Online Schools in Kentucky

From the Dixie Highway in Louisville to horse country in Lexington, from Paducah in the west to Williamsville in the East, Kentucky students are searching for college degree programs to help them prepare for a new job or to grow their careers. Research shows that more and more students are choosing Kentucky online schools to help them meet their goals--enrollment in public online schools in Kentucky rose from just over 60,000 students in the fall of 2007 to just over 77,000 in the fall of 2008. That's a one year increase of 28 percent, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education reports.

Why Choose Online Education in Kentucky?

As more and more people compete for jobs, candidates with college credentials or targeted training for specific job requirements may stand out to employers and recruiters. As increasing numbers of students return to the classroom to train for jobs, class sizes grow and applicants are often turned away.

Online schools in Kentucky are currently accepting students, and they offer degree programs that build the necessary professional, trade, and technology skills used by professionals in the jobs you're after. Self-paced online degree programs offer many of same programs as campus-based schools, but allow you to pursue your studies without disrupting your work or family life.

Types of Degrees You Can Earn from Online Schools in Kentucky

Kentucky online schools have programs for in-demand careers, including two- and four-year undergraduate and graduate degrees in

• Art, design, and multimedia
• Business
• Criminal justice and law
• Education
• Health care
• Information technology and engineering

Working professionals can pursue advanced certifications that benchmark their technology, health care, or management skills for career advancement. If you need to complete high school or earn your GED before moving on to pursue further career training, Kentucky online schools can help you get your high school diploma.

Benefits of Attending Kentucky Online Schools

In addition to mastering the skills to enter the workplace or advance in your current job, there are solid financial rewards for earning degrees. The U.S. Census Bureau has found a direct correlation between continuing education and earning, reporting annual average wages of:

• $27,448 a year for high school grads
• $34,484 for associate degree holders
• $47,853 for bachelor's degree recipients
• $63,174 for students who complete a graduate or professional degree.

Job Opportunities for Degree-Holders in Kentucky

Kentucky's largest employers include manufacturers like Ford Motor Company, GE Consumer & Industrial, and Toyota Motor. The University of Kentucky is another top employer.

Long-term projections show that careers with the greatest job growth in Kentucky during the 2006-2016 decade include:

• Registered Nurses: 30.4 percent
• Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants: 23.0 percent
• Business Operations Specialists: 22.1 percent
• Carpenters: 20.3 percent
• Accountants and Auditors: 17.4 percent
• Elementary School Teachers: 14.8 percent

Among the 1.7 million workers in Kentucky in 2009, the mean annual wage was $37,370. Some of the top wages went to computer and information systems managers, actuaries, computer hardware engineers, post-secondary teachers, and orthodontists.

Kentucky online schools offer degree programs and trade school curriculum that can prepare you for jobs in many of these fast-growing careers or with top employers in the state.