Online Degrees Can Help Parents Inspire, Care For Their Families

Due to the recession, many companies have had the luxury of choosing from a highly qualified pool of applicants. Because several individuals have fallen victim to an ever-rising unemployment rate, professionals with many years of work experience are competing with recent college graduates for similar positions.



Unfortunately, many hiring managers consider a bachelor's degree a prerequisite for advancement in the application process, which has left some individuals struggling to find work and provide for their families despite years of experience. This has lead to many working professionals considering a return to school to improve their educational status.

Similar experiences may leave job seekers who have families feeling as if they have failed. Parents whose educational qualifications have held them back in the professional sense may have trouble convincing their children to enroll in a campus-based or online degree program. Fortunately, mothers and fathers of all ages who wish to pursue higher education have many options to do so.

Because few families are able to devote the time and money typically required by campus-based degree programs, individuals who are considering a return to school may wish to take free online classes. These classes can help them become accustomed to the demands of modern education. The courses may allow parents to become more familiar with computers, which could contribute to their success in an online bachelors program.

The Obama administration has encouraged parents - particularly single mothers - to update their educational qualifications in order to increase their earning potential and stimulate the job market. As a result, the government and some private organizations have created single mother grants that are intended to help these students enroll in schools online or on a campus. By enrolling in an online degree program, a single parent is given the opportunity to improve their education standing and remain at home to take care of their child or children.

Federally funded programs that could benefit single mothers include Pell, Academic Cooperative, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity and National Science and Mathematics to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants. Some online colleges, such as Ashford University, also offer financial aid packages that benefit students who are parents. These colleges recognize that each individual student has a different set of needs and responsibilities.

Individuals who complete such distance online degree programs may be able to inspire their children to succeed, as they will serve as example of the benefits that can come from higher education. College-educated parents who enroll in online bachelor degree classes may also experience a sense of fulfillment, as they will know their efforts will ultimately benefit their families. Attending college in this way is an excellent avenue for a single parent to get ahead, and build an education that will stand out on a resume.