About Online Schools in California
The pressure is on in California. The attendance rates of high school graduates going directly into college will rise to 61 percent by 2025, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. To meet its economic demand for college-educated candidates in the workforce, the state must make higher learning more available to non-traditional students. If not, the Institute predicts a dire shortage – more than a million people – of workers without the necessary education to assume jobs by 2025. The U.S. Census Bureau found in 2012 that 30.2 percent of Californians age 25 or higher have completed bachelor’s degrees. Can the state keep up? Online schools can make all the difference.
You’ll find an exceptionally strong network of online learning in the Golden State. California online colleges are not restricted solely to schools that uniquely offer full-time academic programs via the Web. Many existing brick-and-mortar colleges now offer blended on-campus and Web courses as well as 100 percent online degree programs. Hybrid programs allow you to attend on-site events, while you arrange your classwork and lectures online around your busy work and family commitments. And the student commitment to California online schools is about to get even stronger.
The New York Times reports that Gov. Jerry Brown and the California legislature view online learning as a solution to over-crowded college classrooms and are pressuring colleges and universities to accept online courses completed at other schools to be transferred as credits. Moreover, in-demand campus courses that are bursting at the seams may soon offer online alternatives that give course credit and offer the same academic programs.
The California Virtual Campus cites 16,000 courses with 1,200 degree programs at 167 accredited institutions in the Golden State. California is home to 112 community colleges, 23 state colleges and universities, nine campuses in the University of California system, and more than 75 independent schools. The extensive offerings at California online schools can provide a seat for you (at your home, workplace or internet café) when the other colleges have only long waiting lists for the classes you need.
To help you make informed decisions about your higher education Online Schools California has created listings of the top online colleges in California. You can compare programs by size, enrollment, subject and type.
Online Schools in California: 5 Fantastic Benefits
Is distance learning right for you? California’s beaches, mountains and lakes are constantly calling, as are recreational and cultural distractions galore. Add a family and a hectic work schedule to the mix and it’s a wonder that students manage to attend classes at all. But to get that first job or get your promotion – or change careers entirely – school is the best option for success. Let’s look at the reasons that the asynchronous, flexible class schedule set by California online colleges makes sense for busy adults.
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School Is in Session, Right Now
Online colleges in California offer classes that meet wherever you are, whenever you want it. When juggling the busy parts of your life, it’s great to have 24/7 access to your degree or certification program. Log on to courses, lectures, exams, and discussion groups from any device at any enabled location. Use a smart phone, desktop PC or tablet at home or on the go to keep pace with learning. You get to choose the best program to fit your career needs without worrying where it’s located.
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Eliminate Commuting Forever
Some Californians live in their cars. You don’t have to. When you enroll in online schools in California, you avoid the cost and wear and tear of freeway driving – and there are no parking fees to pay. You’ll save on babysitters, too. You’ll also save a fortune in gas, moving vans, and relocation costs. Of course, with online learning, you can’t use heavy traffic or other excuses for missing your lectures, presentations and exams! Self-paced programs at California online schools put the responsibility on you to create routines for keeping up.
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Build Lifelong Professional and Personal Communities
Are California online colleges isolating by nature? Hardly. Graduates typically remark on the strong connections they make with faculty, peers, and employers through online degree or certification programs. The faculty at online schools in California insists on student collaboration. Whether you’re creating a report on history or rounding up technical data for an engineering course, you’ll work in student teams to conduct research and create reports and presentations. Students use email, chat, and video communication tools to keep in touch, coordinate work, and share notes at California online schools. You’ll build a network of mentors and peers in the field that serve you through your entire career.
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Freedom to Express Yourself at Online colleges in California
You know how it is: the smarty’s sit up front and take copious notes while the goof-offs crack jokes in the back of the classroom. It’s just not that way in online learning. California online colleges won’t let you hide behind the tall guy in front of your desk. Moreover, you’re free to speak in discussion threads or real-time conversations without being self-conscious about your appearance or performance. In short, you get to be yourself.
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Improve on the Fly
California online colleges offer career-oriented degree programs that make sense in the workplace. You can use challenges at your current job as problems to solve in the classroom. Employers see your progress and contributions immediately as you implement your new training in the office. You’ll find programs that benchmark your skills and lead to professional certifications that can lead to promotions. Some employers even offer tuition reimbursement programs that reward employees for adding new skills and work-related abilities.
Use our tools on this page to find just the right program to fit your educational requirements without compromising your daily commitments to work and family.
