Education is power, and professional training can take you a long way towards the career, salary, and future you deserve. At online schools in Missouri, you can take control of your education with unprecedented access to coursework. Anywhere you can find a Web connection, you can attend courses. Students across Missouri take advantage of the benefits of the online learning system.
Missouri online colleges provide the services and structure to address an essential academic need in the state. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 86.8 percent of Missourians had at least a high school diploma in 2011, while only 25.4 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher. While those figures approach the national average, they also speak to the education gap that only a professional degree can fill. Where traditional colleges and universities fall short, online colleges in Missouri continue to benefit students with a range of degree and certificate programs designed for all education levels—from brief certification programs to advanced doctoral degrees.
Missouri boasts 138 post-secondary educational institutions, as reported by business interest group Missouri Partnership. What’s more, four Missouri regional universities are included in the Midwest’s Top 25, according to U.S. News and World Report. Students in Missouri have a lot to choose from, and Missouri online schools offer some distinct advantages. From customizable academic programs to unprecedented access, there’s a lot to love about online training.
In the past, you needed to live close enough to commute to a college or university in order to pursue an education. For anyone with deep roots in a small community, the dream of an education could end there. Missouri online colleges aim to change that with improved access to coursework. Today, you can go to school anywhere you can use a computer with an internet connection. Upload papers to your class home page, check in with professors, and work with other students; anywhere, anytime.
Full-time parents, full-time employees, and anyone with a busy schedule can appreciate the access of the online course structure. At online schools in Missouri, class time doesn’t follow strict rules; you can turn in homework in the middle of the night, leave collaborative comments to earn participation points on your lunch break, and send a professor an email message before you forget your question. Deadlines and course requirements still exist, but students at Missouri online schools enjoy more flexibility in the ways they can complete and turn in their work.
Technology is a big part of today’s workforce, and online colleges in Missouri help prepare students for the digital literacy they may need on the job. If you’re coming to school online without a lot of technical experience, many online schools in Missouri offer resources to help. Schools may provide technical assistance with student forums, offering step-by-step instruction to help students feel comfortable. Some programs allow students to practice their skills online before class begins, while others feature courses specifically geared toward technical literacy.
Different students come to the classroom with different learning styles. You might learn best visually—watching instructional videos and lectures—or an audio assignment could be the easiest for you to approach. Some students benefit from working closely with their classmates while others function best independently. No matter what your style, Missouri online schools provide an option. Browse different schools and find out more about what a typical course looks like—it may be different from school to school as well as from class to class.
Engaged faculty are an important part of any classroom experience, and online education is no different. Faculty members at online schools in Missouri should be trained and ready to work with students. Many faculty members hold office hours where they are available by phone, and you should always be able to post questions to the class forum or to your professor’s email address. With different ways to conveniently connect, online education finds a real benefit over the traditional model.
Missouri was home to 6,021,988 residents in 2012, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. With a .6 percent growth rate between 2010 and 2012, population figures are slowly rising in the Show Me State. A growing population means growing job competition, and Missouri online colleges work to meet the demand. Whether you’re interested in a brief certification program or an advanced doctoral degree, online training means a more varied educational landscape.
When you can log on to a college program, you’re free to plan your future without worrying about where you’ll need to be to complete your training. Change jobs, move across the state or across the country; you can still complete your training online. Consider online schools in Missouri as a way to plan for your future without getting in the way of it.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over 2.9 million workers were employed in Missouri as of February 2013, with growth from the previous month in a number of fields including education, leisure and hospitality, financial activities, and trade. Moreover, the U.S. Census notes that there were 149,903 private, non-farm businesses in the state of Missouri in 2010. That’s a lot of potential opportunities for work for those with the right education. Online colleges in Missouri work with students, small businesses, and other entities to facilitate higher education in the state.
With more flexibility, better choices for students and a network that extends past state lines, Missouri online schools are providing a new alternative to Missourians. Check out top programs below and learn more about the impressive range of colleges, universities, and technical training centers online.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Missouri Economy at a Glance
U.S. Census Bureau: Missouri QuickFacts
Missouri Partnership: Education