Online Course: Can Be The Key To A More Exciting Future For Dads!
Giving birth is a wondrous miracle; raising children a huge responsibility. Feeding a family, buying school supplies and paying for healthcare and recreational activities can also take a toll on the wallet and bank account. Thanks to online college, university and career and technical school offerings, working and stay-at-home parents can more easily invest in themselves and their families.
Taking the first step towards completing one’s education, or heading back to school for additional qualifications can, at times, seem daunting. Parents might want to consider, however, that the average adult these days is estimated to spend $222,360 from the time a child is born until he or she graduates high school, according to a June CBS News report citing Agriculture Department information. The more education an individual has, the more money he or she typically makes, U.S. Department of Labor statistics show.
A college education can also help parents enter fields that fulfill them. The Daily American newspaper recently reported on one mother whose parental experiences at school inspired her own return to school. Darlene Pritt, who is now a school district acting superintendent in the Pittsburgh area, explained that her kids helped her realize that in order to succeed professionally at the career of her dreams, returning to school was her only option.
Pritt was working as a homeroom parent when she decided to return to school, the April Daily American article noted. The experience, she told the publication, evoked memories of playing school as a child. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, Pritt continued toward a master’s, according to the article.
Pritt is apparently among a growing number of college-educated mothers. The majority – 54 percent – for the first time are now college-educated, up from 41 percent in 1990, according to a June New York Times article. Some of this might be the result of what The Times article noted is a trend in delaying motherhood. Participating in studies while carrying out parental responsibilities, however, might serve as a good example for children.
Individuals who still want to stay at home while their kids are in school can look for schools online in order to achieve new professional qualifications. They can study on a more flexible basis, setting aside time when they’re not carrying out parental responsibilities, and be finished with coursework by the time children come home. This way, parents are better able to help out with their children’s homework, or take kids to after school activities.
Although U.S. Department of Education information cited in the CBS News report noted that the average cost for a year’s worth of studies at a four-year institution is $30,393, that figure includes room and board and other expenses in addition to tuition. Online college, university and career and technical school studies require little more than tuition, and scholarships, fellowships and grants for college might help offset that cost. Choosing an online degree program can also help save on additional childcare costs, particularly in families that include one parent who works full time. In instances where parents work full-time and want to continue their education, they can find online degree programs at a variety of levels.
Many scholarships, fellowships and grants for college are available for the online degree option in instances where institutions are accredited. When a college, university or career and technical institute is accredited by a nationally-recognized agency, that indicates to the U.S. Department of Education an academic quality that merits financial aid. It’s also more likely students can transfer credits when institutions are accredited, and that potential employers would more favorably view degrees from them, the Department of Education suggests. The federal government is considered the largest provider of tuition assistance, but parents can look toward other sources as well. Large corporations, non-profit organizations, community and civic groups also provide scholarships, fellowships and grants for accredited college degree goals. Some award assistance based on a variety of areas, such as leadership and community service. Others provide financial aid to specific demographics, such as women and minorities, or for those pursuing specific studies.
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