Online Bachelor Degrees

When you earn a bachelor's degree, you join the top quarter of Americans in terms of education. A bachelor's degree takes about four years to earn on average and can drastically improve your chances of landing a high-paying job in the field of your choice. Bachelor's degrees are highly respected post-secondary diplomas that take hard work and dedication to earn. The time and energy that you put into earning your bachelor's degree will come back to you in higher earnings and more job opportunities for the rest of your life.

Benefits of a Bachelor's

A bachelor's degree opens up a wide variety of job opportunities that are not available to people with only a high school diploma or other lesser degrees. A bachelor's degree gives a person significant training and education in a variety of fields. Typically a person with a bachelor's degree needs to complete about two years of general education coursework and two years of focused study on the college major of their choice.

By earning a bachelor's degree, you significantly increase your earning potential. In 2008, people with a bachelor's degree between the ages of 25 and 34 earned an average of $46,000 a year. People with just a high school diploma earned an average of $30,000 a year and people with an associate's degree earned $36,000. In other words, with a bachelor's degree you can earn about 50% more than you would with just a high school diploma in the first years of your career. As your experience increases, so will your wages. Over your lifetime, you can earn millions more than someone with just a high school diploma. People with bachelor's degrees also enjoy much lower unemployment rates. The unemployment rate for people with high school diplomas in 2009 was 9.6%. The employment rate for people with bachelor's degrees was 5.2%.

Popular Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor's degrees can be earned in everything from administration to zoology. Whatever your primary interests, you can find a bachelors degree that will enhance your education and give you the training you need to qualify for a wide variety of jobs within the field of your interest. Bachelor's degrees are typically broken into two categories-bachelor's of arts (BA) and bachelor's of science (BS). Ten of the most popular bachelor's degrees in America today are:

1. BA in Business Administration
2. BA in Criminal Justice
3. BS in Psychology
4. BS in Nursing
5. BA in Education
6. BS in Engineering
7. BS in Health Administration
8. BS in Computer Sciences
9. BS in Accounting
10. BS in Human Services (Sociology)

Each of these degrees can land you jobs with entry level pay of over $30,000 per year. And that's just the start.

Highest Paying Bachelor's Degrees

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, these ten bachelor's degrees have brought graduates the highest salaries in 2010. Of these, the highest paying degree earned graduates an entry salary of over $86,000 per year.

1. Petroleum Engineering
2. Chemical Engineering
3. Mining and Mineral Engineering
4. Computer Science
5. Computer Engineering
6. Electronics and Communications Engineering
7. Mechanical Engineering
8. Industrial Engineering
9. Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering
10. Information Sciences and Systems

Don't worry-if engineering isn't your thing, there are a number of other bachelor's degrees that bring high salaries such as business administration, life sciences, and web development. It should also be noted that this list does not include professions that require further education like law and medicine.

How to Earn a Bachelor's

The first thing you need in order to earn your bachelor's degree is a high school diploma. If you haven't yet earned your high school diploma, there are a number of programs available at community colleges, trade schools, and through online colleges to help you earn your GED. One great way to work towards your bachelor's is by first earning an associate's degree from a community college or an online college. Bachelor's degrees can be earned through the Internet or from public and private universities and liberal arts colleges. There are hundreds upon hundreds of colleges and universities to choose from in America. Take the time to research the best choices for you before selecting a program.

A bachelor's degree can typically be earned in four years of full-time study. Science and engineering degrees tend to take five years, but can be completed in four. A bachelor's degree may take longer if you can't devote your full time to your studies. However long your bachelor's degree takes, it will be well worth the effort. You'll earn more and have more job opportunities throughout your entire life with a bachelor's degree.