After the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a huge paradigm shift in how we view quality and accessible education. While online degrees were always a favorite choice, with 3.3 million higher education students enrolled in distance learning courses in 2018, their popularity soared immensely after 2020.
The switch to remote working also propelled the demand for learning and skill development flexibility. People have realised the perks of technology and have started preferring their degrees online instead of in person.
With this article, let’s explore the top 4 reasons to jump on the bandwagon and pursue an online degree.
Your degree does not have to be your full-time priority
We understand that students have to shoulder many other responsibilities outside the classroom apart from their academic burden. This means fulfilling social responsibilities with friends and acquaintances and giving time to your loved ones at home.
Many students also act as caregivers at home, meaning that a hectic class schedule to pelt them is the last thing they need on their plates. Moreover, many of these enrolled students might work part-time or full-time to meet ends.
With online education, your degree does not have to be your full-time priority, and you can also make the most of your available time and energy for your loved ones. Over 2500 colleges in the US have started offering remote learning, and online programs at Avilla University have become one of the top choices among such students.
In a study conducted by Gallup, it was found that 31-44% of college students consider dropping out because they are unable to balance their caregiving and parental responsibilities with their studies.
Therefore, universities need to be mindful of such students and design convenient curriculums conducive to their academic growth without separating them from their familial responsibilities. This will also allow women and other socially marginalized communities to take a more active role in their education and career.
All work and no play make you dull
It’s no debate that college degrees are highly stressful and, more often than not, the biggest factor why students’ academic performance- even those bright-eyed and top of their class- suffers. 36.5% of US students point towards stress as their biggest reason for lagging and compassion fatigue.
The pressure to score a good GPA and manage all the assignments and tests saps students’ energy and motivation to do anything interesting or productive outside the classroom.
Academic stress also becomes a dangerous risk factor for other mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Proper measures to reduce their prevalence are the need of the hour, and one of them includes allowing students to give time to their hobbies and interests.
This would ensure they aren’t constantly made to feel bogged down by their education and have room to take creative liberties with their free time. Research has proven time and time again how hobbies that invigorate the senses and give us our much-needed dose of serotonin help us relax and unwind. It also staves away boredom and low mood while potentially becoming a lucrative side hustle in the future.
An online degree allows you to choose your study schedule to give ample time to hobbies and activities that improve and stabilize your mental well-being.
Flexibility
In this rat race of academics and careers, it’s hard not to feel suffocated. As you age, especially after your 30s, time seems to become your biggest enemy. There is a lot to do, degrees to finish, and jobs to scout for, but there isn’t enough time to do them all. Online education, however, is an option you must consider if you’re looking to be labeled as time-smart and efficient in your career plans.
With an education you can access from the comforts of your home (or anywhere you wish), an online degree is a gateway to more opportunities. Now, you can gain work experience on the side with the flexibility an online degree grants you without missing out on your classes. Save your precious time and commute expenses that in-person classes demand on other activities that bolster your career growth.
Furthermore, by getting accustomed to e-learning, you make yourself more attuned to the technological advancements of the 21st century, thereby allowing you to prepare for a future where most-if, not all, commercial activities will be digitalized. Upwork estimates that 22% of the American workforce (36.2 million Americans) will be working remotely by 2025, so imagine this trend increasing exponentially in a decade or so.
Affordable tuition
Every 1 in 7 Americans is ridden with malignant student debt. People aged 35 and above in the U.S account for most of the accumulated debt-around $600 billion. This massive figure speaks volumes about the student debt culture that has stifled the country’s students’ lives and careers. It also tells us that student loans are a nuisance that doesn’t go away easily within a few years, as most assume while taking them, but span decades, dragging you down.
In contrast to on-campus universities that charge you lump sum amounts of money for providing air-conditioned classes, cafeterias, lodgings, and other facilities that you don’t have a choice but to pay for, online education rids off all the extra expenditure. This means that it is a much more affordable option for people who don’t want to pour enormous amounts of money and resources into their education alone.
People from low-income backgrounds can also avail good scholarships and access quality education this way, without financial burdens acting as a noose around their neck for the next two or more years of university.
Conclusion
Opting for an online degree is one of the best decisions you can make in 2022. It will allow you to take a much-needed breather during your studies and spend your free time during social commitments and on your health and well-being. Affordable tuition and the time-efficient nature of online education is an impeccable option for those looking to expand their career prospects with a fruitful degree that doesn’t inconvenience them.
