Writing and Tutoring, Our Lady of the Lake University, http://www.ollusa.edu/s/1190/hybrid/18/default-hybrid-ollu.aspx?sid=1190&gid=1&pgid=7766, accessed May 2019

What Motivated These 4 To Quit Their Jobs And Make A Career Shift?

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the rate of employee attrition has been increasing each year since 2000, when BLS began collecting this information. In 2018, about 40 million employees were predicted to quit their employment. Mercer, a global Human Resources (HR) consulting firm, picks up the figures of “employee quits” by category:

Millennials — 51 percent
Generation X — 25 percent
Baby Boomers — 19 percent

According to Compdata, the hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing industries had high turnover rates, while industries that had low turnover rates were utilities, insurance, and finance.

What’s driving the job-hopping? Low unemployment rates and the high demand for skilled workers, reports the Society for Human Resource Management. These trends seem to be empowering professionals to change jobs or careers because of the many opportunities the job market has to offer.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers in 2018 spent an average of 4.2 years with the same employer. While this may sound like an alarmingly low tenure, not aiming for the gold watch for 50 years of service can actually be a good thing as these four individuals whom we are about to introduce to you have shown. Read on, as they share their stories, their experiences, what motivated them and how an online degree program made it possible.

Stop suppressing your desire to chase your lifelong dream

Tanean Schaller worked as a medical assistant in a busy New Jersey urology practice. She became disillusioned with the way patients were being treated and decided to return to school and change careers. But as a 38-year-old single mom, she was hesitant to return to the classroom, where she was afraid she’d stick out because of her age.

She shares with OnlineDegrees.com, “I knew I wanted to earn my degree, but going back to school as a 38 year old, I was too intimidated to take classes on campus. I live only two miles from the local community college, which offers courses online, so I decided to go there.”

“Initially I chose business/marketing only because I could take the entire program online. But after the first semester, I realized if I did not chase my original dream of earning my paralegal degree, I would regret it. I began taking classes part-time after I left a long-standing career in the medical field. It took me two years and one semester to complete the online paralegal degree program.”

Tanean utilized the career resource center in her college when she wanted to change her resume from chronological to functional. “I had spent 12 years in the medical field. Although I was changing careers and could utilize that knowledge in my new career, I did not want my resume to highlight those skills and strengths.” She goes on to say, “I prepared my resume and cover letter to reflect my current career and educational goals. I specifically looked at firms that practiced in the areas of medical malpractice and personal injury because of my medical background.”

She was offered a part-time internship opportunity with a local law firm. After three months, the firm offered her a full-time position.

Where’s there’s a passion, success may not be far behind

Equipped with an online master’s degree in healthcare, V.J. Sleight was one among the 330 out of every 100,000 people who started their own business every month, according to Kauffman Startup Index, with the highest number of new entrepreneurs aged between 45 and 64.

Sleight talks about her journey, “I had been working as a mortgage broker for over 20 years, which gave me the time and freedom to pursue my passion of helping others quit smoking. I wanted to prepare for a second career when I retired from the mortgage business and went back to school.”

Her passion was to help people stop smoking. When we spoke to her, she was already writing books, “Stop Smoking, Stay Quit” and “Tips to Win at Quitting” “Crush your Butts”. Sleight felt the lack of a formal education often hindered her from getting professional opportunities as a speaker for cessation or being hired as a tobacco treatment specialist.

“I looked for an online degree program that would best suit my professional interests. When I started, I knew that eventually I wanted to write books and deliver talks to both smokers and health care professionals about cessation.” She now keeps up her helpful blog at “Stop Smoking, Stay Quit” and travels around the country to train healthcare providers on how to help smokers to quit.

What’s wrong with wanting to be your own boss and making it happen?

It’s not hard to identify with people who want to be their own boss, right? Carlisha Moore felt the same way. Stuck in her various job roles as an administrative assistant, the mother of two from Dacula, GA, was a hard worker, but never managed to climb the ladder from administrative assistant positions. Longing for a chance to jump into the management track, Carlisha says of herself, “I consider myself to be a very motivated person. I am 23 years old and married, with two little girls. I am interested in so many things that it took me awhile to narrow down to a degree in business.”

Why a business degree? “I actually enjoyed my job and helping others run their office, but I wanted to be my own boss. I came up with the idea that I would like to start my own administrative assistant business, and a business degree was just what I needed to begin.”

After completing her degree she says, “I am qualified to do the job of some of the people I was working for, and that makes me feel great. I can talk budget reports, strategy implementation, etc. I also started my own business. My capstone included preparing a business plan. When I realized that I was capable of creating a business plan and actually saw my ideas on paper, it motivated me to start my own business!”

As an extra motivation, she explains, “I want my daughters to look back proudly on this day and say, ‘If Mommy had the courage to do it, the sky’s the limit!”

Ever have the feeling there’s so much more in life you want to do?

There’s that gnawing feeling, again. The feeling that says there’s got to be more to life than what you have right now. Some sit on that feeling; others take action. Like Amanda Haddaway, a corporate trainer for an IT consulting firm whose job led her to travel extensively throughout the country, but an interest in technology, leadership and education/training took her to more places than she could imagine.

How did it all start? “My boss (and mentor) saw an ad for the educational technology leadership program. She knew that I was interested in pursuing a graduate degree and thought that the program might be a good fit.” She earned an online master’s degree in education, and then went on to write a book and co-found Cocktails for a Cause, an organization she started with two friends to benefit local charities to help other nonprofits with fundraising and marketing.

Amanda shares how she ended up writing a book, “I’d been freelance writing for a few years and it was one of those “bucket list” items. Every book starts with one page, so I just started writing all the questions that I had been asked repeatedly during my years as a college recruiter. I sought out other professionals to help write some of the sections and about seven months later, the book, “Destination Real World: Success after Graduation”.

Amanda went from working as a corporate trainer to becoming an author and philanthropist. Who says you can’t do everything you’ve always wanted to?

What about you?

Are you ready to make the switch? It’s never too late, really. With online degree programs at your access, you too, can develop skills to qualify for the job of your dreams or the career of your life! This website can be the place where your journey begins. Explore your options.

Sources

10 Shocking Statistics About Disengaged Employees, Office Vibe, 2017, https://www.officevibe.com/blog/disengaged-employees-infographic
About VJ, VJ Sleight, http://www.vjsleight.com/about-vj/, accessed May 2019
Changing Careers: Signs You’re Ready For A Change, And How To Make It Happen, Forbes, 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/12/06/changing-careers-signs-youre-ready-for-a-change-and-how-to-make-it-happen/#d89f24b14600
Employee Tenure Summary, Economic News Release, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm
Fairlie, R. W., Desai, S., & Herrmann, A., Kauffman Indicators of Entrepreneurship: 2017 National Report on Early-Stage Entrepreneurship,2019, https://indicators.kauffman.org/
How Often Do People Change Jobs?, The Balance Careers, 2019, https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-often-do-people-change-jobs-2060467
Number of Older Americans at Work Has Grown 35 Percent, Society for Human Resource Management, 2018, https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/pages/older-workers-.aspx
What Millennials Want Is Good for Your Business, Gallup, 2019, https://www.gallup.com/workplace/248009/millennials-good-business.aspx
Why Are Workers Quitting Their Jobs in Record Numbers?, Society for Human Resource Management, 2018, https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/pages/workers-are-quitting-jobs-record-numbers.aspx

The 10 Most Versatile Degrees For Career Flexibility

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

You already know the benefits of a college education — higher salaries, increased career prospects and even a better quality of life. You’re ready for all college has to offer, but there’s one major problem — selecting a major, that is.

What if you end up not liking the major as much as you thought you would? What if you wind up with a degree that isn’t useful or versatile in the job market?

Your major is an important decision, but it’s not irreversible. If you wind up unimpressed by your program, you may be the one in every three first-time college students who changes majors at least once within three years.

As for choosing a versatile major, that’s where we come in. Drawing on data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the U.S. Census Bureau, we ranked 1,214 majors according to considerations such as the number of industries employing people with those majors, median annual salary, employment growth and more.

The result is the following list of the 10 most versatile online degrees for career flexibility, all to help you decide on the online degree that can give you the most traction in the workplace.

