Online Schools in Missouri

Missouri has experienced governmental budget cuts to higher education, which may have resulted in reduced staff, areas of study, programs and degrees. Further cuts may take place as well. In contrast, online schools in Missouri remain financially strong with robust program offerings. Consequently, they are an appealing option.

In Missouri, the average per capita income is about $35,676 and, considering all occupations, the average hourly wage is $18.87, equaling $39,250 annually. An online degree can position you to earn more than either of these dollar amounts. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a bachelor's degree can boost your annual salary to about $53,000.

Each subsequent degree you earn can also lower the chance you may be unemployed. Again, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the unemployment rate in 2009 for individuals with a bachelor's degree was 5.2 percent. This compares to 8.6 percent for people with some college but no degree and 9.7 percent for high school graduates.

Types of Degrees You Can Earn from Online Schools in Missouri

All degree levels can be obtained via Missouri online schools--associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral. Also, programs for certificates and diplomas that are required for specific careers, like a paralegal, are offered. The choices of subjects to study run the gamut, and several specific degree options are available within each. Areas of study include areas such as engineering, business, liberal arts and humanities, science, technology, information technology, education, law and criminal justice, construction, art and design, and others.

Benefits of Attending Missouri Online Schools

When you opt for an education from online schools in Missouri, you are not only choosing quality academics, but you also are selecting huge benefits related to your time. You do not have to commute back and forth to campus. You do not have to take classes at the inflexible times that they are offered and perhaps miss work to do so. You do not have to attend school during the day and work at night. You do not have to find a sitter for your children. Rather, you may avoid having to travel to and from school, study at home or anywhere else, at any hour of the day or night, have your children with you, and adapt your school schedule to your work hours.

Job Opportunities for Degree-Holders in Missouri

Missouri is home to Fortune 500 companies, including Express Scripts, Inc., Emerson Electric, and Monsanto Company. State industries that are expected to be the fastest growing between 2008 and 2018 are individual and family services, home health care services, child day care services, outpatient care centers, and scientific research and development services. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the fastest-growing occupations between 2009 and 2011 are predicted to be biomedical engineers, financial examiners, home health aides, and network systems and data communication analysts. These fields would require a degree in engineering, business, health, or information technology, which you could earn at one of the online schools in Missouri.