Experts tell us that the U.S. economy is facing perhaps the most serious recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Prices are deflating, banks are in crisis, and many businesses are looking at bankruptcy. Surprisingly, though – or perhaps not so surprisingly, tens of thousands of people are returning to school to get a college degree.
Recently, the administrators of Degree.com did an informal survey of visitors to the website. During this survey, they learned that nearly half – 45 percent, in fact – of the people visiting the website had either lost their jobs or feared that they would lose their job. They were either entering a university degree program for a first degree or enrolling in a graduate degree program for additional education.
This may seem contradictory; times are hard and people want to save money for paying bills and necessities such as food, clothing, and housing, but it actually makes good economic sense. Sometimes, you have to spend money to make money, and if spending money will help you get a better job (or keep the one you already have) – maybe it’s worth it!
Online degree programs offer the most convenient and flexible options to people with jobs who are also trying to earn a degree. Through top online schools, these students can earn a college degree at home after the day’s work is done. And who really wants to quit a job right now, hoping that they can find a new one in a few months or years?
What kind of online university degree programs are people choosing? While some people are continuing to choose programs in liberal arts or interior design, the majority are enrolling in college degree programs that promise to be more recession-proof than others. Some examples of these include distance education programs in nursing, computer programming, and financial planning.
Students who already have a Bachelor Degree are beginning graduate degree programs in fields such as teaching, healthcare, and business management. Their goal is to get the best education possible in order to keep their jobs as secure as possible. A Master Degree often gives jobseekers the extra edge needed to make their resume stand out in the pile.
If you just aren’t ready to earn a degree online, consider taking a few courses from a top online school. Show your manager that you’re interested in furthering your education, and staying on top of the latest issues and trends in your career. Most of the time, you’ll find that, rather than costing you money, these extra courses may earn you that new job or promotion for which you’ve been hoping!
Visit Degree.com for more valuable information on starting a new career or getting a better job by furthering your education. Don’t put your education off hoping that the recession will get better; learn from expert Sheila Danzig how to succeed even in a recession!