10 Most Versatile Online Degrees for Career Flexibility

Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management

Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of our ranking is the prominence of recreation and leisure majors. Employer demand and salaries are growing rapidly in this field, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).This major tops our list with the largest percentage of industries employing occupations with this major, one of our highest employment figures and an impressive salary to boot.

Parks, recreation and leisure facilities management majors study how to develop and manage parks and facilities where people participate in recreation, from your local rec center to national parks, hotels, fitness centers, or sports venues, and from education to the marketing, travel, tourism, or events industries. Expect coursework to include introduction to park management, leadership training in recreation, managing nonprofits, marketing recreational enterprises, recreation financial management, camp management and outdoor leadership and more.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 90.42%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $104,205
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 3,537,000

Finance and Financial Management Services

By far the most lucrative degree on our list, finance, or financial management, is one of the most in-demand majors. As a growing number of baby boomers approach retirement age, the need for knowledgeable professionals to help understand and manage retirement funds is increasing. It’s also a versatile degree because finance professionals are needed by businesses of all types, from banks and advisory firms to real estate firms, insurers or corporations. These professionals understand how to make important financial decisions ranging from how many people to hire to how to best invest funds or how to spend less on raw materials.

Finance majors are likely to take courses in accounting and statistics, budgeting, investments, financial management, international finance, financial markets and institutions and analyzing financial statements.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 88.3%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $127,990
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 688,800

Accounting and Business/Management

Business is one of the most versatile degrees you can earn. Not only is it applicable to any kind of business, but the skills you can acquire are in high demand: analytical thinking, financial savvy, communication and management of people and resources. Graduates may work in accounting, sales, financial management or management in all types of companies.

A business administration/ management degree can provide a broad foundation in planning, organizing, directing and controlling a company’s activities, while an accounting degree concentrates more on the numbers — collecting, recording, interpreting and communicating data about a company’s financial performance. For both, your coursework is likely to include accounting, business law and accounting information systems. Accounting majors may also have courses in auditing and cost and tax accounting, while business/management majors may be exposed to a wider range of subjects, including economics, human resources and marketing.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 79.4%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $94,717
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 2,555,000

Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism

Tourism added a record $8.8 trillion to the world’s combined GDP in 2018, not to mention 319 million new jobs. It accounts for 10.4 percent of the world’s total economic activity. Students with this degree are prepared to join this impressive workforce in private commercial tourism and recreation businesses, from parks to resorts, travel agencies, tourism departments and more. Not only is this degree in demand, but the soft skills students learn in these degree programs — communication, problem-solving, dispute resolution, working under pressure — are transferable to any industry.

This major emphasizes ecotourism — tourism in natural settings that is environmentally, culturally and economically responsible. Your coursework is likely to include environmental studies with more business and hospitality-focused classes such as tourism, marketing and public relations.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 82.9%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $107,480
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 1,068,000

Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management

If fresh air, green grass and working with your hands sounds like your idea of the ideal work setting, a golf course operation and grounds management degree may be a good choice. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that there are 11,088 country club and golf establishments in the U.S., employing 306,782 people in 2017.

But this major’s emphasis on plant and soil science, irrigation, water management, pest control, site construction, turf power equipment and site management can make it applicable beyond the sport of golf. This degree could also lead to grounds management in other industries as well, from office buildings to homeowner association areas, resorts, school campuses, sports venues or recreation areas.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 82.9%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $107,480
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 1,068,000

Fire Services Administration

It may surprise you to learn that fire services administration makes our list as a versatile online degree. But when you consider that the incident and emergency management market is expected to grow by roughly $115 billion by 2023, it might make more sense. A fire services administration major prepares students to protect lives through fire prevention and protection measures, but this learning is also applicable to positions with government or private entities, in the areas of fire safety/protection, the military, law enforcement or other emergency management entities.

Students may encounter courses in principles of emergency services, fire protection systems, fire behavior and combustion, strategy and tactics, fire prevention, emergency services delivery, leadership in fire service organizations, emergency planning and management and more.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 82.9%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $107,480
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 1,068,000

Small Business Administration/Management

Think you might have the chops to start your own small business someday? This could be the major for you. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses accounted for 66 percent of net new jobs from 2000 to 2017. This major may not only give you a head start to successful starting and running your own business, but its versatility comes from the fact that the skills you learn can be applied to any type of business.

Students can learn the foundations of entrepreneurship, business law, the principles of management, how to prepare business plans, entrepreneurial finance, investor relations and funding, product design and development and how to live an entrepreneurial lifestyle. Then you supply an idea for a business!

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 82.9%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $107,480
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 1,068,000

Tourism and Travel Services Management

About one in every 10 people in the global economy is employed in the tourism industry, according to a 2019 U.S. Travel and Hospitality Outlook report by Deloitte & Touche. Travel and tourism generated 10.4 percent of the world’s economic activity in 2018. It’s one of the world’s largest industries and has some of the fastest employment growth, making this one of the best online degrees for career flexibility. It encompasses a wide range of employers, including hotels and resorts, restaurant management, event and convention planning, recreation management, transportation and marketing and sales.

This major can include courses such as destinations and cultures, hospitality law, marketing management, reservations and ticketing, travel agency management, cruise marketing and sales, computer-based information systems and more.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 82.9%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $107,480
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 1,068,000

Hospitality Administration/Management

Another hospitality and leisure-focused major, this one merges the business of the hospitality industry with the details of travel — a powerful combination that can have applications in a wide range of positions, from restaurant or hotel manager to food and beverage director, meeting/convention planner, caterer, event planner, chef or even advertising and marketing manager.

This is a great major for outgoing students interested in having variety in day-to-day tasks, interacting with a diverse array of people, traveling and working unpredictable hours. Students can learn business topics such as employee labor relations, marketing, hospitality finance and hospitality law, and they also learn specific hospitality-focused subjects such as resort operations, facilities design, food service operations and event and festival management.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 82.9%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $107,480
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 1,068,000

Business/Commerce, General

It may be 10^th on our list, but business/commerce majors have the highest number of occupations matching this major in our rankings (11), not to mention the largest projected employment growth by far — in fact, it’s nearly double that of the second highest. In Canada and many other countries, a degree in commerce is a general business degree, although some online business degrees in the U.S. do specifically offer bachelor’s degrees in commerce, which can tend to focus a little more heavily on finance than a standard business administration degree.

Students may expect coursework that includes accounting, business law, corporate finance, management, marketing, management information systems, financial planning, economics, statistics or business analytics. Studies also may include business communications, leadership and information technology — all skills that the NACE say are highly sought-after skills in the workplace.

Data Points:

Percentage of industries employing the occupations matched to the major, 2016-26: 59.03%
Annual median wage of each occupation matched to the major, 2017: $101,099
Average projected growth of all jobs matched to each major, 2016-26: 6,616,500

