Archive for May 2010
NCSU continues expanding their distance education program
While earning my Computer Science degree in the early 2000s, I took several summer math courses at NC State University because my primary distance education school didn’t offer them yet. I enjoyed those classes and actually would have considered pursuing my full degree at NCSU, but at the time their distance education offering was minimal. There offered a few courses online, but I couldn’t have earned a full degree (even a 2 year degree) without commuting to school to fulfill the remaining requirements.
That has all changed dramatically over the past few years as NCSU has been expanding their distance education program at an impressive rate. It is now possible to earn an undergraduate or post-graduate degree from the University completely online. Their programs include Leadership in the Public Sector, Agricultural Education, Teaching, and even a part-time MBA course of study. In addition, they offer ways for a student pursuing a degree in engineering to complete the first two years of coursework online and finish the last two years through traditional means.
Their tuition rates run around $130 per credit hour for in-state students which is comparable to most other distance education programs. If you’re currently seeking a good distance education school, it would be worth your while to investigate what NCSU has to offer.
It’s exciting that more and more “big name” schools continue to expand their distance education offerings. It’s a trend that will undoubtedly continue as these schools recognize the growing demand for such modes of study.
Does earning a degree increase your salary?
One commonly held belief about college degrees is that earning one will boost your income in your current job, or help you secure a job with a much higher starting salary than someone who only has a high school degree.
This may have been true at one point, but in recent years the earnings gap between high school and college graduates has been shrinking dramatically. Mary Pilon takes a detailed look at the earnings landscape in a recent Wall Street Journal article. It’s well worth a read whether you’re considering college for the first time or planning to return to school to earn a post-graduate degree.
One advantage to pursuing a degree via distance education is the lower cost. Combine that with the ability to work a full-time job while studying in the evening and you have a powerful alternative to the traditional college experience. Of course, it’s still a good idea to research your target career field and determine whether the cost of a college degree is truly worth the salary increase. It might not be.
