The Healthcare Job Outlook for 2008/2009 describes new job growth from 2006 – 2016 as excellent with over 3 million new jobs added for the period. As well, the projected salary increase is 22% compared to just 11% for other industries combined.

The Department of Labor shows similar findings, projecting that medical assistant jobs are expected to increase over 35 percent over the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The health care industry is expanding as our population grows and ages, and as technology advances, so will the need for highly trained health care workers such as a surgical assistant medical assistant, vocational nurse, computerized office assist, and so on.

A career in the medical field has been referred to as “recession-proof.” Few industries can boast this kind of employment outlook. If you’ve been laid off in another work field, this should not be a concern for you in considering starting training in a medical career. It is highly unusual for medical layoffs to occur.

And if you are considering a career in the medical field, even if you have no medical training, or even a GED, it is best to get started right away, in order to take advantage of this growing industry. Medical career college courses are available for every type of lifestyle. You will receive hands on training, job placement assistance, and in some cases even financial aid. The career choices are nearly unlimited, from vocational nursing programs, to diagnostic medical sonographer training, to pharmacy

Best Undergrad College Degrees By Salary – Full List

Methodology
This chart is based upon PayScale Salary Survey data for full-time employees in the United States who possess a Bachelor’s degree and no higher degrees and have majored in the subjects listed above. These results may not represent all graduates with these degrees. All colleges and universities across the nation were included. As a result, median salary figures may be skewed toward large state universities, since these schools have the largest attendance. Salary is the sum of compensation from base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, commissions, and overtime, if applicable. Salary does not include equity (stock) compensation.

The best advice we’ve found for how to choose a college major is just to ask questions. Talk to your high school guidance counselor, or if you’re already in college, consult your academic advisor or a career center counselor. Ask friends and family members about how they chose a college major or career. Finally, engage in some serious self-reflection and ask yourself questions about your past, present, and future.

• Consider which courses you’ve done well in previously and decide which major they have prepared you for.
• Think about whether you would be happier having a job you love with little pay or having a job you can tolerate with substantial pay. Choose a career course accordingly.
• Ask yourself whether you have what it takes to succeed in your major.
• Do internships to get a feel for the kinds of jobs you could get with different majors.
• Look at the different fields to which your major can be applied. Try to find a major that will offer flexibility when you are looking for a job.

Please always be flexible; you have time to change your major if you are unhappy with it.

Note the major you choose in college doesn’t set the course for the rest of your life; it’s merely a starting point. What’s important is following your interests and discovering what you love to do.

• Business
• Healthcare
• Education
• Engineering

Further evidence suggests that students are increasingly pushing beyond the Bachelors degree level, taking advantage of the convenience of online Masters and PhD degrees.

Engineering Degrees

Engineering has always offered a bright and well-salaried career future. Now that many more programs, especially graduate, have come online, there is a growing interest in them. Undergraduate engineering programs continue to be somewhat constrained to a campus environment, simply because most undergraduate coursework entails a significant amount of hands-on skill-work that in traditional programs engaged students in internships and co-op education.
Graduate engineering students, however, are typically required to complete upper-level courses that are more informational and theoretic than actual hands-on skills. Specializations such as Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering are popular, but workforce and professional certificates and standalone courses are featured elements of online engineering programs.

Business Degrees

Business people are competitive so it makes sense that should a convenient avenue to a professional degree present itself, that it would draw plenty of interest. Online business degrees come in Associates, Bachelors, Masters and PhD flavors, but according to many sources, the Bachelors and Masters degrees remain most popular. The Masters in Business Administration degree has become an industry standard among mid-level business managers and maintains an overwhelming market share of the online degree business products. Newest trend in MBAs, though, are concentration or specialization options, such as Human Resources Management or Finance. Business leadership degrees—a new trend—suggest new directions in corporate America and another level of management and administrative professionals.

Healthcare Degrees

Healthcare continues to evolve: decentralized niche specialties drive demand for well-trained specialists, and the growing pains lead to sharp personnel shortages. And speaking of shortages, Nursing degree programs continue to experience the strongest interest.
Nursing degrees have shot to the forefront of online degrees for a variety of interrelated reasons: in response to the widening chasm between nurses retiring and new recruits, the healthcare industry as a whole has found it necessary to advertise the abundance of good nursing jobs available as well as shine light on the career benefits; congruently, online educators have responded to student interest in the field with menus of online nursing degrees from Associates through PhD. RN-BSN degree completion programs are a staple among degree providers, with Masters of Science in Nursing programs, particularly Education and Health Systems Administration, making strong inroads.

Education Degrees

Within the Education field many more online degree seekers now opt for graduate or post-graduate degrees in Education. There seems to be an industry drive for administration jobs, positions where decision-making and critical thinking may thrive. Perhaps this trend is a direct result of the state of education, worn thin in almost all areas.

Alternative degrees that continue to grow in popularity include criminal justice, psychology, and information technology.