Sources

Mark A. Heckler, “The importance of a college education,” Chicago Tribune, September 11, 2018, https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-heckler-guest-column-st-0912-story/
Catey Hill, “10 versatil college majors that eliminate the need to decide early on a career path,” MarketWatch, May 20, 2019, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-most-versatile-college-majors-in-america-for-those-who-cant-decide-on-a-career-2019-05-20
“Beginning College Students Who Change Their Majors Within 3 Years of Enrollment,” Data Point, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, December 2017, https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018434.pdf
“Major: Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management,” BigFuture, The College Board, accessed May 22, 2019, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/parks-recreation-fitness-parks-recreation-leisure-facilities-management
Deloitte Center for Industry Insights, 2019 US Travel and Hospitality Outlook, accessed May 22, 2019, https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/consumer-business/us-consumer-2019-us-travel-and-hospitality-outlook.pdf
Stacy Rapacon, “25 Best College Majors for a Lucrative Career,” Kiplinger, February 5, 2019, https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/business/T012-S001-best-college-majors-for-a-lucrative-career-2019/index/
“Major: Finance,” BigFuture, The College Board, accessed May 22, 2019, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/business-accounting-finance-finance
“Major: Business Administration and Management,” BigFuture, The College Board, accessed May 22, 2019, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/business-business-management-administration-business-administration-management
“Major: Accounting,” BigFuture, The College Board, accessed May 22, 2019, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/business-accounting-finance-accounting
“3 Ways a Business Degree Makes You Professionally Versatile,” David Eccles School of Business, The University of Utah, accessed May 22, 2019, https://eccles.utah.edu/news/3-ways-a-business-degree-makes-you-professionally-versatile/
Major in Natural Resource Tourism, Colorado State University, accessed May 22, 2019, http://catalog.colostate.edu/general-catalog/colleges/natural-resources/human-dimensions-natural-resources/natural-resource-tourism-major/
“Major: Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism,” BigFuture, The College Board, accessed May 22, 2019, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/natural-resources-conservation-natural-resource-recreation-tourism
Grounds Maintenance Workers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, April 12, 2019, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/building-and-grounds-cleaning/grounds-maintenance-workers.htm#tab-2
“Golf anyone? A look at golf courses and country clubs by state,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, August 27, 2018, https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2018/golf-anyone-a-look-at-golf-courses-and-country-clubs-by-state.htm?view_full
Golf Course Grounds Management, Anoka Technical College, accessed May 23, 2019, http://www.anokatech.edu/ProgramsCourses/GolfCourseGroundsManagement.aspx
Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration, Liberty University Online Programs, accessed May 23, 2019, https://www.liberty.edu/online/government/bachelors/fire-administration/
Incident and emergency management market 2018 global trends, share, industry size, growth, opportunities, and industry forecast to 2022, press release, MarketWatch, Oct. 25, 2018, https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/incident-and-emergency-management-market-2018-global-trends-share-industry-size-growth-opportunities-and-industry-forecast-to-2022-2018-10-25
Emergency Management Directors, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, April 12, 2019, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/emergency-management-directors.htm
Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Services Administration, Eastern Oregon University, accessed May 23, 2019, https://www.eou.edu/fire-services-administration/
“Major: Entrepreneurial Studies,” BigFuture, The College Board, accessed May 23, 2019, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/business-entrepreneurial-studies
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, August 2018, https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/Frequently-Asked-Questions-Small-Business-2018.pdf
Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration Entrepreneurship Degree, Southern New Hampshire University, accessed May 23, 2019, https://www.snhu.edu/online-degrees/bachelors/bs-in-business-administration/entrepreneurship
Nelson A. Barber, “Why hospitality management? Make yourself comfortable,” The Laconia Daily Sun, September 29, 2018, https://www.laconiadailysun.com/community/why-hospitality-management-make-yourself-comfortable/article_dd711bee-c344-11e8-9bf1-a757d8248821/
“Major: Tourism and Travel Management,” BigFuture, The College Board, accessed May 23, 2019, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/business-hospitality-administration-management-tourism-travel-management
“Major: Hospitality Administration and Management,” BigFuture, The College Board, accessed May 23, 2019, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/business-hospitality-administration-management-hospitality-administration-management
Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Small Business Management, Miami University, accessed May 23, 2019, https://miamioh.edu/regionals/academics/departments/cmr/academics/majors/bachelors-degrees/index/
Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Commerce, Griffith University, accessed May 23, 2019, https://degrees.griffith.edu.au/Program/1442
Commerce, B.S., Middle Tennessee State University, accessed May 23, 2019, https://www.mtsu.edu/programs/commerce/requirements

2019 Best Online Business Administration Colleges In California

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

California is home to 49 of the Fortune 500 companies coming in second only after New York on the list of states with the highest number of Fortune 500 companies. With giants like Alphabet Inc. (Google’s parent company), Cisco, Intel, E-bay and Oracle headquartered in the California, there can be some very interesting career opportunities to be had for those with a business administration degree. In the Bay area alone are 70 companies that employees love working for, reported by Fortune magazine in 2019.

If you’re thinking of earning an online business administration degree in California, there some good news for you:

There are jobs to be had. Among all employment sectors in California, “Professional and Business Services” shows the highest growth rate — 34.1% from 2014 to 2024, according to the California Labour Market. If you’re looking at specific areas that are doing the most hiring of business professionals, here they are: metropolitan areas such as the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD, Anaheim-Santa-Ana-Irvine MD, and the San Diego-Carlsband MSA show the highest employment projections for business professionals.

There’s good money to be made. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that median annual wage for business and financial occupations was $68,350 in May 2018, higher than the median wages for all other occupations at $38,640.

What can you do with a business administration degree in California?

According to California’s Employment Development Department Occupations, the most jobs openings in California in the field of business include those of:

General and operations managers
Management analysts
Accountants and auditors
Market research analysts
Marketing specialists
Sales managers

These jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree and less than 5 years of experience. Employment opportunities for these jobs and others in the business field exist in a variety of industries in California including management, hospitality, construction, universities, insurance companies and hospitals.

With the highest number of higher education institutes in the country, California online colleges have plenty to offer those who’d like to earn an online business administration degree. Online degree programs are often designed to fit busy lifestyles with flexible learning options. Our list of the best online business degrees in California present you with the top online college choices.

14 Best Online Business Administration Degrees in California

Our ranking explained.

Using data from IPEDS, a government database containing information reported by colleges across America, our methodology takes into consideration factors that would of high value to prospective online students, such as average tuition, graduation rates, student services, and more. To qualify to make it to our list, colleges had to meet all 11 of our criteria. We invite you to take a look at our methodology at the bottom of the page and see how these factors fit in with your needs.

Here’s our top 14 picks of the best online business administration degrees in California geared for online students. Here’s to your success in meeting your career goals!

California Miramar University

California Miramar University (CMU) offers online business administration degrees from the associate degree level through to doctoral degrees. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC). The University is able to engage in delivering interactive lessons delivered by a “highly educated practitioner faculty”, according to their website. Students can take their prerequisites in an accelerated format allowing them to focus on their core courses.

At the associate and bachelor’s levels, students are able to choose from a variety of subjects for emphasis such business administration, hospitality management, international business, finance, marketing, and sports management. MBA students may choose from concentrations such as strategic leadership and management in global business, healthcare management, and technology management.

Not only does CMU have a low student to faculty ratio with ten students to one faculty member, one hundred percent of qualifying students received some form of federal, state, local, institutional or other sources of grant aid in 2016-17 at an average rate of $5219, according to their website.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $8,772
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5,219
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit , Dual Credit, Military Training Credit
Student Services Offered 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 219,702

San Diego Christian College

San Diego Christian College (SDCC) is a four-year liberal arts college regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC). This is a Christian college offering an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration to help students prepare for careers in management built on strong Christian ethics.

Students have the option of choosing a concentration in marketing. The business administration degree program is also open to non-business majors who can pursue a minor allowing those coming from non-business majors to expand their skill sets in business and enhance their marketability.

One hundred percent of their students received some form of financial aid last year and it has the largest electronic library collection on our list making this university a serious contender for one of our top spots.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $21,057
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5,110
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 1,318,909

National University

One of National University’s goals is to provide accessible, achievable education to adult learners and offers online business administration programs that are designed to meet industry and employer demands as well as help adult learners achieve their career goals. These degree programs are offered in different formats such as hybrid or fully online, conducive to online adult learners. NU has articulation agreements with more than 110 community colleges making it easy for adult learners who have previous credits or life experience to transfer credits toward your degree, as reported by their website.

The online Bachelor’s in Business Administration offers concentrations such asproject management, human resource management, finance, marketing, economics, entrepreneurship, business law, alternative dispute resolution and accountancy. At the graduate level students can choose from international business, supply chain management, marketing, human resource management, managerial accounting, organizational leadership, and financial management as concentrations. Courses and enrollments run on a monthly basis allowing you greater flexibility while taking classes.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $13,032
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $3,797
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 441,095

California Baptist University

California Baptist University’s Division of Online and Professional Studies is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This is a Christian college where students are taught to approach business issues with the ethical standards of Christian principles.

The online Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration offers concentrations in management or logistics and operations, while their online MBA programs are offered with accounting or general management concentrations. The University offers accelerated online Bachelor’s in Business Administration degree programs for students with an associate degree allowing them to complete their bachelor’s degree in two years instead of four years.

Three semesters offered through the year allow students to access education at their convenience.

