5 Tips for Selecting an Online Degree Program

Whether you’re a typical student starting college for the first time, trying to further your job with more education, or switching fields, selecting the perfect program may be difficult. At UC Online, we are here to help you navigate your educational path and provide support from application to graduation.

With over 100 programs and certifications available via UC Online, we recognize that selecting the right degree for you may be difficult.

Confused about which program to choose or where to start? Read our five helpful ideas below to help you narrow down your options.

1. Conduct a self-assessment

Self-assessments may help you raise your awareness and uncover crucial factors like values, interests, and abilities. To begin, consider how you would answer the following questions:

What are my interests and passions?

Pursuing a job in a sector that you are passionate about may revitalize your future professional life. Have the confidence to pursue your love as a major, particularly if it offers professional prospects.

What are my strengths and weaknesses?

Are there any special areas where you excel? Is there a way to apply to a major? College is a lot more pleasurable if you can concentrate your study on a subject that comes easily to you.

Is this a field I will enjoy? Which courses or disciplines do you enjoy?

If you’ve attended college coursework before, consider which ones you enjoyed the most. What professions exist in that field? Why did I like those courses so much? You may discover that you like math but dislike English. This indicates that you may be more interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and you may like to pursue a STEM job.

Does my personality match the field I’d want to work in?

For example, folks who work in healthcare and interact with patients on a regular basis are often open, empathetic, outgoing, and eager to assist others. Others, such as engineers, are known for their strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Asking and answering these questions might help you narrow down your interests, whether it’s a STEM profession, a communication degree, or a job in human services. Make a note of the material you’ve discovered and refer to it when choosing which degree to pursue.

You may also choose to use our program explorer tool to reference degrees at a category level or by topic of study—evaluate degrees from a higher level, such as business, information technology, and healthcare, among many others. You can access our degree exploration tool here.

2. Understand Your Educational Options

This is really crucial. It will assist you in determining the best program for your needs. Some levels of schooling may be a better match for you based on your previous education and work experience. We’ll go over the degree levels listed below.

An Associate Degree: Typically, this degree may be earned in two years (with no transfer credits). An associate degree, for example, could be a science associate degree (AS) or an applied business associate degree (AAB). Some students may transfer into a bachelor’s program after completing their associate degree, while others utilize it to go directly to work.

Bachelor’s Degree: This degree is often earned after finishing a four- or five-year undergraduate program. Most students get a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. As with an associate degree, you can either go directly to work or work toward your master’s degree.

After earning a bachelor’s degree, students may pursue higher degrees known as graduate degrees. As indicated in the bachelor’s degree section, several master’s degrees may be obtained after graduation. Others may require a certain level of job experience as entry criteria.

Graduate degrees include the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Education (MEd). After two years of study, students often acquire a master’s degree; the duration of the degree is determined by the total number of credit hours.

Certificate programs might vary. Some are intended with undergraduate studies in mind, while others are for graduate students. Depending on the curriculum, some may even qualify for an associate degree or a master’s degree, enabling you to receive a certificate as well as an extra degree with few or no more credits beyond the associate or master’s degrees. For more specific information about certificate programs, please contact one of our Enrollment Services advisors.

3. Consider career potential, advancement, and salary

You should consider your employment possibilities before pursuing a degree. Does this degree lead to the job I want to pursue? Which career paths and advancement opportunities are available for this degree? What is the typical post-graduation income and future earning potential for this degree? These are all important considerations when choosing a degree. For additional information, see our blog article, How to Know Whether Your Degree Choice Aligns with Your Desired Career Path.

4. How much time do you want to devote to school?

You should consider more than just your study time and degree completion. Although this is an incredibly important component of pursuing any degree, you should consider whether the degree or job route requires more schooling.

Assume you’re joining the public health sector and pursuing an associate degree. In such a scenario, you would most likely require a bachelor’s or master’s degree to further your career in public health beyond entry-level roles.

Another example is a master’s degree in business administration (MBA), which is an immensely common master’s degree that may span several subjects and is geared at people who want to further their careers in management or leadership. Some higher-level employment demands this degree, and having an MBA may boost your earning potential throughout your career.

Your career may require additional degrees and qualifications. Consider where your education may lead. Although this is not a required step, it will help you see your prospective career path five, 10, or even fifteen years from now.

5. Research and collect information from valuable resources

The last piece of advice we’ll give you is to seek information from others. Individuals who are currently working on the subject you want to pursue are an excellent resource. Interview locals to learn how they got jobs and what it’s like.

Our UC Online Student Success Coordinators are also knowledgeable about UC degrees and can answer your questions. They can provide helpful information and resources about career options with a specific degree, as well as insight into curriculum and admission requirements.

Alumni who have completed the degree program you are considering and are already working in the industry you are interested in are another resource; they may provide you with personal information about the program and degree. They might discuss the actions they took to achieve their chosen professional path.

Are you still attempting to decide out your degree path? Don’t ignore online resources like the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator or our online Associate Quiz, which may help you choose the appropriate associate degree. Although these quizzes and tests won’t tell you which degree is best for you, they may help you discover fascinating facts about yourself that will guide your future degree and career.

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