If you’re a working adult considering an online degree, choosing a program wisely can help you avoid ultimately dropping out.
Online student dropout rates are higher than in equivalent face-to-face environments, according to a 2011 five-year study tracking 51,000 community and technical college students in Washington state that the Teacher’s College, Columbia University conducted. The study cites the needed self-discipline and time-management skills and the lack of interaction with peers, mentors and faculty as contributing factors to higher dropout rates in online courses.
[Learn how to develop self-motivation skills for online courses.]
At the same time, for many working adults, online learning remains the only feasible way to balance work, life and school.
Many institutions are launching online degrees in ways that allow working adults to be more successful and persist through graduation. So, if you work full time, it’s key to be aware of whether online degree programs have strong student services and classes that are structured in a way that supports you.
— Mentors and support services: Guild Education, a company that packages online courses and programs for employers and universities, partners with schools including Bellevue University and Colorado State University–Global Campus to launch online degrees.
These programs aim to specifically help students working at particular companies balance their desire to develop new skills with the common pitfalls online students face, such as time management, lack of mentorship, social isolation and accountability.
Guild provides students with advisers who specialize in supporting working adults seeking online degrees. These advisers help them negotiate common problems, set goals and succeed.
[Discover how to find a mentor as an online bachelor’s student.]
In addition, the 2014 Gallup-Purdue Index Report, which studied 30,000 college graduates, found that a key to students being prepared for life after college and professional pursuits was professors who cared about and motivated them and offered accountability. Choosing an online program that requires regular check-ins with a mentor, adviser or other adult will likely curb the odds of you dropping out.
— Program structure: Beyond student services, an online program’s structure can influence working adults’ success.
Prospective students should evaluate whether a self-paced or live online degree program will help them earn their degree. For example, Southern New Hampshire University‘s College for America is self-paced and competency-based, meaning students progress through material that they already know at a faster rate by completing projects.
Specifically designed for working adults, the school combines this online learning structure with robust support networks, including coaches who not only guide students through their degree program but also teach them study skills, motivate them and offer insight into time management. However, other students might prefer different programs that include live classroom discussions through videoconfer encing .
The takeaway: Enrolling in an online degree program specifically designed for working adults significantly increases your chances of completing the program and being satisfied with the education.
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Consider an Online Program Designed for Working Adults originally appeared on usnews.com