The college reports on their website that apart from career services like resume writing and job search tools on offer, students are assigned a “One-Stop” advisor to help them with planning schedules, accessing financial aid and work through any other challenges throughout the duration of their online degree program.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $30,446
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4,874
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 292,696

Trident University International

Trident University International was the first 100% online university to be regionally accredited by WSCUC. Trident University prides itself on their professional, caring faculty over 80 percent of who hold doctoral degrees. They approach student learning by emphasizing the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills through active, case-based learning as opposed to standard test methods.

The University offers online business administration degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree levels. Concentrations offered at the bachelor’s degree level include contract management, general business, human resource management, information technology management, logistics, management / leadership, project management and safety management thereby catering to diverse interests.

Their MBA program offers seven concentrations which are conflict and negotiation management, general management, human resource management, information security and digital assurance management, information technology management, logistics, safety management and strategic leadership.

One hundred percent of the university’s students received some form of federal financial aid in the year 2016-17.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $9,240
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $3,570
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 487,145

Coastline Community College

Coastline Community College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It offers online certificates as well as two-year online business administration associate degrees which can be transferred to four-year colleges for students wishing to advance their education.

It offers business administration degrees as both Associate in Arts for Transfer and Associate in Science for Transfer degrees. In addition to helping eligible recent high school graduates transition to college though free tutoring and covering first year fees, they also offer support for students with special needs including interpreting services, note taking, registration assistance, special materials/equipment and more, according to their website.

With average in-state tuition of just $1,104, it is one of the two highest ranked colleges on our list in terms of affordability.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $1,104
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4,807
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 181,602

Santa Barbara Business College-Ventura

Santa Barbara Business College offers online business administration degrees at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree level. It is one of the oldest business colleges in California and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Students of online degree programs are given one-on-one support in classes from professionals who are committed to seeing their students succeed.

Each online business administration degree program is designed with student-specific goals in mind such as being able to deal with real-world problems right from the beginning of their careers. Their associate in business administration degree program is designed for both students who want to get working immediately as well as for students who want to transfer to a four-year degree.

Their online bachelor’s degree program is designed for students interested in pursuing careers across a wide variety of careers. According to their website, the master’s degree program can be completed in just seven 10 week terms which means you can have your MBA in less than 2 years! They offer 27/7 technical support for their online students.

The business college has the lowest average student to faculty ratio on our list with 8 students per faculty member.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $9,900
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5,173
Credits offered, 2016-17: Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 139

Barstow Community College

The College is accredited by WSCUC by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Barstow Community College offers an online Associate in Science in Business Administration, a transfer degree for students who plan to complete a Bachelor’s in Business Administration at a California State University.

The College has extensive student support services with free online tutorial services for almost all classes available 24/7, per website information. Being a community college, the average in-state undergraduate tuition at $1,404 is one of the lowest on our list of the best online business administration colleges making it a worthwhile consideration for prospective online students.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $1,104
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4,905
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 61,983

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno Pacific University offers degree completion programs that help working adults fit advanced education into their busy schedules. Their accelerated online Bachelor’s in Business Administration degree completion programs include cohort programs, general education, and elective courses.

The general education and elective courses are directed towards students who do not have enough previous college credits to make up the units they require to obtain their bachelor’s degree. Although these are degree completion programs, students may be able to enroll without an associate degree by using life experience, military training and AP credits, according to their website.

Fresno Pacific University is regionally accredited by the WSCUC. The university offers online Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with concentrations in business management and organizational leadership. Apart from career counseling and placement services, online students can also receive support with essay construction, development and editing through an automated service that is available 24/7.

The university is another one on our list where a hundred percent of qualifying students received some form of federal financial aid in 2016-17.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $29,998
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4,644
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 294,803

Mount Saint Mary’s University

Mount Saint Mary’s University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with emphases on management and accounting. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC). The university’s mission is to “foster a spirit of service, leadership and digital learning innovation to a global community of scholars”.

Their business administration programs aim to prepare students for professional careers through encouraging “rigorous, imaginative, analytical, and inquisitive attitudes,” states their website.

Classes start every 8 weeks. Students are also assigned a Success Coach who can help them navigate through the ups-and-downs of achieving their academic goals.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $38,498
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4,480
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 464,057

Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University offers an online MBA program which can be completed in less than two years. It is open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant career experience. Classes are synchronous, streamed live online so you can interact with your faculty and peers in real-time without having to wait for a reply via email or messages on discussion boards. Apart from a general MBA, concentrations are offered in finance, marketing, digital innovation and information systems and leadership and managing organizational change.

Students of the program receive a WeWork Membership which gives them access to a network of shared workspaces in hundreds of cities around the world, as per website information. Their alumni network of over 40,000 individuals allows you build relationships with like-minded individuals worldwide. Pepperdine University’s Pepperdine Graziadio Business School has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

Students of the university received an average of $5,784 in grant aid in 2016 -17, the highest amount on our list!

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $51,740
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5,784
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 502,726

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University (APU) offers its online Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) program in three different setups: once-a-week, eight-week format, or online, so you can choose the method that suits your lifestyle and learning style. It also offers a fully online MBA program in a flexible format which means you can choose to access courses when it is most convenient to you. Eligible APU alumni receive a 15 percent tuition discount for the MBA program.

Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) as well as the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), and is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Azusa is also a Yellow Ribbon University which can help military students convert their experience and training into college credits, according website information.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $36,926
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $4,750
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling, Placement Services
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 225,311

Concordia University-Irvine

Concordia University-Irvine offers an accelerated online Bachelor’s in Business Administration and leadership which can allow you to complete your bachelor’s degree in as little as 19 months if you have an associate degree. They also offer fully online general education classes to help you make up your required credits as well as accept Prior Learning Assessment credit.

Although the majority of your classes are held online, Concordia University-Irvine also holds periodic real-time sessions, typically in the first, third, fifth, and seventh weeks of each course allowing you to interact with your peers and faculty via two hour long sessions, as per information on their website.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17: $33,400
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $5,322
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 253,232

Hope International University

Hope International University is a Christian University that inculcates Christian values along with studies. Their unique online Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration program can be completed in a little as three years with tuition reduced to just $5000 a year which means you may be able to complete your undergraduate degree in just $15,000, reports their website!

Online students are assigned dedicated academic coaches who can help them through various issues they may face in the course of achieving their academic goals including scheduling and time management. Students also have access to a job portal at no cost along with resume writing and career counseling services.

Data Points:

Average in-state undergraduate tuition, 2016-17:$30,700
Average amount of federal grant aid, 2016-17: $3,670
Credits offered, 2016-17: AP Credit, Dual Credit, Life Experience Credit, Military Training Credit
Services, 2016-17: Career Counseling
Total electronic library collections, 2016-17: 158,587

Methodology

In order to qualify for our ranking a college needed to have the following requirements:

Offer a degree or certificate program in that subject, either in an online or hybrid format
Have at least 1% of students attending some form of distance education
Have awarded at least one degree or certificate in that subject in 2016-17
Have reported data for all 11 ranking variables listed below

After applying the above criteria, we ranked 38 colleges and universities in the United States offering an online business administration degree program, using 2016-17 data from the National Center for Education Statistics on the following criteria:

Bachelor’s Program prominence, based on how many of the degrees and certificates awarded in 2016-2017 were in this particular subject
Ratio of undergraduate students participating fully or partially in DE to Total Enrollment
Average in-state tuition for undergraduates
Retention rate
Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal, state, local, institutional or other sources of grant aid
Average amount of federal, state, local, institutional, or other sources of grant aid awarded to undergraduate students
Student-to-faculty ratio
Total electronic library collections, including digital books, databases, and media
The availability of any tuition plans (Payment, Guaranteed, Prepaid, Other)
1. Payment
2. Guaranteed
3. Prepaid
4. Other
Services (Academic/Career Counseling, Placement for Completers)
1. Academic/Career
2. Placement for Completers
Credit offerings (Dual, Life, AP, Military)
1. Dual
2. Life
3. AP
4. Military

