I am in a different situation than most on this site. I am 44 and looking to get an online degree.
I waited so long to get a degree because I had a job that paid very good for 23 years and didn’t need a degree. Now, having lost that job two years ago, I have found that the only jobs I can get are unskilled factory jobs.
I really want to get a degree but have to work full time+ while I do it. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on good sites to check out?
Look at Penn State World campus.
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/
What are you looking at majoring?
Do you know what it is you want to study?
Online classes are not for everyone. They require a tremendous amount of self-discipline, and you miss out on regular human interaction with your classmates and instructor. If live classes simply won’t fit into your schedule, then start with just one online class to see whether that format is going to work well for you.
Start by checking your own local community college and in-state public universities for courses and programs that could lead to the degree that you want. Many fully accredited colleges and universities now offer online as well as live classes. If there is nothing at all locally, here are two well established programs that you could investigate:
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/
http://www.umuc.edu/
I am leaning towards a business degree. I have been in manufacturing for 25 years now so have plenty of experience. Now days though, almost all companies want a bachelors in business to advance to supervisor rolls or above. It seems experience does not really mean that much anymore.
Happy, I have been looking at Columbia college in Missouri. Low tuition and USNews ranks it #98 for online degrees.
My local community college has on their website that they offer a fully online associates in business degree. I even called and asked them about it. I was enrolled for this fall, after taking the Compass test, getting transcripts, and filling out all of my FAFSA(all of which they required me to do before I could talk to an adviser) I was told they only offer a couple of online classes.
Sometimes several community colleges share their online programs, so it could be that is the situation at yours. Only one or two might be taught by their professors, but when combined with classes from other CCs in your state, it could be possible to put together a degree that is entirely online. So ask again about this.
I’m surprised that you were required to file the FAFSA before even speaking with the counselor. That makes sense only if you are going to attend full time. You can’t get federal student aid if you study part time.
While you are investigating the various online programs, talk with potential employers about the programs you are looking at. After all, the point of this is to get you a better job. The job placement statistics that the different colleges maintain might not be relevant for an older student such as yourself - especially if you need to stay in your same area after completing your degree.
After your experience, you should ignore jobs asking for a degree since you have that work experience that is more than the equivalent. You just have to be persistent. After a 2 year job gap, that is going to hurt more than a lack of degree. Just don’t expect there to all of a sudden be jobs because you got a recent degree, is what I am saying. Fill in the two years with something you were supposedly doing self employed.
My only advice about online is make sure your degree is from a regionally accredited school and not a nationally accredited school. There is a difference in perceived quality and likely actual quality. Columbia is not regionally accredited. Regional accreditation is important because your credits will then transfer for a 4 year. Regional colleges take each other’s credits usually. Where they do not take credits from the Higher Learning Commission or other national accrediting agencies, which is not as strong.
There is a forum for online programs here but it may be slow:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/online-degrees/
Thank you very much!
I know that a degree does not mean an automatic job offer but, at least in the St. Louis area, that’s what you need to get your foot in the door. I’m not 20 anymore and the physical demands of factory labor is a lot harder on me now. Lol. That’s what I have been doing the last couple of years. I’m just frustrated because any of the decent manufacturing jobs in this part of the country just laugh in your face if you apply for anything other than general labor with no degree.
Consider Western Governors University-- you can use your expertise to accelerate through course work; its regionally accredited; and very affordable (~3k per 6 month term.) They offer degrees in business, IT, health professions and education. Course work is fully online, at your pace, and with mentors to guide you along the way.
UMUC also awards credit for experience http://www.umuc.edu/undergrad/creditoptions/ and I wouldn’t be surprised if Penn State World campus did as well. When you are investigating programs, be sure to ask about this.
Many programs will also award credit by exam, so read their websites to find out if they accept CLEP exams for credit. https://clep.collegeboard.org/?affiliateId=rdr&bannerId=clep Your public library probably has copies of the review materials and practice exams.
Go to the financial aid forum and look for this thread:
List of INEXPENSIVE REPUTABLE Online College BA/BS Classes and Degrees
It lists accredited online programs from different state colleges. I agree with starting at your local cc if you can. The more personal contacts you make, the better.
It seems like many state schools offer online programs. Our NYS public colleges have online associate, bachelor, & master degree programs. Some of the SUNY online programs are hybrid (a mix of online and on campus courses), but students can do 2 years at a local cc (so they have a degree) then transfer to a 4 year SUNY and do the last 2 years online. Or they can do a 2 year online program then transfer to a 4 year online program to finish up. See what your in-state colleges offer because it will probably be less expensive, but check the list too because not every state is as expensive as NYS. The great thing about online degrees from a state school (at least in NYS) is that they’re issued by the college and look just like the ones that all the other graduates of that college receive.