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When is the Right Time to Get My Bachelor's Degree?
For some people, going to college is the next logical step after high school graduation. For others, college isn’t in their plan. They simply want to get a job and become financially independent. But the truth is, life isn’t that simple. It takes surprising twists and turns you never imagined.
You may have started college but had to drop out because of major life changes, like marriage, having a baby, or financial problems that forced you to get a full-time job. You may have entered the workforce right after high school but are struggling to support your family. You may be worried that you’ll be laid off.
Now you are facing a life-changing decision: Is this the right time to get your bachelor’s degree at an online university? Encouraging trends, statistics, and economic indicators all say “YES!”
- Lowest unemployment rates for college graduates in 7 years – According to the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), the unemployment rate for U.S. college graduates decreased from 5.3% to 2.4% between 2009 and 2015. This research also shows that the lower the educational level, the higher the unemployment rates.*
- Unemployment rate nearly doubles for high school graduates – In 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the unemployment rate for those with only a high school diploma was at 6% compared to a 3.4% unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree.†
- College graduates earn $400 more per week – In early 2015, the BLS reported that college graduates make an average of $400 more per week than high school graduates.† That adds up to an annual income of $20,800 more than the average annual income of high school graduates.
- Growing selection of bachelor’s degree programs – It’s easier than ever to find the best online undergraduate degree for your educational needs and career advancement goals.
- Walden University, an accredited institution, offers 18 online bachelor’s degree programs ranging from accounting and business administration to psychology and information technology.
- Ease of balancing work, family, and school – An online university like Walden University understands adult learners and what they need to succeed. 60% of online students who pursue a bachelor’s degree work full time; another 20% work part time. 46% of online students state that career advancement is their main motivation for going back to school.‡ Many adult learners are married and have children. Their lives are a balancing act, so time management is a required skill for surviving and succeeding. Working adults need all the help they can get and online universities are making sure they deliver it with fast-track courses, multiple starting dates throughout the year, the ease of learning at your own pace, and the convenience of being able to “attend” class and study anytime.
- Fast-track online bachelor’s degree programs – More than 80% of online undergraduate students are older adult students returning to college. Their credits from previous courses often can be transferred to help complete their degree in a shorter period of time.‡
- Bachelor’s degree acceleration programs – Walden University accelerates your degree even faster by giving you transferrable credits for your work, life, and military knowledge if relevant to your chosen degree. Your accumulated knowledge, along with your transferred college credits, can meet up to 75% of the requirements of your bachelor’s degree, and up to 50% of your graduate degree. Imagine being able to resume your bachelor’s degree as a college senior! For details, visit Walden’s Center for Degree Acceleration.
When is the right time to get your bachelor’s degree online? Take a closer look at the variety of online college degree programs offered at Walden University including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, endorsement programs, and specialized certificate programs. Then you’ll realize the right time is right now.
Walden University, an accredited institution offering online degree programs, has been serving the higher education needs of adult learners for 45 years. Today, more than 47,800 students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 150 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees, or certificates online at Walden.
Explore Walden University's online degrees and specialized certificate programs that fit your career goals. Earn your degree at a pace that fits your life and schedule.
*Federal Reserve Economic Data, “Unemployment Rate – College Graduates – Bachelor’s Degree and Higher, 25 years and over,” on the Internet at https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/LNU04027662 (viewed online May 18, 2015).
†Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” on the Internet at www.bls.gov/ooh/ (viewed online May 18, 2015).
‡CollegeAtlas.org, “41 Surprising Facts About Online Students,” on the Internet at www.collegeatlas.org/41-surprising-facts-about-online-students.html (viewed online May 18, 2015).