We start with the best intentions, but sometimes life gets in the way and our college plans get put on hold. But now more than ever, having a bachelor’s degree makes sense in a competitive job market, where top positions require advanced skills and training.
Whether it’s for personal fulfillment, to jumpstart a career, or the first step toward beginning a new job path, more adults are returning to college to begin or finish their undergraduate degrees.
In today’s economy, the value of a bachelor’s degree is key to opening the doors to job opportunities-along with a boost to personal and professional fulfillment, according to researchers. Unity College’s suite of online, environmentally-focused bachelor’s degrees provide our undergraduate students with pathways to their career success.
Check out four reasons why more adults are going back to school to earn their bachelor’s degrees.
Bachelor’s Degrees Lead to More Career Opportunities
With a bachelor’s degree, you’ll open more doors to career opportunities. Many fields require candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree to qualify for even entry-level positions.
While earning an associate’s degree can be a great way to start a technical or high-skilled career, a bachelor’s degree is required to move into many management and leadership roles in those same fields. If you also want a career that typically requires extensive graduate study, you’ll need to earn your bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite for most master’s and doctoral programs.
Earning a bachelor’s degree also means you’ll be more likely to retain your job. The unemployment rate for employees with a bachelor’s degree is only 2.8 percent compared to 3.8 percent for those with an associate’s degree or lower.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau only about a third of Americans 25 or older hold a bachelor’s degree. On top of that, it’s been reported that nine of out ten new jobs created in 2018 went to someone with a college degree.
In recent years, changes in workplace demands have led to more jobs requiring degrees than ever. Earning a bachelor’s degree adds to your qualifications and signals to employers you’re serious about education.
Whatever career path you choose, you’ll find more opportunities for promotion and advancement with a bachelor’s degree on your resume.
The Higher the Credential, the More You’ll Earn
Earning your bachelor’s degree can be the key to more economic stability. And the higher your degree level, the greater the return on your educational investment.
Over a lifetime, a bachelor’s degree will pay big dividends — 31% more than the lifetime earnings of an associate’s degree and 74% more than a high school diploma.
In dollars, undergraduate degree holders make an average of $765,000 more in a lifetime than high school graduates.
If you’re looking for a rewarding career that pays well, completing your degree at an environmentally-focused university like Unity will give you a true advantage.
Financial Aid is More Accessible Than Ever
Cost is the most common barrier to higher education. That’s why Unity is dedicated to making college affordable. Unity College works with students to offer personalized financial aid packages so they can realize the dream of completing their degrees.
With a combination of financial aid resources, including grants, scholarships, loans, and employer-provided tuition reimbursement students are finding affordable ways to head back to college and achieve their educational goals.
Online Learning Supports a Healthy Work-Life Balance
Distance education has been around for some time, but online learning is creating a new world of possibilities for students to dive into their education.
It’s easier than ever to study on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop from anywhere in the world. This revolution in convenience and access is creating more opportunities than ever for adults to find ways to finish their degrees.
You can balance your family and job demands while earning a world-class online education at Unity. Our degree programs are flexible and fit into your schedule with multiple start dates throughout the year.
Unity Online gives you the convenience of studying online while working toward a degree that will make a difference.
Ready to take the next step towards earning your bachelor’s degree online at Unity?
Contact a member of our Distance Education Concierge team at: (207) 509-7155 or online@unity.edu.