This year we started with 139 programs that were eligible for ranking, including virtually all of the schools from our 2009 ranking plus six new schools that met our eligibility requirements. In November, with the help of Cambria Consulting in Boston, we asked nearly 88,000 graduating seniors at those schools to complete a 50-question survey on everything from the quality of teaching to recreational facilities. Overall, 27,317 students responded to the survey, a response rate of 31%.

The results of the 2010 student survey are then combined with the results of two previous student surveys, from 2009 and 2008, to arrive at a student survey score for each school. The 2010 survey supplies 50% of the score; the two previous surveys supply 25% each.

In addition to surveying students, Bloomberg BusinessWeek polled 718 corporate recruiters for companies that hire thousands of business majors each year. We asked them to tell us which programs turn out the best graduates, and which schools have the most innovative curricula and most effective career services. In the end, 236 recruiters responded, a response rate of about 33%.

The results of the 2010 recruiter survey are then combined with the results of two previous recruiter surveys, from 2009 and 2008, to calculate a recruiter survey score for each school. The 2010 survey supplies 50% of the score; the two previous surveys supply 25% each.

ACADEMIC QUALITY GAUGE

To learn which schools’ students land the best-paying jobs, we asked each institution to tell us the median starting salary for their most recent graduating class. In addition, we drew on our 2004, 2006, and 2008 MBA surveys to create a “feeder school” measure showing which schools send the most grads to the 35 top MBA programs identified in previous Bloomberg BusinessWeek rankings.

Finally, we created an academic quality gauge of five equally weighted measures. From the schools themselves, we obtained average SAT scores, the ratio of full-time faculty to students, and average class size. The student survey supplied the percentage of business majors with internships and the hours students spend every week on schoolwork.

Before determining the final ranking, we first had to review each school’s response rates on the 2010 student and recruiter surveys. Of the 139 programs that were eligible for ranking, a total of 28 were eliminated. Thirteen were eliminated for low response rates in the student survey: Auburn University, East Tennessee State University, Fairfield University, Georgia State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, University of Alabama, University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, University of Vermont, Washington State University, West Virginia University, and York College of Pennsylvania.

A further 10 were cut for low response rates in the recruiter survey: American University, Belmont University, Chapman University, Duquesne University, Elon University, Samford University, St. Louis University, State University of New York at Geneseo, University of California-Riverside, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. An additional five schools were eliminated because of low response rates on both surveys: Creighton University, Iona College, University of Massachusetts-Boston, University of the Pacific, and the University of Tulsa.

For the 111 schools remaining, the student survey score counts for 30% of the final ranking, with the recruiter survey score contributing 20%. Starting salaries and the MBA feeder school measure contribute 10% each. The academic quality measure supplies the remaining 30%.

If you are planning to get an MBA degree and deciding whether to enroll in a traditional, campus-based or an online MBA program, it is important to know the similarities and differences, and more importantly, the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Similarities and Differences

Online and Traditional MBA programs share the same goal of training and preparing the students in the field of business management. Both traditional and online MBA programs have similar curriculum and level of difficulty. With a traditional MBA program, you will have to adjust your schedule so you can find time to attend your MBA classes. For work-at-home moms, this could mean attending evening or after-work classes.

Enrolling in a campus-based program also means commuting to and from school. This could present some difficulties for work-at-home moms who have their hands full most of the time. In this regard, online MBA programs present a more convenient and flexible alternative. With distance learning, you can attend classes from any location as long as you are connected to the Internet.

Benefits of Traditional and Online MBA Programs

Attending a traditional MBA program has its benefits. Traditional MBA programs require you to attend lectures on site and collaborate with your peers on group assignments. The physical interaction with other students helps foster a fruitful exchange of ideas and information. The interactive classroom environment where students work in groups on assignments closely simulates real world situations. This trains traditional MBA graduates for a productive career in the business world.

On the other hand, an online MBA programs curriculum usually consist of lectures, reading materials, and assignments available for download as electronic form as text, multimedia and audio files. Interaction is achieved through online channels such as discussion boards, chat, email and sometimes telephone calls. It is worth noting that modern businesses increasingly rely on online communication such as email, online chat and message boards. Thus, graduates of online MBA programs also enjoy the advantage of being prepared for the technological aspects.

The best benefit that traditional MBA programs offer is reputation. MBA graduates from renowned universities are viewed with high regard in the business world. But online MBA programs are fast catching up as more and more universities start to offer distance-learning opportunities.

Meanwhile, enrolling in online MBA programs has its unique benefits too. Aside from allowing you to work at your own pace, enrolling in an online MBA program requires you to be more disciplined compared to being in a classroom setting. With numerous distractions especially for work-at-home moms, online MBA students need to be focused so that the tasks will be accomplished successfully. Thus, online MBA students also get to hone their time management skills.