Sources

2018, Small Business Profiles, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/2018-Small-Business-Profiles-CA.pdf, accessed May 2019
3 Reasons Why You Should Study Business Administration, Purdue Global University, 2018, https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/business/why-study-business-administration/
About CBU Online, California Baptist University, https://www.cbuonline.edu/ops, accessed May 2019
About, Mount Saint Mary’s University, https://www.msmu.edu/online/about-msmu-online/, accessed May 2019
Accreditation, Barstow Community College, http://www.barstow.edu/accredit/, accessed May 2019
Accreditation, California Baptist University, https://www.cbuonline.edu/accreditationaccessed May 2019
Accreditation, Coastline College, http://www.coastline.edu/about/accreditation, accessed May 2019
Accreditation, Santa Barbara Business College Online, http://online.sbbcollege.edu/about-sbbc/accreditation/, accessed May 2019
Adult Education, Barstow Community College, http://barstow.edu/AdultEd/, accessed May 2019
Affordable Tuition, California Miramar University, https://www.calmu.edu/affordable-tuition/, accessed May 2019
Associate of Science in Business Administration, California Miramar University, https://www.calmu.edu/associate-of-science-in-business-administration/, accessed May 2019
Associate’s Degree Business Administration, Santa Barbara Business College Online, http://online.sbbcollege.edu/programs/business-administration-associate/, accessed May 2019
Azusa Pacific University, https://www.apu.edu/business/, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Arts In Business Administration – Logistics And Operations, California Baptist University, https://www.cbuonline.edu/degrees/bachelor-of-arts-in-business-administration-logistics-and-operations, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Arts In Business Administration – Management, California Baptist University, https://www.cbuonline.edu/degrees/bachelor-of-arts-in-business-administration, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Azusa Pacific University, https://www.apu.edu/business/programs/bba-degree/, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration, National University, https://www.nu.edu/ourprograms/schoolofbusinessandmanagement/financeandeconomics/programs/businessadministration/, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, California Miramar University, https://www.calmu.edu/bachelor-of-science-in-business-administration/, accessed May 2019
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Trident University, https://www.trident.edu/bachelors-degree-online/business-administration-degree-online/, accessed May 2019
Bachelor’s Degree Business Administration, Santa Barbara Business College Online, http://online.sbbcollege.edu/programs/business-administration-bachelor/, accessed May 2019
Boom and Gloom: An Economic Warning for California, The New York Times, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/business/economy/california-recession/
Business Administration & Leadership, Concordia University – Irvine, https://www.cui.edu/online/degrees/bachelors/business/admission, accessed May 2019
Business Administration and Leadership Online Bachelor’s Degree, Concordia University – Irvine, https://www.cui.edu/online/degrees/bachelors/business, accessed May 2019
Business Administration for Transfer (ADT), Barstow Community College, http://www.barstow.edu/badmt/, accessed May 2019
Business Administration, BS, San Diego Christian College, https://sdcc.edu/residential-undergraduate/bachelor-science-business-administration/,accessed May 2019
Business Administration, Hope International University, https://www.hiu.edu/undergraduate-online/academics/colleges/college-of-business-and-management/business-administration, accessed May 2019
Business Administration, Mount Saint Mary’s University, https://www.msmu.edu/online/degrees/business-administration/, accessed May 2019
Business Administration: Business Management, Fresno Pacific University, https://www.fresno.edu/programs-majors/degree-completion/business-administration-business-management, accessed May 2019
Business Administration: Organizational Leadership, Fresno Pacific University, https://www.fresno.edu/programs-majors/degree-completion/business-administration-organizational-leadership?schoolsrc=43056, accessed May 2019
Business and Financial Occupations, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
Coastline College, http://www.coastline.edu/, accessed May 2019
Coastline Online, Coastline College, http://www.coastline.edu/coastline-online, accessed May 2019
Coastline Promise, Coastline College, http://www.coastline.edu/coastline-promise#financial-support, accessed May 2019
Credit Transfer, Azusa Pacific University, https://www.apu.edu/militaryeducation/benefits/credit-transfer/, accessed May 2019
Degree Completion Student Services, Fresno Pacific University, https://www.fresno.edu/admission/degree-completion/degree-completion-student-services, accessed May 2019
Degree Completion, Fresno Pacific University, https://www.fresno.edu/admission/degree-completion, accessed May 2019
Degrees – Business, Coastline College, http://www.coastline.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates/degrees-business, accessed May 2019
Degrees and Certificates, Coastline College, http://www.coastline.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates, accessed May 2019
Doctor of Business Administration / DBA, California Miramar University, https://www.calmu.edu/doctor-of-business-administration-dba/, accessed May 2019
Doctor of Business Administration, California Baptist University, https://www.cbuonline.edu/degrees/doctor-of-business-administration, accessed May 2019
Employment Projections, Employment Development Department of the State of California, https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/data/employment-projections/, accessed May 2019
Faculty, Trident University, https://www.trident.edu/why-trident/our-people/faculty/, accessed May 2019
FAQ, Fresno Pacific University, https://www.fresno.edu/admission/degree-completion/faq, accessed May 2019
FAQ, Hope International University, https://www.hiu.edu/undergraduate-online/admissions/online-learning-overview/faq.php, accessed May 2019
FAQ, Mount Saint Mary’s University, https://www.msmu.edu/online/admission/faq/, accessed May 2019
Financial Support Services, Coastline College, http://www.coastline.edu/services, accessed May 2019
Flexibility, California Baptist University, https://www.cbuonline.edu/flexibility, accessed May 2019
Frequently Asked Questions, Concordia University – Irvine, https://www.cui.edu/online/degrees/bachelors/business/faq, accessed May 2019
General and Operations Managers in California, Employment Development Department of the State of California, https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/cgi/databrowsing/occExplorerDetails.asp?searchCriteria=&careerID=111021&menuChoice=occExplorer&soccode=111021&geogArea=0601000000&countyName=&selectAll=on&Wages=on&Employment+Projections=on&Job+Openings=on&Licensing+Requirements=on&Occupation+Statistics=on&Training+Programs=on&Skills+and+Tasks=on&Similar+Occupations=on&search=Explore+Occupation, accessed May 2019
Learning at Trident, Trident University, https://www.trident.edu/why-trident/learning/, accessed May 2019
Management Analysts in California, Employment Development Department of the State of California, https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/cgi/databrowsing/occExplorerDetails.asp?searchCriteria=&careerID=131111&menuChoice=occExplorer&soccode=131111&geogArea=0601000000&countyName=&selectAll=on&Wages=on&Employment+Projections=on&Job+Openings=on&Licensing+Requirements=on&Occupation+Statistics=on&Training+Programs=on&Skills+and+Tasks=on&Similar+Occupations=on&search=Explore+Occupation, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration (MBA), National University, https://www.nu.edu/ourprograms/schoolofbusinessandmanagement/financeandeconomics/programs/730-000/, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration / MBA, California Miramar University, https://www.calmu.edu/master-of-business-administration-mba/, accessed May 2019
Master of Business Administration, Trident University, https://www.trident.edu/masters/mba/, accessed May 2019
Master’s Degree Business Administration, Santa Barbara Business College Online, http://online.sbbcollege.edu/programs/business-administration-master/, accessed May 2019
Message from the Dean, Hope International University, https://www.hiu.edu/undergraduate-online/academics/colleges/college-of-business-and-management#tab_overview, accessed May 2019
Military Education at Azusa Pacific, Azusa Pacific University, https://www.apu.edu/militaryeducation/, accessed May 2019
Military Education Opportunities, Barstow Community College, http://barstow.edu/military_education_ops/, accessed May 2019
Mission, Mount Saint Mary’s University, https://www.msmu.edu/online/about-msmu-online/mission/, accessed May 2019
Mission, Vision, and Learning Objectives, California Miramar University, https://www.calmu.edu/mission-and-pledge/, accessed May 2019
Number of higher education institutions in the United States in the academic year of 2017/18, by state, Statista, 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/306880/us-higher-education-institutions-by-state/
Online Bachelor’s Degree Emphasis and Minor Options, San Diego Christian College, https://sdcc.edu/online-and-adult/online-bachelors-degree-emphasis-and-minor-options/, accessed May 2019
Online Bachelor’s Degree Transfer Alignments, Concordia University – Irvine, https://www.cui.edu/en-us/studentlife/registrar/index/id/24125, accessed May 2019
Online Bachelor’s Degrees, Concordia University – Irvine, https://www.cui.edu/online/degrees/bachelors, accessed May 2019
Online Degree in Business Administration (BA), Hope International University, https://www.hiu.edu/online-business/, accessed May 2019
Online Degree Programs, Trident University, https://www.trident.edu/online-degrees/, accessed May 2019
Online Learning Overview, Hope International University, https://www.hiu.edu/undergraduate-online/admissions/online-learning-overview/, accessed May 2019
Online Master of Business Administration, Pepperdine University, https://onlinebusiness.pepperdine.edu/online-mba/#curriculum, accessed May 2019
Online MBA, Azusa Pacific University, https://www.apu.edu/business/programs/mba/online/, accessed May 2019
Online PhD in Business Administration Degree, Trident University, https://www.trident.edu/doctoral/phd-business-administration/, accessed May 2019
Online Programs, Fresno Pacific University, https://www.fresno.edu/programs-majors/online-programs, accessed May 2019
Prior Learning Assessment, Fresno Pacific University, https://www.fresno.edu/admission/degree-completion/prior-learning-assessment, accessed May 2019
Programs of Study, Barstow Community College, http://barstow.edu/Programs-Study/, accessed May 2019
San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco Metropolitan Division (San Francisco And San Mateo Counties), , Employment Development Department of the State of California, 2019, https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/sanf$pds.pdf
Santa Barbara Business College Online, https://sbbcollege.edu/, accessed May 2019
Scholarships and Discounts, Azusa Pacific University, https://www.apu.edu/business/scholarships/, accessed May 2019
School of Business and Management, National University, https://www.nu.edu/ourprograms/schoolofbusinessandmanagement/, accessed May 2019
Students with Disabilities, Coastline College, http://www.coastline.edu/students/students-with-disabilities, accessed May 2019
The Best 70 Companies to Work for in the Bay Area, Fortune, 2019, http://fortune.com/2019/02/28/best-companies-bay-area-2019/
Transfer Information, National University, https://www.nu.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transferInformation/, accessed May 2019
Transfer Policy, Fresno Pacific University, https://www.fresno.edu/admission/degree-completion/transfer-policy, accessed May 2019
Tutorial, Barstow Community College, http://barstow.edu/Tutorial/, accessed May 2019
What is an MBA degree?, National University, https://www.nu.edu/resources/what-is-a-mba-degree/, accessed May 2019
Why Choose National University?, National University, https://www.nu.edu/#why-nu, accessed May 2019
Why SBB College Online?, Santa Barbara Business College Online, http://online.sbbcollege.edu/online-learning/why-sbbcollege-online/, accessed May 2019
Why SDC, San Diego Christian College, https://sdcc.edu/why-sdc/, accessed May 2019
Why Trident?, Trident University, https://www.trident.edu/why-trident/, accessed May 2019
WSCUC Accreditation, San Diego Christian College, https://sdcc.edu/wscuc-accreditation/, accessed May 2019

