Online Schools in Illinois

Illinois online schools offer flexibility and educational options for students preparing for their first job, working adults seeking to advance in their field, or professionals looking to change their careers. Online schools offer a range of degree programs, often allowing you to log on to self-paced courses that are at your fingertips from any location in Illinois where you have Internet access.

Why Choose Online Education in Illinois?

Today's workplace is highly competitive. Higher education is one qualification that can help you stand out from the competition, Additionally, ongoing education through online schools in Illinois can prepare you for advancement once you enter your profession. As employers continue to raise the bar for new hires, more students compete for admission to colleges from Rockford to downstate Springfield.

Some Illinois campus-based community colleges, four-year universities, and graduate schools have had to cut or freeze enrollment, but accredited online schools in Illinois open enrollment for new courses every month. Employers increasingly accept the value of online degree programs, a New York Times article reports, with online graduates finding jobs in more than 100 occupations.

Types of Degrees You Can Earn from Online Schools in Illinois

Online schools in Illinois offer an extensive range of degree programs at the associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree level. You can find programs that map directly to careers, including those predicted to experience rapid growth over the decade. You may find online degrees in fields such as:

• Technology and IT
• Health care
• Business and finance
• Education
• Engineering
• Criminal justice and law
• Vocational studies

Illinois online school programs combine lectures, video seminars, and collaborative assignments with practical experience through internships or class laboratories.

Benefits of Attending Illinois Online Schools

Generally speaking, the more you learn, the more you earn. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following median weekly earnings for various education levels in 2009:

• High school diploma: $626
• Associate's degree: $761
• Bachelor's degree: $1,025
• Master's degree: $1,257

In Illinois, you can pursue 100 percent of your degree online, or combine part-time campus attendance with online degrees in so-called hybrid or blended programs. That means you can work toward your MBA degree while holding your current job or complete a nursing degree while raising your children, all without compromising your current home or employment responsibilities.

Job Opportunities for Degree-Holders in Illinois

Illinois is home to 11,800 manufacturing companies, 2,300 commercial banks, 2,000 insurance companies, an $8.3 billion agribusiness and farming industry, and a workforce of 150,000 scientists and engineers. More than 25,000 post-graduate degrees are awarded every year in the state.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the strongest career growth in Illinois between 2008 and 2018 in fields like business and financial management, computers and information technology, education, health care, sales, and office administration and support.

Online schools in Illinois present an flexible educational option for students who want to train now for rewarding careers.