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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.

Perhaps you  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. Or maybe you may have entered the workforce right after high school but are struggling to support your family. It could even be that you’re worried that you’ll be laid off.

A young female student smiles
A young female student smiles

Either way, if you are facing a life-changing decision, you might be asking: 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 – According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in March 2025, unemployment for persons 25 years and older who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher has been under 3% since July 2021This research also shows that the lower the educational level, the higher the unemployment rates.1
  • Unemployment rate nearly doubles for high school graduates – In 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the unemployment rate for those with only a high school diploma was nearly double that of with a bachelor’s degree or higher.1†
  • College graduates earn $594 more per week – In 2023, the BLS reported that college graduates make an average of $594 more per week than high school graduates.2 That adds up to an annual income of $30,888 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 12 online bachelor’s degree programs ranging from accounting and business administration to psychology and information technology.
  • Online learning continues to be a popular choice. In fall 2021, 4.4 million students, or 28 percent of all undergraduate students, took distance education courses exclusively.3
  • 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.

You can also use Walden Wayfinder to help navigate your way to success by exploring different careers that match your passions, and the degree program that’s right for you.  It’s a  great first step to realizing   the right time to earn a degree is right now.

Walden University, an accredited institution offering online degree programs, has been serving the higher education needs of adult learners for more than 50  years. Today, 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.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
 

1Source: https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/unemployment-rates-for-persons-25-years-and-older-by-educational-attainment.htm
2Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm
3Source: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=80

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