Both traditional and online MBA programs have their own advantages and disadvantages. For work-at-home moms, an online MBA program is an attractive choice for obvious reasons especially with graduates of online MBA programs now increasingly held in the same high regard as those of traditional MBA programs.

The acceptance of online degrees varies depending on many factors: the company, the industry, the level and type of degree, the degree-granting institution, and, of course, the individual reviewer. Let’s look at some of the factors that can affect how well received the distance degree will be:

Level of Degree. The online bachelors degree seems to have the most skeptics. In a 2001 survey of human resources professionals by Vault.com, 26% of respondents found an online degree as credible as a traditional one. 61% considered the online degree acceptable but less credible, while 13% found the online-earned degree unacceptable. Online graduate degrees were found to be as credible as traditional ones by 37% of the respondents.

Degree-granting entity. Employers might worry about the legitimacy of a degree from a school they aren’t familiar with. They are right to be cautious, as many “degree mills” exist – they have names that sound like legitimate universities, but grant degrees based on “life experience” for little more than a fee. Your best bet is a degree from the distance learning arm of a well-recogized traditional university, or at least of a well-established and accredited distance learning school.

Industry. Some industries are more accepting of online degrees than others. Predictably, the best numbers from the Vault study were logged in Internet/New Media (70% projected acceptance), Technology (46%), High Tech (44%), and Marketing/Media(29%). Areas like Medicine and Law were described as the least likely to accept online credentials.

Field of Study. Legitimate online degrees seem to be better accepted for majors that tend to be knowledge-based, such as information technology areas, accounting, etc.

Individual Hiring Manager. As with every hiring situation, a lot comes down to the personal preferences of the hiring manager (and those of key influencers). Some individuals emphasize work experience far more than academics, while others weight academic history and accomplishments more heavily. Naturally, individuals just beginning their career will see more emphasis on academics.

Other Qualities of the Degree Holder. The rest of the candidate’s resume may well influence the credibility of the degree – if she has been employed in a related field with excellent accomplishments, and chose an online degree to allow full-time work, the degree may be viewed as a mark of a self-motivated learner. The same degree without the work experience or without an apparent reason to choose distance learning may be less credible.

Online Degree vs. Traditional – Summary. Online degrees from quality institutions are reasonably well accepted in some areas, though less so in others. They are most likely to be accepted in technology or other knowledge-based fields. Relevant work experience may augment the credibility of the online degree.

Online Education Advantages:

• Convenience – Students can take online courses whenever. Students are not limited by a school’s annual/semester/quarter system.
• Cost – Pricing for online degree programs is usually cheaper than traditional school programs.
• Classroom Time – Some distance learning programs have a classroom component, however most do not require attending a physical school. You can learn, study, and graduate from the comfort of any computer location.
• Flexibility – Class times are not set, and the pacing of assignments and readings occurs at your own discretion. You can proceed through your degree program at your own speed.
• Availability – Accredited, reputable, and educationally vigorous distance learning programs have increased in recent years.
• Self-Direction – Students are able to control their learning environment, moving through courses at their own pace.
• Accessibility – Attending class can occur from any computer with network/Internet access.
• Learning System – Distance learners tend to be people who learn visually and experientially, and also students who require more time to study, have language-issues, or are introverted.
• Zero Travel Expenses – With online degree programs, there is no need to commute to school, all learning can take place from home.
• No Interruptions – Since distance learning programs are based on the Internet, and accessed at the user’s discretion, learning takes place whenever you want it to. There is no need to take a leave of absence, stop working, etc.

Online Education Disadvantages:

• Instructor Face-Time – Distance learners typically don’t have the face-to-face interaction that is important to some students.
• Reputation and Perception – As distance learning becomes more widespread, more businesses and organizations are starting to recognize the value of an online degree or distance degree. However, there is still a social stigma attached to non-physical educational institutions.
• Technology Requirements – Distance learning program requirements are usually modest: computer and an Internet connection. However, students must have some proficiency in using computers.
• Social Interaction – Though online learning environments often have chat rooms and message boards they lack physical classroom interactions.
• Limited Support – Students are required to take their own initiative in completing assignments, reports, and exams.
• Campus Atmosphere – Distance education programs lack the physical value and attractiveness of attending a campus location.

• Today there are over 25,000 online courses offered in The United States alone, making up 76% of the world’s total online offerings.
• Canada is the world’s leader per capita for the number of online courses offered.
• Computer and business courses make up the mass majority of online courses offered world-wide.
• Most online courses and programs are offered only at the undergraduate level.
• Right now, there are approximately three million online students in The United States.

New technology and increased access to the Internet have made online learning more practical and widespread. Some say online learning is the antithesis of traditional schooling – where students get up, travel to class, and participate in class for a required amount of hours. However, other people simply see online learning as a simple extension of traditional learning, which has resulted in a substantial number of distance learning converts. With online learning, individuals still interact with the teacher, other students and the course material. The difference is that they correspond using some form of technology.