4 Advantages of Getting Your Master’s Degree Online
Last Updated December 11, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced much of life online—from shopping to work to school. Students at every level, from elementary to college, have found themselves to now be online students, often in classes and programs that were not originally intended to be conducted online.
With much of the education opportunities moving online for the foreseeable future, particularly at the college level, established programs designed for the online learning experience and for the online learner are more attractive than ever, especially for working professionals looking to enhance their career potential with a master’s degree.
These online graduate degree programs provide access to advanced knowledge and the opportunity to strengthen your leadership skills can be yours, on your schedule, no matter where you may live. As online degree programs continue to evolve, so do the possibilities and benefits that come along with them.
Here are four advantages to earning your graduate degree online.
1. Work At Your Own Pace
Jobs, families and other responsibilities make it difficult for many students to adhere to the time requirements and pace of on-campus master’s degree programs. In addition, traditional master’s programs are not always attuned to adult learners’ needs. Traveling back and forth to classes can add even more stress to a student’s life, and a traditional class schedule often does not coincide with a working professional’s hours. Current restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can make working hours and in-person classes even more unpredictable.
Earning a master’s degree online offers the opportunity to attend and review classes, turn in assignments and take exams on your schedule, as your time allows. Flexible scheduling means you can take as few or as many classes as you wish, working at the pace that works for you.
You will “be able to plan school around your busy life,” says Elizabeth Blass, who completed her Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership online through Michigan State University. Her advice to anyone considering an online program: “Be committed to learning and contributing to the class.”
With a little commitment and organization, you’ll enjoy a lower level of stress while you enhance your professional credentials for greater career opportunities.
2. Your College Comes to You
As the expectation to be able to work from anywhere has gained acceptance, so too has the expectation to attend class from anywhere. If you don’t want to uproot your life to further your education, or, on the flip side, you like having the flexibility and freedom to roam without adhering to a class schedule, you’ll love pursuing your graduate degree online.
For Ana Cifuentes Gonzalez, a native of southeastern Spain now based in Virginia and working for one of the biggest supermarket chains in Europe, flexibility was a must.
“I didn’t want to stop working to come study,” says Gonzalez. “I cannot leave my job or leave life for weeks at a time to come to class and do the master’s.”
Gonzalez was able to successfully complete a cross-country relocation AND her graduate degree, all while applying information from her courses in her day-to-day work. MSU’s Master of Science in Supply Chain Management provides 24/7 access to online courses with only three required three-day campus sessions.
Enrolling in an online program can be the ideal way to enrich your skills and increase your professional knowledge even when you’re traveling for vacation, work or family responsibilities, or if you’re staying put in your current location due to lockdown or travel restrictions. You’ll no longer need to worry about being in class at a certain time of day, as with many online programs allow you to access classes any time of the day, seven days a week. The convenience and flexibility of pursuing a master’s degree online mean you don’t have to relocate to earn your degree.
3. Time is Money, So Save Both
Enrolling in an online master’s degree program can mean significant time savings for you. With an online program, you won’t need to commute back and forth to a college campus, find parking and pay parking fees, walk from one side of campus to the other, or spend time arranging childcare, saving both time and money.
“As professionals mostly find, time is a precious commodity,” says Jeff Day, a tech industry adviser, father of four, and a graduate of MSU’s 100% online M.S. in Management, Strategy and Leadership program. “Online gave me the ability to do the program whenever, wherever.”
Most online students make efficient use of that flexibility, completing their degree requirements in less time than on-campus students, which can mean significant additional financial savings.
4. Earn a Quality Education
Accredited online degree programs meet the same quality standards as on-campus programs. Often, the same esteemed professors teach both online and on-campus classes. And you’ll have the same diploma as graduates from the brick-and-mortar institution. Potential employers will know you’ve earned a respected master’s degree from an accredited institution.
Case in point: U.S. News & World Report has ranked Michigan State University’s Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership in the top 20 of the Best Online Graduate Business Programs. Additionally, MSU’s supply chain management program has been awarded the top ranking as the Best Supply Chain/Logistics Graduate Degree Program in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Graduate Schools list for four consecutive years.
The program’s ranking combined with the fact that she could earn the graduate degree through a hybrid online/on-campus format was key in Ana Cifuentes Gonzalez’s decision to apply to the M.S. in Supply Chain Management program.
“I was talking with different people in the field and I realized that, in the industry, this is a very good program that people recognize and that people value,” she says.
By doing a little research to ensure the online degree program you choose has been accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency, you won’t need to worry about getting shortchanged in your education when you choose to complete your master’s degree online.
Four Advantages Equal One Valuable Credential
Earning a master’s degree online provides working professionals the ability to study on their own time and the opportunity to attend an accredited university without having to move. Online master’s degrees also save students money and time without sacrificing the quality of education acquired. Professionals everywhere know that adding the credentials of a master’s degree to your resume can help you stand out from the crowd and land that highly sought-after position to grow your career.
It’s never been easier, so why not start exploring online master’s degree programs today?
