Katherine Getchel was ready for a change. After nearly 20 years of working as an ER nurse in Middletown, CT, she was thrilled when a management position at a local hospital finally opened up. There was a catch, though: To qualify for the job, she’d have to go back to school and complete her bachelor’s degree. The idea of being a student again—on top of exhaustive full-time hours in the ER, raising her son, Michael, and volunteering with the Medical Reserve Corps, all while still healing from a back injury—seemed like too much. But after doing some homework, Katherine, 47, found Kaplan University’s online education program, which allowed her to take 100 remaining credits to get her BS in two years.

Online degrees are quickly becoming the programs of choice for busy working moms who are looking to boost their careers—and lives. Once confined by too-hectic schedules, they’re finding freedom in the fact that they can take courses whenever time permits—at night, on weekends—rather than commit to a brick-and-mortar school’s class schedule.

A Smart Trend
“We’ve seen a major increase in the number of moms studying at online universities,” confirms Elizabeth Richards, director of career resources for Kaplan University. Overall, online enrollment has been increasing annually by about 10 percent, far exceeding the 1.5 percent growth of general enrollment in higher education, according to a 2007 Sloan Consortium report. And accessibility is driving this increase: In many cases, professors record lectures and upload them to a website for students to view when they can. Instead of meeting with study groups, students can swap ideas in online discussions, posting comments and feedback in chat rooms.

While this kind of education requires more self-direction and discipline than traditional classes would, working moms tend to be very motivated—especially given the benefits of having a higher degree: getting raises and promotions, switching out of dead-end jobs or standing out in industries that overflow with competition.

If you think online degrees are less valuable than traditional degrees, think again. Most employers view them as equivalent to degrees obtained by sitting in a classroom. “Many top companies are hiring people with online degrees,” says Richards. In fact, four out of five business leaders said they favorably view online degrees, according to a Zogby study, because they perceive employees with online degrees as more motivated. These days many employers even cover the cost of online degrees under tuition reimbursement programs.

Dollars and Cents
Online education is becoming so mainstream that you can—and should—shop around to find the best value, says Vicky Phillips, chief education analyst for GetEducated.com, an online degree clearinghouse that provides free guidebooks on the best accredited online schools. More than 70 percent of U.S. colleges have online learning divisions, and even the most prestigious universities—including Columbia, Stanford and Duke—now offer Internet degrees. “But don’t assume there’s a direct relationship between cost and quality,” says Phillips. “Best buys will come from state and public universities that have recently made their way to the Web.” Prices vary widely: Students can pay as little as $10,560 or as much as $105,720 for an online bachelor’s degree, comparable to what you’d pay at a traditional university. Keep in mind that you should choose a school accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (chea.org). The average cost of an accredited online bachelor’s in business is $40,224, and for an online master of business administration (MBA), it’s $20,500.

Not exactly a techie? Don’t worry; you don’t need advanced computer skills to study online, notes Helen MacDermott, content director for eLearners.com, a tuition guide that offers state-by-state information on loan for-giveness, scholarships and more.

Discussion forums and online help centers make it easy for students to get technical assistance. In fact, the only real downside to online education is that students will miss out on impromptu classroom debates and other serendipitous campus experiences. It’s a sacrifice Katherine Getchel and many moms like her are willing to make. With a shiny new bachelor’s degree and newfound confidence, Katherine decided to plow on and enroll in an online master’s program in education. She now wants to help train future nurses. As for missing out on classroom and campus experience, Katherine says she’d swap that for convenience any day: “I love doing most of my work in the morning while still in my pajamas with a cup of coffee in hand.” 

FINDING FINANCIAL AID
According to U.S. Census data, there are more than 8.3 million single moms in the United States, yet only 15 percent have college degrees. As a result, only 28 percent of single working mothers earn more than $40,000 a year. Those who don’t have the time or money for higher education often end up with lower-level jobs—a situation eLearners.com is working hard to combat by introducing online education into the lives of working mothers.

eLearners.com has partnered with five online schools to grant more than $2 million in full-ride scholarships to both single and married working moms as part of the campaign Project Working Mom: Putting Education to Work.
To apply for a scholarship, log on to projectworkingmom.com, where you’ll also find a comprehensive database of other available scholarships and financial aid options.

Resource Center

GetEducated.com
Prospective students can learn about how to look for the most cost-effective program for the degree of their choice using national surveys, Best Buy lists and a database that allows you to check the accreditation status of an online college or university.

eLearners.com
Features several easy ways to search for an online college, breaking it down by subject, degree level, online schools and campus program offerings.

CareerDegreeSource.com
Search for online colleges by type of degree or area of study. Features a resource center with topics ranging from financial aid to ten things to consider when selecting a school.

EducationOnline.com
Provides information on applying for schools, getting your degree and online trends. Search for schools based on program level.

Online-education.infozee.com
Find schools, get advice on paying tuition and discover if online courses are for you with free self-assessment tests.