With the help of an online higher education, you are also providing yourself an opportunity to have increased job skills. Everything in the corporate world is measured by how much you know and how much you have achieved with your education. By simply looking at your educational background, a lot can be determined by a company in your eligibility for a specific job position. The more skills that you acquire with your online degree, the more that you are making yourself a valuable asset to your company. In case that you also want to venture into a different field of study, you can be assured that an online master degree can give you more accessibility and chances of advancing in your chosen career path. Whether you are still working or complete devoting your time to your studies, there are ways for you to improve your career by getting into an online degree.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the holder of a university degree can earn over one million dollars in extra income over the course of their lifetime. One million dollars is a significant sum of money considering the cost involved in investing in a university degree ( On average US $35,196). Knowing that a person who holds a university degree may earn one million dollars more in their lifetime supports the concept that higher education is a worthwhile investment. There are many other verifiable reasons to support going to college to earn a university degree, such as:

Financial value of earning a higher education university degree: A breakdown of the U.S. Census Bureau results reveals that over the working life of an adult, high school graduates earn an average of $1.2 million; associate’s degree holders earn approximately $1.6 million; and those who hold a bachelor’s degree earn about $2.1 million. When you consider the large differences in earning between these categories, it makes the value of a college education and university degree quite apparent. Alternatively, the U.S. Department of Education has determined that a full-time student at a 4-year public university pays an average of $8,655 for tuition, room and board and a full-time student at a public 2-year university pays the average of $1,359 per year for tuition. Although higher education can be costly, it dramatically increases an individual’s earning capacity.

Social value of earning a higher education university degree: In their 1992 report, Elchanan Cohn and Terry Geske found that “college graduates appear to have a more optimistic view of their past and future personal progress.” The improved self-esteem of people holding a university degree makes them more viable candidates for many positions in the job market along with the confidence to pursue those jobs.

Public value of earning a higher education university degree: The Institute for Higher Education Policy has found that public benefits of attending college are greater productivity in the workplace, more workforce flexibility, increased tax benefits and less need to rely on governmental financial support. People who hold a university degree revel in being self-sufficient because of their ability to earn an adequate living.

Personal value of earning a higher education university degree: Furthermore, the Institute for Higher Education Policy reports that college graduates have higher levels of savings, more hobbies, increased professional mobility, a better quality of life for their children and even make better decisions as consumers. The skills learned while acquiring a university degree are also applied in a beneficial manner to everyday living.

Health value of earning a higher education university degree: The Cohn and Geske study in 1992 revealed that “parental schooling levels are positively correlated with the health status of their children” and “increased schooling are correlated with lower mortality for given age brackets”. Most people who hold a university degree pursue jobs they derive pleasure from which decreases stress and such jobs often offer better health insurance plans to their employees, resulting in improved overall health.

So what is the potential for people who pursue a university degree but do not actually earn it? A study done by Boesel and Fredland in 1999 found that those who do not complete their degree earn less than, or the same amount as, 2-year college students. Since 600,000 students leave 4-year colleges every year without graduating, it may be wise in certain circumstances to earn a 2-year degree before pursuing a 4-year degree. Earning a 2-year degree first can maximize personal earning potential without accruing educational debt for a 4-year program that may not be completed.

The value of deciding to earn a university degree is indisputable. For busy people seeking flexibility, earning a university degree is easier to attain with the convenience of online education. Almost any curriculum can be studied through online courses and a valid degree awarded. According to Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006, nearly 3.2 million students took at least one course online during the 2005 fall semester, which represented a substantial increase over the 2.3 million reported the year before. The same report states that most Chief Academic Officers believe that the quality of online instruction is actually equal to or better than traditional learning face-to-face. The knowledge and skills gains by taking an online course are equivalent to going to the trouble and inconvenience of attending classes in a traditional setting.

The College Board study Education Pays 2006 found that women between the ages of 25 and 34 who held bachelor’s degrees earned 70 percent more than those with high school diplomas and men in that category earned 63 percent more. This means that the average earnings premium for holding a university degree is $14,000. After carefully reviewing the facts, there are a myriad of great reasons to study for and earn a university degree. One of the most practical reasons to get a college degree is the increased earnings degree holders enjoy.

The minimum educational requirement to pursue an education specialist degree is 60 hours of graduate credit, which might include a master’s degree. A candidate for the program should have a minimum 3.0 grade point average on their previous graduate work. Furthermore, many educational specialist programs require at least three years of successful teaching in the field, standardized test scores, writing samples and recommendations. Since a specialist level teacher is considered an instructional leader, the education specialist degree program builds upon the teacher’s prior education and professional experiences to accomplish this. The specialist program ensures that a teacher who completes the course is particularly knowledgeable about current theory and practice in education.

Specific areas of study can be pursued within the education specialist degree program. Such areas of include curriculum and instruction, administration and counseling.

Curriculum and instruction: Teachers pursuing an education specialist degree with a concentration in curriculum and instruction are involved with the teaching, supervision and curriculum of discipline-centered areas of study.

Administration: Those educators seeking an education specialist degree with a concentration in administration can seek licenses for advanced administrative positions within public and private schools, such as building administrator, administrative specialist, vocational director and district administrator.

Counseling: Teachers taking the education specialist degree program with a concentration in counseling have the opportunity for advanced training and study in specialized areas of interest, such as individual, group or family clinical counseling.

Specializations within each of the three segments of the education specialist degree include literature, art, English, foreign language, science, social education, mathematics and special education. The education specialist degree program encompasses 30 semester hours.

An education specialist degree is intended to develop proficiency and professional among teachers already in service. By earning an education specialist degree online, working teachers are afforded the flexibility to attend classes around their own schedule. Online education makes it easier for teachers to pursue higher education while keeping their current positions and maintaining tenure. Thus, attending an education specialist degree program online enables teachers to remain in the classroom with students while they learn how to enhance the educational experience. Teachers who attain an education specialist degree are useful in imparting leadership skills to other teachers, administrators, colleagues and students. Many such teachers implement school improvement plans, developing and using unique teaching practices right in their own classroom.

So are the longterm benefits of pursuing an education specialist degree online worth balancing time between earning and learning? The U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2006-07 Edition states that 1 in 4 Americans are enrolled in educational institutions; this makes the educational services the second largest industry in America. About 13 million jobs exist in education services today and most of them require at least a bachelor’s degree. The Guide further offers that, “Wage and salary employment growth of 17 percent is expected in the educational services industry over the 2004-14 period, higher than the 14 percent increase projected for all industries combined. The number of teachers retiring is expected to remain a record high over the 2004-2014 period, so there may be a lack of students graduating with education degrees to meet this growing industry’s needs. This makes job opportunities for graduates in many education fields good to excellent.”

Education remains an important part of life and school attendance is compulsory the United States, so there are numerous educational establishments to teach at. As technology expands and the economy changes, there will be an increased need for skilled teachers with an innovative approach to dynamic classroom situations. People holding an education specialist degree will have increased opportunities to advance into positions as administrators, specialized counselors or even assist in developing cutting edge curriculum for students. In a Report released in July 2006, The U.S. Department of Labor reveals that school districts report difficulties in recruiting qualified administrators and teachers, especially in urban and rural areas.

According to the Distance Education and Training Council, over 4 million students are enrolled in online universities and schools and that number is growing by 30 percent each year. The convenience of pursuing an education specialist degree online enables teachers to learn while they earn, as well implement the skills they attain in their own classrooms as they go. Thus, education specialist degree online programs are beneficial to both teachers and their students.