Considering an online degree?
September 10, 2012
The flexibility online classes offer students is one of the biggest reasons many mothers choose this route when they decide to go to college.
Online learning has become increasingly popular in recent years. A recent study conducted by the Sloan Consortium finds that the number of individuals taking online classes is on the rise. The 2011 Survey of Online Learning reveals that nearly one-third of all students in higher education are taking at least one online course.
This type of learning is especially popular among nontraditional college students, such as mothers who are pursuing a degree. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that 29 percent of students with one or more children and 32 percent of married students take at least one distance education class, in contrast to 18 percent of students who neither have children nor are married.
In addition, taking online courses can be less expensive than attending traditional brick-and-mortar schools. As long as the school is accredited, students attending online college programs are able to use grants for parents, single mother scholarships, scholarships for mothers and other financial aid to offset the cost.
Moms pursuing a degree online also save time and money on commuting, transportation and other expenses.
However, many considering an online degree may worry about whether they'll be successful taking classes from the comfort of their home. But a recent study on the productivity of individuals who work from home conducted at Stanford University can be applied to those who want to pursue a college degree from home as well.
Researchers studied 13,000 workers from a travel agency in China and discovered that those who worked from home were 13 percent more productive. Additionally, those who worked from home took fewer breaks and sick days and were likely to benefit from fewer distractions and a quieter environment than a traditional office. They also reported greater work satisfaction and were less likely to leave the company.
While working from home is a desirable situation for many parents looking to find a good work-life balance, recent data released by the Families and Work Institute (FWI), reveals that just 3 percent of wage and salary employees work mainly from home.
Those who want to pursue a college degree from home should know that although this type of program allows them flexibility to do school work when it's convenient for them, they may have to find additional childcare. After all, they will need time alone to study, do homework and prepare assignments without being distracted by their little ones.
