In the past few years, online learning has grown significantly. This is partly because technological progress lets people learn more actively. But there are more perks than just ease of use.
Online education is very convenient because anyone with an internet link can learn from anywhere. It also gives students the freedom to learn at their own pace and in their busy lives.
This can significantly appeal to people who work or need help getting to certain places. Online schools can also be cheaper than traditional degrees because students don’t have to pay as many administrative costs.
That said, online degrees have become popular among students and professionals who want to acquire more degrees. This blog will showcase the ten best online degrees to get in 2024. It will include a brief course description, possible career opportunities, and potential salary range.
Let’s proceed.
Top online degrees
Even before the pandemic, online degrees are already popular with students. According to Statista, as of 2023, many college courses in the U.S. were still at least partly online, and in K–12 schools, the average number of ed-tech tools used per district reached over 2,500.
Here, we list the best online degrees for 2024 for anyone to sign up for.
1. Application Developer
An application developer, also called a mobile app developer, makes apps people can use on their phones, computers, and other smart devices. Application engineers plan, organize, and build mobile software programs. Then they test the programs to ensure they work as planned before sending them to users.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
The average base salary of application developers falls at $91,418 per year.
2. Cybersecurity
The need for safety experts proliferates as people become more dependent on technology. If you get a degree in cybersecurity, you’ll learn the skills needed to keep computer systems and networks safe from hacks. This will make you a hero in the digital world.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
As an exciting job, a graduate can become a security analyst, a penetration tester, or a security adviser. Glassdoor says that the average salary for this job starts at $131,654.
3. Data Science
It is the area of data science that uses scientific methods, systems, algorithms, and processes to get information and knowledge from data. Data scientists know how to use computers to analyze data, write code, and teach computers how to learn.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
According to Geeks for Geeks, a data scientist’s salary starts at $85,000 per year. Data Science jobs can be anything from data scientist to data analyst, data architect, data journalist, data engineer, and much more.
4. Business Administration
A degree in business administration gives you a broad understanding of how businesses work. Students learn much about the business world and how to run and handle businesses through this all-encompassing program.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
This degree can help you get jobs in management, marketing, finance, and human resources, among other fields. The average base salary for business administrators starts at $62,772 per year.
5. Marketing
A degree in marketing will give you the skills to stay ahead of the game in a field that is always changing. You’ll learn about digital marketing tools, marketing tactics, and how people act as customers.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
There are different fields for people to choose from when it comes to marketing–from marketing analyst, account manager, public relations manager, and so on. A typical salary starts at $62,000 per year, according to Indeed.
6. Communications
A communications degree helps you improve your ability to talk to people and think critically. This degree is among the most sought-after by people looking forward to working in the media field someday.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
This degree prepares you for jobs in news, public relations, social media marketing, and other fields. The top jobs for communications graduates offer a starting salary of $41,000 per year depending on which role you would like to take.
7. Human Resources
Human resources workers are essential to businesses because they deal with employee relations, hiring, and training. A degree in HR gives you the knowledge and skills you need to do well in this fast-paced area.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
This degree allows you to become an HR Associate or an HR Manager. The median salary for this role is $136, 350 per year according to All Business Schools.
8. Nursing
In addition to nursing, teaching within the healthcare sector has also seen a revolution through online education. The Teach the Teacher course for healthcare professionals bridges the gap by training doctors, nurses, and allied health staff in efficient teaching methodologies applicable in medical environments. These courses prepare healthcare practitioners not only to excel in their fields but also to educate the next generation with confidence.
Registered nurses with an associate’s degree can get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) online to move up in their jobs. With this degree, you can get into top roles, make more money, and work in more areas.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
A nursing degree can land you jobs such as a nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist, Intensive Care Unit nurse, and much more. Starting salary is $78,000 per year depending on your role based on Nurse.org.
9. Education
There is a growing need for skilled teachers; online education degrees give people many options for becoming teachers. Some schools focus on teaching young children, teaching kids in elementary school, and teaching kids in high school.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
Anyone with an education degree can either be a high school or elementary teacher and the average education major salary is $44,860 per year according to Zippia.
10. Psychology
A degree in psychology gives you a basic understanding of how people think and act. It is an introductory degree that teaches students how people think and behave. The degree is meant to teach students all the basic ideas and theories of psychology and give them valuable skills for studying, testing, and helping people.
Job Opportunity and Possible Salary:
A bachelor’s degree might not get you into clinical practice, but it can help you get research, marketing, or human resources jobs. The psychology graduates’ starting salary is $45,000 per year.
Considerations when choosing an online degree
When picking an online degree, here are some essential things to think about:
Align your interests and goals
- Passion makes people successful: Pick an area you’re interested in. This inner drive will keep you interested in learning and keep you going. According to a survey conducted in the U.S. in 2023, the most common reason people chose online education was that it was affordable; 77 percent of those who answered said this was one of their top three reasons. The school or program’s name was number two on the list.
- Looking to the future is crucial: Find out what jobs are available with the degree you want to get and ensure they fit your long-term goals.
Program quality and reputation
- Accreditation is very important: An accrediting body checks the school to ensure it meets established education standards.
- A school’s reputation is important. Look for ones with a long history of producing top students and successful graduates in your area.
Career outlook and return on investment
- Protect your job for the future: Find out how much money and how fast careers related to your degree are expected to grow.
- Spend your money wisely: Pick a school that gives you the skills and information employers want.
Cost and financial aid options
- Know how much it costs: Online classes can save you money, but you still have to pay for tuition and other costs. Take into account extra costs like textbooks.
- Look into your financial aid choices: To ease the financial load, look into scholarship, grant, and loan programs.
The choice is yours
Online degree programs give you more freedom and lead to exciting job opportunities. This list shows you 10 online degrees that will be available in 2024. But the ideal degree is the one that fits your goals and fuels your desire. Do your homework, consider the tips above, and pick the school to help you get your dream job!
