Covid-19 has changed the face of education — arguably for the better. Accredited and renowned brick and mortar schools are now offering graduate degrees through a completely online format. This could be great news for you if you’ve been considering pursuing a doctorate, master's, or advanced certificate while also working full-time.
The benefits of earning a graduate degree include better pay and promotion opportunities. An online graduate program gives you the flexibility you need to fit school into your busy schedule and allows you to thrive both academically and professionally. Though, let’s face it — juggling a graduate program online while also working full-time comes with a unique set of challenges.
It probably isn’t a surprise to you that earning a degree online can be difficult. The process of going through graduate school online, especially as a working professional, requires consistent planning, dedication, and time management.
As a prospective graduate student, you should think optimistically, yet realistically, about the decision to both work full-time and go to school. Take time to consider the effect it will have on all areas of your life. Are you able to commit to an online PhD or master’s program? Do you have the tools in place needed to balance work and home life?
For those of you still asking should I go to graduate school online? — keep reading to discover some of the pros and cons that can help guide you in your decision-making process.
How a Graduate Degree Can Impact Your Career
Pros: A graduate degree serves to equip students with the skills necessary to advance in their field of interest. Having a master’s, doctorate, or advanced credential on your resumé can open doors to previously unattainable career opportunities.
Whether you’re looking to expand beyond your current role or hoping to enter into a completely new field, pursuing a graduate degree online can give you the opportunity you need to both develop and refine your desired skill set while advancing professionally.
Cons: Being a full-time employee and an online graduate student requires a lot of dedicated time and energy. This can be even harder if you have a family, and it might be hard to find the time to add in an additional responsibility. It might become difficult to maintain your productivity levels at work if you are feeling the stress of a too-full plate.
Consider whether you are regularly feeling burned out by the end of the workday? Would you realistically be able to focus on coursework? Would your employer be supportive of your decision to pursue a master's or PhD? If you’re looking to enter into a new field, are you ready to face the challenges of switching your career and industry?
The Financial Investment of Graduate School
Pros: A graduate degree is a strategic investment in one’s future that can empower you to reach for new opportunities and could dramatically expand your earning potential, whether at your current employment or in a new industry. Just make sure you have a solid financial plan in place.
Online graduate programs are typically less costly than their in-person alternatives — not to mention the negation of other costs related to travel, room, and board. Additionally, many universities offer financial assistance because they don’t want cost to be a barrier to entry.
Cons: Getting a graduate degree from a well-respected university can still pose a financial challenge. It’s important to consider the impact school expenses would have on your family’s budget and savings. Would other areas of your budget need to be sacrificed to finance your program? While ultimately your advanced degree can “payout” in the end, your financial stability in the short-term is something to seriously consider.
Balancing Family and Home Life with an Online Graduate Program
Pros: One of the great benefits of an online graduate program is the ability to balance coursework with work and family life. Not having a commute and other time commitments of an in-person program can give you the flexibility and added time you need to be fully present to your studies, to your work, and to your family.
It’s also important to consider that in many cases an online graduate program can be completed in less time than its alternative in-person program, making the balancing act short-term.
Cons: Going to graduate school online will require you to juggle your family, school, and (in today’s climate) work all under one roof. You will need to develop a reliable time management system that will be conducive to your personal, academic, and professional success.
Is it realistic that you’d be able to fit schooling into your schedule? How will it impact your family and home life? Do you have or can you create a designated space for schoolwork?
An Online Program Can Change to Your Professional Network
Pros: The benefits of pursuing a graduate degree go beyond the knowledge learned and credentials gained. In contrast to an on-campus program that consists of other local professionals, an online degree program can connect you to a broader network that isn’t restricted by geography.
Growing your network through an online graduate program will create lasting connections that could benefit your future career path and open up opportunities all over the world.
Cons: Online master's, PhD, or advanced certificate programs may not provide some of the same in-person connections you might desire, which can be gained through an on-campus experience. Similarly, you may miss campus-based employment assistance and connections that could help with obtaining a position in your local area.
These missed opportunities may be a challenge for students who thrive with personal relationships or who are looking for local opportunities after graduation. Nonetheless, an online graduate program that's connected to a brick-and-mortar school, such as USD-SOLES, is more likely to offer these types of connections for online students.
Discover Opportunities to Further Your Education At SOLES
As you consider pursuing an online graduate degree while working full-time, we hope you found this list of pros and cons helpful in your decision-making process. Going to graduate school is an important and life-changing step, and here at the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) at USD we’re ready to support you throughout your journey. SOLES offers four online graduate degree programs that provide students with the flexibility they need to thrive in all areas of life.
If you have specific questions about our programs or about what it’s like to attend school online, we invite you to reach out to our admissions team so we can help point you in the right direction. Lastly, we encourage you to take time to set your personal and professional goals by downloading this sheet. We wish you the best of luck!
If you want more insight into today’s online graduate program environment, you can browse our free resource, “Should I go to Grad School Online? If, When, and How to Get a Graduate Degree from Home.”
