Online learning is convenient and flexible, which is why an increasing number of career-focused professionals are advancing their education online instead of in the classroom. But there are other, equally important benefits to pursuing an online degree. Let’s take a look:

Work as You Learn

According to a 2012 study published in Inside Higher Ed, 80 percent of respondents enrolled in an online course were either employed full- or part-time —and a whopping 60 percent were 9 to 5ers. Why is online learning a good choice for this population?

• Building work experience while enhancing your education can fasttrack you to success.
• Online education fits around your schedule; a traditional college isn’t nearly as flexible. In most cases, you’d have to limit your studies to the class(es) you could fit in before or after work.
• The flexibility of online learning allows students to fully achieve their dreams without sacrificing their current income level or position.

Feel Less Stressed

If your online program is asynchronous — meaning the student can work at their own pace to meet stated deadlines and learning objectives — it can make it easier to structure your education around your work schedule. You’ll experience fewer conflicts and have less stress about completing both work and school projects in the same time frame. Online classes make working around your existing commitments doable and open the door to succeeding both at work and in school.

Improve Your Overall Performance

You’ll learn more than just your coursework while studying online; you’ll pick up the ability to work independently and prioritize tasks. These skills transfer readily to your current work environment and will continue to be useful long after you graduate.

Stay On — and Likely Ahead — of Trends

Unless you are learning online in an effort to change careers, the information that you acquire through your studies is more than likely relevant to your current field. You can immediately begin transferring them directly to your day-to-day job responsibilities, impacting your performance, even before you graduate.

Prepare for Advancement

In many fields, experience can only take you so far, and lacking the right educational credentials can stop your forward progress. If you know the next step in your career is going to require a specific degree or credential, earning it early could prevent you from missing out on that opportunity.

Make More Money

Data collected by the United States Census found that individuals with a bachelor’s degree out-earned their peers; those with master’s degrees or better achieved even higher.

Specialize in Your Field

Earning a degree in a specific field of study related to your current career can make you more attractive to your current or future employer. It’s possible that you may not live near a school offering the programs you need; online education allows you to access courses regardless of your geographic location. This easy access is a must for those who have an established career and home in one area, but who need to acquire additional and specific skills from another.

Network with Your Peers

Even though you are not learning face-to-face, it’s absolutely possible to establish connections in the online classroom that will serve you in your career. For example, your classmates are probably active or will be participating in the same career as your studies. Online discussion boards and even screen shares allow you to get to know those who are learning alongside of you, and you can share your career interests and goals.

For more information on how Johnson & Wales University School of Online & Continuing Education can you help you pursue your career goals, contact us at 855-JWU-1881 or onlineadmissions@jwu.edu. You can also fill out the “Request Info” form on this page.