The Good, the Bad and the Moneymakers: The Best and Worst Online Fields of Study
Online schools and degree programs are rapidly rising in popularity. But what programs will give you the biggest bang for your buck? The best represent those with good returns on your investment, while the worst represent those with declining career numbers or low average incomes for graduates.
Why Online?
Increasingly, students are choosing online schools and degree programs. What’s so great about them?
Costs per credit can be as low as $75. That’s 2 to 3 times cheaper than the average, traditional university.
65%
Percentage of online degree recipients who say it was worth the financial investment, according to a Learning House survey.
9.7%
Recent growth rate in online enrollment
Best Online Programs
Business administration
Median salary: $43,879 (for MBA, $90,000)
Jobs: Business manager, administrator, business analyst
Finance
Median salary: $75,650 (MBA)
Jobs: Portfolio manager, financial analyst, investment specialist
Hotel and hospitality management
Median salary: $47,450
Jobs: Event planner, cruise line director, lodging managers
Human resources
Median salary: $54,310 (for master’s, $98,130)
Jobs: Human resource manager, labor relations expert
Marketing
Median salary: $52,200 (for master’s, $116,010)
Jobs: Marketing specialist, product development
Information systems
Median salary: $48,873 to $113,368
Jobs: Information technology manager, data analyst, IT developer
Computer science and engineering
Median salary: $95,600
Jobs: Software developer, computer programmer
Graphics and multimedia
Median salary: $44,010
Jobs: Graphic designer, advertising specialist
Web development
Median salary: $60,900
Jobs: Web developer
Health administration
Median salary: $69,000
Jobs: Operations manager, nursing home administrator
Paralegal studies
Median salary: $46,730
Jobs: Paralegal
Worst Online Programs
Art & Design
Median salary: $43,000 to $75,660
Jobs: Artist, designer
Counseling
Median salary: $41,500
Jobs: Family counselor, personal therapist
Dental assistant
Median salary: $34,500
Jobs: Dental assistant
Early childhood education
Median salary: $27,130
Jobs: Kindergarten/preschool teacher, teacher aide
Medical billing and coding
Median salary: $34,160
Jobs: Hospital billing expert/coder
Pharmacy technician
Median salary: $29,320
Jobs: Pharmacy technician
Phlebotomy
Median salary: $29,730
Jobs: Phlebotomist
Public health
Median salary: $41,830
Jobs: Public policy expert, medical director, health center administrator
Social work
Median salary: $44,200
Jobs: Social worker, family counselor/advocate
Sources:
http://www.geteducated.com
http://www.learninghouse.com
http://olc.onlinelearningconsortium.org
http://www.thebestschools.org
http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com