Working Is a Fact of Life for Today's College Student

Rare is the college student today with a "full ride" scholarship covering tuition, books, room and board. It's also increasingly uncommon for students to be able to enroll full time in college right after high school courtesy of their parents. College and working is the new norm, but there are ways to make it easier and more convenient. At StraighterLine we help you continue your education online at competitive prices.

Quitting Work to Attend School Full-Time

Most people simply don't have the option of quitting work to go back to school full time. College costs have risen much more rapidly than general inflation, and taking out big student loans can cause students to work for many years to pay them back after graduation. Quitting work to go back to school requires independent wealth, a full scholarship, or acceptance of huge student loan debt.

Arranging Work Shifts Around Your Class Schedule

Most workplaces are happy for employees to attend schools while working, but most are unwilling or unable to structure employee shifts around their on-campus class schedules. If your employment situation allows you to do this, then you're one of the lucky ones. Trying to fit in on-campus classes with a full or even part-time work schedule is a huge challenge. Add commuting and it's even harder.

Taking Classes Online While Continuing to Work

Attending schools while working is much easier for those who take courses online. Online course schedules are more flexible and allow working adults to continue their educations without having to give up jobs. Almost all colleges and universities offer online courses in every subject, and they're terrific for people who can't quit work to attend college.

Make Working and Going to College Work for You

Attending college and working at the same time is normal today due to the high cost of earning a degree. Millions of students have successfully earned college credits by taking courses online. It's convenient, flexible, and when you take classes through course brokers who work with numerous colleges and universities, it's more affordable. At StraighterLine, we don't just help you work toward your degree, we make it easier to pay for too.

 

You Can Pursue a Medical Education By Taking Courses Online

Careers in medical fields are expected to be more common as the Baby Boomer generation approaches retirement and demands more health care services. If you have always wanted a medical career, but can't afford to quit work to go to college, then taking classes online is a good option. From college anatomy class to college calculus class, online options are increasing. At StraighterLine, we help you find the online classes you need at affordable prices.

Core Curriculum Classes

To earn a bachelor's degree, you will have to complete several core curriculum classes. While the precise classes required vary from one college or university to the next, there are several classes most everyone has to take. For example, most schools require a year of English composition, a certain number of history or civilization credits, and one or more classes in the humanities and social sciences.

Mathematics Requirements

Taking a college calculus class online may seem daunting, but people successfully complete online mathematics classes every semester. When you take your math classes online, you have much more flexibility in your study schedule, and this can take some of the pressure off. Plus, online tutoring is available if you need help and cannot make it to on-campus tutoring centers.

Science Courses

If you want to have a career in a medical field, you will have to take at least one college anatomy class. If you're disciplined and work regular study time into your schedule, you can take these classes online and continue working at your current job. Science classes are demanding whether you take them online or on campus, but the online versions allow you much more flexibility with your schedule.

Don't Give Up on Having a Medical Career

If you have always dreamed of earning a nursing degree, becoming a research scientist, or going to medical school, online learning can help you earn your bachelor's degree and put you on the road to your dream career. A wide range of online college courses is available to you right now. College is expensive, but at StraighterLine, we have many ways to make earning your college degree more convenient and more affordable.

Explore All Your Options for Earning College Credits

Earning a college degree is more important than ever in today's competitive employment market. Don't think you can't earn a degree just because you're older, or because you can't afford to quit work and return to school. You have many options for earning college credits, and many of today's students earn their degrees without quitting work and without taking on crippling student loan debt. At StraighterLine, we offer many money saving options for earning your degree.

For High School Students

If you're in high school, you can earn college credits even before you graduate. Advanced Placement, or AP classes prepare you for exams given every spring that earn college credits at many colleges and universities. AP exams are hard, but AP courses prepare you for them, and they prepare you for the type of work you'll be doing at college. Passing AP exams can save you money over taking the comparable college class.

For Working Adults

Many working adults have skills that they can use to pass exams under the College Level Examination Program, or CLEP. CLEP exams allow you to demonstrate your proficiency in a subject area by passing an exam and earning credit for a college course. For example, if your job has required to you to learn Spanish fluently, you may be able to pass CLEP exams and earn credits for your Spanish competency.

Taking Classes Online

Taking classes online allows you to continue working while going to college. This can keep the amount of money you have to borrow to pay for college to a minimum. Plus, many students find the convenience of online college courses unbeatable. Today there are students who earn their entire degrees online. You save time, and you save on costs like commuting and parking on campus.

Transferring College Credits You Earned Earlier

Maybe you earned some college credits but had to drop out of school. Those credits may be transferrable if you can't go back to the same school. College advisors can help you determine which older credits can be transferred, reducing the number of classes you have to take. At StraighterLine we offer online degree courses, and we make them more affordable.

Bright High School Students Can Save on College Credits

Most high schools offer Advanced Placement, or AP Classes. These are challenging courses that prepare students for the AP tests, which are given once a year in May. Fees for AP credits vary, but they are significantly less expensive than the cost of taking the equivalent college course. At StraighterLine, we can help you with AP credits by allowing you to take AP tests online at any time, which is helpful for students who miss the annual tests in May.

Reasons to Take AP Courses

Many colleges and universities let you substitute AP credits for college coursework. This can help you accelerate your college education and spend less money on college costs. Students who earn enough AP credits to exempt themselves from one full-time semester can use that semester to work and earn money for college. AP classes also help prepare students for the study and discipline required for college coursework.