Learn How 6 Professionals Turned Their Careers Around With Online Healthcare Degrees

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

What do a mortgage broker, operations consultant, two registered nurses, a cancer survivor, and a travelling military wife have in common? Each of them was able to fulfill their careers aspirations in healthcare with a degree they earned online.

With the industry expanding, jobs in healthcare may be just right for those who have a strong sense to serve people and help abate suffering. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.4 million new jobs are likely to be added to the healthcare industry between 2016 and 2026.

If you are interested in a career in healthcare, you’d be happy to know that people enter this career from all walks of life, in all stages of life, and for all kinds of different reasons. These 6 people share their journey in their own words. Read what they were able to accomplish!

Ever thought life was going nowhere?

Meet Amy Young. Amy traveled the world for over two decades with her husband and their three children. “As a military family we relocated every two or three years, and my attempt at getting a degree was getting nowhere. Just as soon as I enrolled in college, it was time to move again, and the next college would not accept the credits, so I always ended up with many ‘floating’ credits.”

Ever since she was young she had an interest in healthcare which led her to enroll in an online associate degree program in health services administration. An online degree program allowed her to juggle work and study. She says, “I was able to work and take college classes at the same time, and at my convenience. I could be drinking coffee, eating, watching TV or listening to music at any time of day or night while ‘attending’ class online. Many times I was online working on a paper in my pajamas at 2:00 AM!”

Did it pay off? Amy Young certainly thinks so, “I obtained the knowledge necessary to open a nonprofit organization that helps low income and uninsured women receive free mammograms. I was also able to move into administrative positions and receive promotions or a higher pay rate than my coworkers.”

Words of wisdom: “Online degree programs are a wonderful way to obtain your degree if you are focused, committed and organized. If you have a tendency to procrastinate and need a little push to meet your deadlines, you may want to consider taking most of your classes on campus, and maybe one class online to ‘test the waters’ and yourself. If you need to work or need more flexibility with your time schedule, taking an online class is the best way to go. This is especially true for young stay-at-home moms.”

When life gives you lemons, what do you do?

Meet Jeff Solheim, a lymphatic cancer survivor who started his career in nursing and eventually became the founder and director of the nonprofit, Project Helping Hands, an organization that sends medical teams to developing countries. He started doing speaking engagements including motivational speaking and commencement speeches but felt the lack of a degree. He explains, “I started feeling like a bit of a hypocrite, I felt if I was going to continue to speak, I would need to practice what I preach.

He knew if he went back to school it would have to be a program that gave him the flexibility he needed, “My life was very full at the time. I was speaking professionally and running three companies, so I knew taking time to go back to school was going to be a challenge I would have to figure out how to balance.”

His online master’s degree in nursing gave him the credentials he needed. He says, “Although I had already established my career without my master’s degree, having my master’s has increased my confidence so I can better practice what I preach. When I submit my credentials for a textbook, I know that I have the proper credentials for what I’m doing.”

Words of wisdom: He has a few words of caution for individuals thinking of online degrees, “It takes self-discipline to be successful when deadlines are not necessarily as fixed as in traditional education. My advice is to make sure you have the self-discipline to stay on track.”

More than two decades and still in the same job?

Meet Joseph Julian, a registered nurse for more than 20 years and a hospital supervisor for three years when he enrolled in an online nursing degree program. The school, whose program generally takes four years of full-time study to complete, accepted 30 credits of previous coursework allowing him to earn his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) in three-and-a-half years of part-time study, “We had a new chief nursing officer/ V.P. of nursing who desired her leadership staff be a minimum of bachelor’s degree-certified. This is also a requirement of those hospitals seeking to apply for ‘magnet’ status.”

Despite working 12.5-hour shifts, Joseph Julian managed to get a majority of his schoolwork in while his children were at school and his wife working so they still managed some family time. “The course load was very reasonable and my advisor was great in helping me choose classes. The work was challenging but rewarding; the knowledge I gained from each class was applicable to my job and even my personal life. It also surprised me how well thought-out the program was in terms of the curriculum, course delivery and ways to pursue your clinical experiences.”

Words of wisdom: “I feel associate-level nursing programs are basic preparation for the NCLEX-RN exams and a basic working knowledge, but a bachelor’s degree is necessary in today’s healthcare world. This degree is a stepping stone for advance practice practitioners such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists or clinical nurse specialists. Take it from someone who has been a nurse for 25 years now: you can never regret getting it. A BSN can only help your career.”

Three years, two degrees, one class at a time

Meet Linda Rich, an operations consultant at a physical therapy rehabilitation management company. Linda travels five days a week and helps hospitals and other facilities manage their rehab programs. In three years, she earned both a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management and a master’s degree in human resources. She explains why she chose the degrees she did, “I looked at the healthcare industry — there are a lot of MBAs and people managing the business. But in my opinion, human resources are what drive our business. I felt like there were already a lot of people tending to the business, so I decided to focus on how to improve human resources.”

She explains how she managed to fit two degrees in such a short span of time while still working, “I started my bachelor’s degree program but life just kept getting in the way. I was never able to finish it, though I only had one course left to complete. Because so much time had lapsed, I had to retake some courses. I took one class at a time, most of the time. There were two or three times that I took two classes at once, but it was a little more than I could handle. One class really worked for me and kept me going.”

Words of wisdom: “You need to first determine your needs. What kind of time off do you have? How is this going to fit into your schedule? Choose the program that fits you. They’re not all the same. Some require you to be in front of a webcam at a certain time to be part of a true classroom setting. That doesn’t give you much flexibility. Choose the program that gives you the advantage to tend to your needs and be able to better your career at the same time.”

