Everyone wants to be happy. Everyone wants to make money, too. Your choice of career path matters greatly--if you love working with numbers, a bachelor's degree in accounting might be your best bet. If you love to work with people, how does a degree in nursing sound? Your choice in profession can bring you contentment, but it's the possibility of advancement that can bring in the cash.
What are the four surprising secrets to career and financial happiness? Simple. The associate's degree, the bachelor's degree, the master's degree, and the doctorate.
Four College Degrees to Heighten Your Happiness
If you're in a hurry to get the show on the road, your online associate's degree can be obtained in two years or less. There are even accelerated associate's degrees available for those who want to speed things up. Quite a few people have seen the advantages of starting their education with an associate's degree--in fact, associate's degrees account for over half of all degrees earned online.
With a bit more time you can make that bachelor's degree a reality. Many universities allow up to sixty credits from your associate's degree to transfer toward your bachelor's degree. Some of the options for online bachelor's degrees might surprise you; for instance, did you know you can get a bachelor's degree in aviation management or technology online?
Through online courses you can take your time earning your master's degree and open doors to even more opportunities for career happiness. There is an added bonus for those pursuing a master's degree in technology or a related field: Earning your graduate degree online can make you even more impressive to potential employers.
Want More Money? Get Your Online Doctorate Degree
The difference in wages between degree levels can be substantial. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, workers with a bachelor's degree make $23,300 more per year than those with a high school diploma. Those numbers are big, but not as big as what the doctorate offers: Workers with a PhD make an average of $37,265 more per year than those with their bachelor's degree.
Obtaining your doctorate degree is a challenging endeavor. Only one in every one hundred people in the United States have earned the title of "doctor." This is an elite group of people who have studied long and hard for the honor. Some of the most popular online PhD subjects include psychology, engineering, education, public health, and business.
Online Certificate Programs: Icing on the Cake
Do you already have a degree but need to enhance your resume? Look into an online certificate program. These programs offer a faster track of focused study that is meant to get you into the workplace quickly. These "mini-degrees" are a great way to showcase the skills that will eventually get that raise.
No Time? No Problem!
Don't have the time to get a degree? Think again. Online degree programs provide you with the flexibility to make your education fit into your schedule. Even if you work full time, online education at your own pace provides you the opportunity to get a degree that suits your goals and dreams.
So what are you waiting for? Money doesn't grow on trees, but it might grow in your bank account if you have the online degree necessary to bring in that big raise or promotion. College degrees earned online can be the key that opens the door to career happiness.
About the Author
Shannon Dauphin is a freelance writer and novelist based near Nashville, Tennessee.
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