Best Reasons for an Online PhD Program
There are so many good reasons to get a Ph.D. and so many good reasons to consider online as an option. These are just a few of the best.
Salary
No matter how many other good reasons we have, salary is still one of the best reasons to get a Ph.D. The average pay for workers with Ph.D.s is around $93,000. Many jobs in academia are slightly lower paying, but there are many other types of jobs including a clinical statistician, academic writer, scientific director, and many others.
The Savings
Let’s face it, PhD program are expensive! But with lower overhead and the ability to enroll more students due to the lack of physical location restraints, online PhD program tend to cost less. Online students often save in other areas as well, such as on textbooks, which can often be downloaded or rented, commuting or parking costs, and on-campus housing and food costs.
Accessibility
With gasoline prices rising and the stress of traffic, finding parking, and dealing with inclement weather, the commuting reasons alone are enough to consider an online PhD program. Online classes also mean you can study and “attend” classes from anywhere, a favorite coffee shop, or your own home, in your PJs. When snowstorms or thunderstorms or other severe weather hits, or your child is home sick, the option to study from home is a huge benefit and just one of the great reasons to consider an online PhD program.
Requirements
Traditional brick and mortar schools have very high requirements and low rates of acceptance, making it difficult to get into the school you want. Online universities, on the other hand, often have looser requirements because they aren’t limited to the same smaller class sizes for enrollment as traditional schools. Don’t let the easier requirements for acceptance fool you into thinking that the program will be easy!
The Pride
Getting a Ph.D. is hard work. It takes dedication, sacrifice, talent, perseverance and a lot of brain power. There are plenty of downsides to getting a Ph.D. and how it affects your life, but in the end, having a Ph.D. is something of which one can really be proud.
For Those Who Love School
If there’s nothing in life you’d rather do than learn, a Ph.D. program is for you! Studying for a Ph.D. is one of the most challenging learning activities a person can undertake. Not only that but once you have finished your PhD program, you can remain in academia as a researcher or teacher and continue to learn and pass on the knowledge with which you’ve been entrusted. If you love learning, pursue a PhD program
Research
If research is one of your favorite things, pursuing a PhD program might be just the thing for you. For many research positions, a Ph.D. is required, and it may be possible to find a research assistant position at a university that will waive your tuition, so you can get your school paid for while you do your favorite thing! What a bonus!
Easier Application
Graduate school applications at traditional brick and mortar schools can be very time intensive and complicated, including essays, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores. Online universities and colleges tend to have simpler applications, however, so getting enrolled in a PhD program online tends to be much less time consuming and less labor intensive. expectations of you and hold you in higher esteem.