Time for a second career?

Meet V.J. Sleight who had been working as a mortgage broker for over 20 years. The profession allowed her the time and freedom to pursue her passion of helping others quit smoking. But she says, “There were several times where my lack of a formal education had limited my opportunities.” Sleight lost out on job opportunities because she didn’t have a degree even though she had the experience and knowledge about cessation. On one occasion she says, “I was hired to give a talk to doctors and at the last minute had to find another speaker to share the platform because I didn’t have a degree. So I didn’t want the lack of a formal education to be a hindrance.”

Sleight decided to go back to school beginning with just one class to earn her online master’s degree inhealthcare. “When I started, I knew that eventually I wanted to write books and deliver talks to both smokers and healthcare professionals about cessation.”

“For me there was no typical day, which is why online was perfect for me. I am very disciplined, so I would read/research/write whenever I had free time. Sometimes that was in the middle of the night — having online library access was great.”

How did earning this online degree help Sleight? “Probably the biggest benefit is the confidence my degree gives me. My educational credentials are no longer questioned, and the degree rounded out my knowledge about cessation.”

Words of wisdom: “Know your endgame. If you don’t know how you can use your degree, having an online degree might not help you. Find an accredited school, and be honest: If you can’t work independently or you need someone looking over your shoulder, online education is not for you.”

Nursing, or business? Or both?

Meet Alicia Sable-Hunt, a registered nurse who dreamed of creating a delicious nutrition bar that met the specific dietary needs of cancer patients. She had only one problem: her bachelor’s degree in nursing hadn’t included any business classes. She decided to earn an MBA in marketing online before entering the business world. Today, she’s the president and founder of Sable’s Foods and Edwards-Hunt Group, a medical consulting group. “My inner drive to learn and experience combined with an entrepreneurial spirit drove me to continue my education.”

How was her experience? “To sum it up: exhilarating, exhausting, lonely, and the best and worst time of my life. The time and commitment required to do both at the same time was exhausting and lonely. I spent 18-20 hours per day, in an office (Edwards-Hunt Group) or kitchen (Sable’s Foods), building my businesses. There was no time for a vacation or holiday, very little time for friends and family, all of which leads to a very lonely existence. But the end result is two businesses that I am proud of. The sacrifice was worth it.”

Words of wisdom: “It is critically important to perform a realistic self-assessment. An individual needs to know what motivates them in a scholastic environment (e.g. do they need the structure of attending a moderator-led class in a physical location three times per week), how they absorb information (e.g. visual vs. reading vs. lecture) and their commitment level (e.g. include the time and cost of commuting to a class into the decision).”

Sources

Healthcare Occupations, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2019, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm

Teagle Foundation Gathers College Leaders To Discuss The Future Of Higher Learning

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

Challenging orthodoxy has never been the best way to ingratiate oneself to the people who hold power. Socrates was forced to drink hemlock for the crime of posing difficult questions to the influential members of society around him, and for corrupting young minds to do the same. Galileo Galilei was placed under house arrest for espousing a heliocentric theory of the universe instead of the widely accepted, but faulty, geocentric theory. Dr. Martin Luther King was hated, vilified, and eventually killed, for daring to ask that people adhere to the idea that all men are created equal.

While not as drastic as any of the changes these three men tried to make, the struggle that online education and its supporters are enduring is a substantive one. With student loan debt surpassing credit card and auto loan debt, many students are forgoing the traditional college route simply because they can’t afford it. Finding ways to earn a degree without having to mortgage their future is important, and experimenting with online degree programs may help create a solution.

The Teagle Foundation, a group dedicated to improving undergraduate education in the arts and sciences, recently brought together college leaders to discuss the changing tide of higher learning. At the meeting, the former president of Tufts University, Lawrence Bacow, stated that “online is here to stay” and that new technologies will become increasingly attractive at the college level. “Faculty are going to run to that. Our students are going to demand it.”

According to the Babson Survey Research Group, over 6.7 million students enrolled in at least one online college course in fall 2011. That number has been growing since 2002 and looks like it may continue to grow as students and faculty learn more about the technology. In fact, distance learning has been around in some form for a long time. Students used to take correspondence courses through the mail, and then institutions began to offer platforms for taking courses online when the Internet blossomed. Those grew into fully online degree programs, and now students have the option of taking on-campus courses or enroll in school through an online format.

Bacow sees several issues keeping schools from fully adopting online education, one of which is cost. He believes that building a competent framework that will help institutions lower their operating costs in the future will be expensive in the short term. That will change, however, “when we really get smart enough to fundamentally rethink how we teach our students.”

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) may be able to help educators experiment with different ways to reach their students, as well as the technologies associated with online learning. It is important to exhaust all possibilities, as the future of students may depend on the affordability of earning a college education. MOOCs have already exploded in popularity, leaving traditional schools scrambling to keep up with the growing trend. At the Teagle Foundation meeting, Steven Zucker, co-dean of art and history at online education provider Khan Academy, estimated that one million students will partake in the site’s art history offerings this semester.

“There is a tsunami that is crashing over us right now, and I think that we need to pay attention to it,” Zucker said. “We need to not bury our heads in the sand, pretending it’s not there. The wave is hitting us, it’s hitting the shore, and it’s transforming our students.”

Sources:
“Digital Rescue,” insidehighered.com, April 12, 2013, Carl Straumsheim
“New Study: Over 6.7 million Students Learning Online,” sloanconsortium.org, Jan. 8, 2013
“The looming crisis of student loan debt,” cnn.com, Dec. 6, 2012, William J. Bennett

Majoring In Uncertainty: 10 Popular College Majors For The Undeclared

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

Choosing a major is serious business. After all, what you chose to study — and what degree you eventually earn — can set the course for your entire professional life. It can take some time to get it right, even among the best prepared students: according to Purdue University, studies suggest over half of students change majors at least once over the course of their college careers. While there is no harm in playing the field, so to speak, TIME notes that major indecision is one of the factors that has turned the “four-year” degree into more of a five- or six-year degree for many students. College is an investment, so it can quite literally pay off to get your major right the first time. If you’re still on the fence, here’s a rundown of 10 popular college majors compiled from Princeton Review and some schools that offer them.

10 popular college majors (and schools that offer them)

