Online Education: Reaching for the Top with a Doctoral Degree

by Richard Barrington
Online Education Columnist

According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, people with doctoral degrees tend to occupy one of the highest income tiers in the country. Anyone aspiring to this level of achievement should consider how an online degree program might be the most expedient way of getting there.

Online degrees are available in a wide range of fields, including business, education, and health care. Doctoral degrees in particular are prized by academic, not-for-profit, and public sector employers.

A bachelor's degree would normally be a prerequisite for pursuing a doctoral degree, which is why an online degree program can be especially valuable at this level. If you have already earned your bachelor's degree and have started a career, you may be wrestling with the relative merits of hanging onto your current job and income, or taking time to go back to school. With the flexible scheduling online education allows, you can fit an academic program around your current work schedule.
The Flexibility of Studying Online

In addition to allowing you to coordinate work with the pursuit of a doctoral degree, online education can also solve other logistical challenges. Being able to pursue a degree from your own home is perfect for parents of young children for whom daycare is not a viable option. In these days of high gas prices, online education also saves on the cost of traveling to and from school. Finally, for people who live in parts of the country where academic institutions are few and far between, online education makes a much richer range of choices readily available.
From Doctoral Degree to Dough

And then there's the payoff. According to 2007 Census Bureau data, people with doctoral degrees earn a median income of $75,869, which is more than twice the overall national figure. As always, you should check both the accreditation status of any academic institution you consider, and the educational requirements of your chosen career, before pursuing any degree program. For a practical approach to earning a doctoral degree, you may well find that online education represents your best option.
Richard Barrington is a freelance writer and novelist who previously spent over twenty years as an investment industry executive.