Don't Cram Too Many AP Courses Into Your Schedule

It's not a good idea to overextend yourself with AP classes in high school. Choose the courses in which you excel and which you are interested enough in to do the coursework well. That said, there are many high school students who graduate with three or four AP credits, and that often represents three or four college classes they don't have to take.

See if Your College Limits the Number of AP Credits You Can Have

Some colleges and universities limit the number of AP credits you can have. Find out your preferred colleges' AP policies before you start taking AP classes. Additionally, some colleges allow some AP credits, but not others. You have to start early to earn AP credits, but it can be well worth your time and effort.

Determine Your College's Score Policy for AP Credits      

Different colleges have different rules for what AP scores earn college credits. AP exams are scored 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. Many schools accept 3, 4, or 5 for credits, while others only accept 4 or 5. At StraighterLine, we offer AP exams online, and we can help you transfer AP credits to colleges and universities that accept them.

Online Classes Can Help Your Business Career

Are you one of the millions of workers who want to have a better career, but can't afford to take time off to return to school? If so, then online learning may be the right solution for you. Besides not having to quit your job to return to school, you can work courses around your schedule, even if you work varying shifts. At StraighterLine, we specialize in online learning and in making online learning affordable.

Expand Bookkeeping Skills and Enjoy New Opportunities

If you're a bookkeeper who wants to move ahead in the business world, then online accounting classes may be exactly what you're looking for. You have the skills for day-to-day recordkeeping, but taking online accounting classes teaches you the overall principles of accounting that can make you a more effective and valued employee. By continuing your education you can pursue certification as an accountant.

Accounting Classes Help You Run Your Small Business Better

If you're a small business owner, you may have hired someone for taking care of bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll, but you benefit yourself and your business by furthering your education with accounting and business classes. You'll be able to communicate more effectively with your company's bookkeeper and paymaster, and you'll understand business processes better.

Broaden Knowledge Even More with Economics Classes

Those who are interested in a business career should learn the foundations of economics. You can take online economics classes that let you work around your work schedule or take classes as a stay-at-home parent who plans to reenter the workforce or start a home-based business. Taking economics classes can also help you understand current events and news better. In fact, economics classes help you broaden your world view, becoming more knowledgeable overall.

Take Your Business Career Further

By taking online economics classes, accounting classes, or other business classes, you can further your career no matter what your professional aspirations. Business classes are even valuable for those in technical and scientific fields who want to move ahead. Studying online makes it easier to keep working while you learn. At StraighterLine, we offer a wide variety of business classes online, and we make taking online classes affordable too.

You Can Do Something about the High Cost of College

Even after accounting for the effects of inflation, the cost of higher education has gone up dramatically over the past 30 years. Many students graduate with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. Taking classes online is a way to keep a lid on college costs. From online college physics to online college sociology, the classes you need are available online. At StraighterLine, we make the classes you need more affordable.

High School Students Can Earn AP Credits

College-bound high school students can take Advanced Placement (AP) classes that earn college credits, meaning that many fewer college classes to pay for. While some AP classes charge fees, many are free, and even the ones that charge fees are far less costly than the equivalent college class. If you're a motivated high school student, ask your guidance counselor about taking AP classes.

You May Be Able to Earn CLEP Credits

People of all ages take exams in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and earn college credits quickly and cost-effectively. If your life has given you skills taught in college classes, there may be a CLEP exam in that subject area. The cost of earning CLEP credits is much less than the cost of taking the equivalent college class, plus you save significant time by earning CLEP credits.

Taking Classes Online Minimizes Work Schedule Disruption

Take online college physics and you won't have to worry about working your shift schedule around class times. Take online college sociology, and you can keep right on working full time while you pursue education to become a social worker. Studying online means you don't have to give up your paycheck to continue your education. Classes at all levels including graduate level are available online.

Explore Your Online Learning Options and Keep Costs Down

Online learning is one of the most popular ways today's students keep college costs under control. You don't have to quit your job or take a leave of absence to pursue your higher education dreams. And at StraighterLine, we make college even more affordable by offering courses you need at reasonable prices that transfer to over 1,800 colleges and universities.

Options for Keeping Higher Education Costs Under Control

Rapidly rising costs for higher education have received a lot of media attention. But that media attention doesn't do much to help actual people afford college. There are several ways to keep college costs under control and minimize the money you'll have to borrow for college. At StraighterLine, we offer a range of online courses transferable to over 1,800 colleges and universities, and we offer them at affordable prices.

Get Ahead While You're Still in High School

If you're a motivated high school student, you can earn college credits before you graduate by taking and passing Advanced Placement, or AP classes. When you pass an AP exam you earn credits that transfer to many colleges and universities. While your AP exam may or may not be free of charge, it is considerably less expensive than taking the comparable course at a college.

Some Life Experiences Give You Skills Useful for CLEP Tests

The College Level Examination Program, or CLEP, allows you to pass a test called a CLEP exam and earn credit for knowledge you already have. For example, if you grew up in a bilingual home, you may be able to pass a CLEP exam in, say, Spanish, and earn college credits without having to take a college course. CLEP credits cost much less than comparable college courses.

Online Classes Keep You From Having to Quit Your Job

Quitting your job and going to college full-time is not a real option for a lot of people. Taking classes online is increasingly popular because these courses are easier to work into a full-time work schedule. You can study at night or on weekends as long as you turn in assignments and exams on time, so you can keep your steady paycheck while you attend school.

You Have Many Options for Saving Money on College Costs

Don't give up on college due to "sticker shock." Yes, college is expensive, but there are many things you can do to keep costs under control. AP and CLEP credits are cost-effective, and online courses let you keep working while attending school. At StraighterLine we know how to help you earn your degree without huge college expenses.