Biology: Forget about that frog you dissected in high school: biology majors walk away from graduation with a deep understanding of life systems and processes for a wide breadth of organisms and can often specialize in a particular branch of the field, like marine or evolutionary biology. They may go on to lead field research, work in a lab or head a biological campaign to save the world. The University of Pennsylvania offers undergraduate and graduate biology programs that may help prepare students for these and other roles. Students can train under accomplished faculty and participate in the school’s expansive research programs.
Business: All industries rely on savvy business professionals, so majoring in business can open a lot of doors. Many programs allow students to specialize in a particular area of business and business schools often coordinate internships and other opportunities for students to acquire real-world experience. The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse’s business administration program is professionally accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and according to its website, strives to help students develop the business foundation they need to succeed in the workplace. The undergraduate program offers eight majors ranging from accountancy and finance to marketing and international business.
Communications: Ever wondered what you can do with a communications degree? The short answer: Plenty. Yes, communications majors can go on to become writers or news reporters, but they can also become political speech writers, marketing specialists, public relations pros or even sportscasters. Drexel University offers both online and campus-based communications programs, both of which emphasize journalism, design, public relations and communication technologies. According to its official website, graduates should walk away with valuable, career-ready skills.
Computer Science: You don’t have to be a geek to know that computers have become an essential part of our culture. Computer science majors develop a thorough understanding of computer technology and how humans interact with it. Courses can touch on topics like data structures, artificial intelligence and computer language theory. Princeton University’s computer science department offers undergraduate, graduate and even interdisciplinary degree programs. In addition to honing their skills in class, students often have the opportunity to participate high-tech research in areas like 3-D design, bioinformatics, functional programming and more.
Economics: Some say money makes the world go round, but few understand how or why better than economics graduates. Economics majors can walk away from school knowing how to analyze and predict things like interest rates, inflation and the stock market. Oregon State University’s undergraduate economics programs help give students the mathematical and theoretical tools they need to accomplish these feats, and even offers the option to earn a degree online in three concentrations: economics; managerial economics; and law, economics and policy.
Education: Teaching is often considered among the noblest of professions. For those looking to join the next generation of educators, earning a degree in education is one route to gaining a teaching license. The University of Oregon’s Department of Education Studies offers a Master of Education degree that can lead to licensure in Oregon. The program is split into two tracks: Early Childhood/Elementary and Middle/High School, and also allows students to take courses relevant to their desired field of teaching. In addition, it is the only program in the state to integrate English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training. The department also offers a non-licensure bachelor’s program and a Ph.D. in critical and sociocultural studies in education.
English: People often assume that English majors spend most of their time reading and writing, and while may be true to some extent, that perception does not do the discipline justice. English programs teach students how to communicate effectively, think critically and develop a refined sense of what it means to be human. The University of Illinois in Springfield has been teaching English students these skills for decades. Today it offers both campus-based and online English degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, not to mention professional and teaching credentials. Students can even participate in a number of English-related clubs, including the Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society.
Nursing: An unknown person once said, “Save one life you’re a hero. Save 100 lives, you’re a nurse.” Needless to say, nursing is important and often gratifying work. In addition to providing basic medical care, nurses answer patients’ questions and help them and their families cope with what can be a scary situation. Clarkson College offers a number of nursing programs that should suit most students’ professional goals and experience levels. Students can even complete some nursing programs partially online. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranked Clarkson College’s online graduate nursing degree programs fourth in the nation in 2013.
Political Science: Have you ever had a heated political debate with a friend (or foe) and walked away feeling like you missed your calling? By majoring in political science, you can develop the know-how to flex your political savvy at dinner parties — or in a meaningful career. The online bachelor’s program in political science offered by Penn State World Campus can help students learn the ins and outs of politics, public policy, foreign affairs and more in a convenient format. Students can rest easy knowing that online degree programs at Penn State are highly regarded: In 2013, U.S. News & World Report ranked Penn State World Campus’ online bachelor’s degrees 16th in the nation.
Psychology: Not all psychology graduates end up counseling patients who spill their metaphorical guts on big leather couches, though clinical therapy is a popular career path. For example, some may go on to help companies promote happier and more productive work environments as industrial-organizational psychologists or use their psychology powers to study consumer behavior for a marketing firm. UC Berkeley offers a diversity of psychology programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, some of which may be completed online. Because Berkeley is an advanced research institution, students may also get a chance to participate in important studies.

Sources:
“How to pick the right major and more,” cco.purdue.edu, 2013. https://www.cco.purdue.edu/Student/major.shtml
“The Myth of the Four-Year College Degree,” business.time.com, 10 January 2013. http://business.time.com/2013/01/10/the-myth-of-the-4-year-college-degree/
“Top 10 College Majors,” princetonreview.com, 2013. http://www.princetonreview.com/college/top-ten-majors.aspx
“Pennsylvania State University — University Park,” colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com, 2013. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus-214777/overall-rankings
“Clarkson College Online Graduate Nursing Program Receives Top Ranking in U.S. News & World Report,” clarksoncollege.edu, 15 January 2013. http://www.clarksoncollege.edu/aboutus/news/pressreleases/details/?newsid=80

Note: At the time of publishing, the information in this article was deemed to be accurate. However, accreditation status and program offerings can change over time, so please check with each school for the latest information.

The Rise Of The Non-traditional Student

Post author By Venessa Regali
Post date 24 November 2020

If you close your eyes and try to envision what a typical college student looks like, you probably picture a young adult, fresh from high school and ready to conquer the world. However, times are changing, and so are the demographics and circumstances of today’s quintessential college scholar.

According to a new report from the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA), as many as 73 percent of U.S. students enrolled in degree programs today are considered “non-traditional students.” This includes any student who meets one or more of the following criteria outlined by the National Center for Education Statistics:

Delayed enrollment
Attends college part-time
Works full-time
Has dependents
Is financially independent of parents
Is a single parent
Does not have a high school diploma or G.E.D.

And many schools have broadened this even further to include veterans, adult learners, married students, those returning to their studies after a break, and anyone else who doesn’t meet the standard collegiate mold.

Non-traditional students: The underserved majority

The fact that 73 percent of students are considered “non-traditional” means that the non-traditional student has actually become quite common. Unfortunately, this growing demographic is often underserved in the higher education market, which has historically failed to cater to them by not offering enough evening classes, flexible programs, or financial aid opportunities.

And it may be getting worse. According to a recent article from The Atlantic, some educators and policy-makers are pushing initiatives that would make financial aid even harder to attain for part-time students. The initiative, referred to as the “Full-time is Fifteen” program, would require students to complete 15 credits per semester to be considered full-time, instead of the usual 12. While meant to curb student drop-outs by encouraging them to graduate within four years, enacting this measure would likely have unintended consequences, mostly by limiting the already meager aid currently available to students who can only take classes part-time due to budgetary or time constraints.

As the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance points out in their report to the U.S. Congress and Secretary of Education, college attainment rates have remained relatively stagnant for young adults, while growth in college degree attainment in competing countries has skyrocketed. This has lead the U.S. to fall further behind global competitors in number of adults with degrees. If not stopped, this trend can only perpetuate a whole host of problems that plague our nation and its citizens. The ACSFA report states: “Stagnant or falling degree attainment rates, particularly among young Americans, threaten the nation’s overall global competitiveness and further exacerbate inequality in income distribution.” Creating additional roadblocks for non-traditional students only stands to make problems worse.

Services for the non-traditional student

Fortunately, many colleges and universities have gotten the hint and begun implementing programs that are aimed at helping non-traditional students succeed, despite the many obstacles they face. One such school, Southern Illinois University, has an entire page of their website dedicated to the various resources available for non-traditional students, which currently includes live chats with other non-traditional students, a Friday night play group for students with kids, monthly wellness programs, and even specific scholarship programs designed to benefit the non-traditional crowd.

The University of Idaho also caters to its non-traditional population by providing links and support on issues such as child care, insurance options, transportation, and events. Other schools, such as the University of Oregon, try to make things easier for non-traditional students by offering family housing options created specifically for students who are married or have kids, as well as specific financial aid packages for students who need child care assistance while they earn their degree.

Many institutions are creating new options for non-traditional students by launching online degree programs that cater to adult students. For example, the State University of New York system, also known as SUNY, now collectively offers over 150 degree programs and 12,000 courses online, including both degree completion and hybrid degree programs. Non-traditional students often choose to earn their degree online simply because these programs can offer more convenience and flexibility than their brick-and-mortar counterparts, making it easier to attend school while maintaining career or family obligations.

The fact is, graduating from college isn’t easy, and doing so as a non-traditional student poses even more challenges. However, colleges and universities appear to be getting the message when it comes to expanding programs that cater to this growing demographic. Hopefully, that trend will only continue as non-traditional students continue to reach for their educational goals.

Sources:
“Colleges Are Failing Their Biggest Group of Students,” The Atlantic, January 29, 2014, Lila Selim, http://www.theatlantic.com/bachelor/education/archive/2014/01/colleges-are-failing-their-biggest-group-of-students/283435/
“Full-Time is Fifteen,” Complete College America, http://www.completecollege.org/gameChangers/#clickBoxGreen
“Non-Traditional Students,” University of Idaho, http://www.uidaho.edu/studentaffairs/nontraditional
“Nontraditional Student Programs,” University of Oregon, http://uodos.uoregon.edu/SupportandEducation/NontraditionalStudents/tabid/60/Default.aspx
“Open SUNY debuts with eight fully-online degrees,” OnlineDegrees.com, January 22, 2014, Shannon Lee, /degree360/e-learning-news/open-suny-debuts-eight-fully-online-degrees/
“Pathways to Success- a Report to the U.S. Congress and Secretary of Education,” Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, February 2012, http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf
“Today’s typical college students often juggle work, children and bills with coursework,” The Washington Post, Jenna Johnson, September 14, 2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/bachelor/education/todays-typical-college-students-often-juggle-work-children-and-bills-with-coursework/2013/09/14/4158c8c0-1718-11e3-804b-d3a1a3a18f2c_story/

Methodologies and Sources