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Countless people every year make the decision to take a break from attending college. From financial reasons to family responsibilities (and everything in between), sometimes it’s necessary to take a break from seeking a bachelor’s degree to focus on different things.
If this sounds familiar to you and if you are passionate about obtaining a bachelor’s degree that will prepare you to make a difference, then you’re in the right place.
Here’s Where to Start Your Degree Completion Journey
No matter the reason you had to pause your undergraduate education, you have the valuable opportunity to obtain your bachelor’s degree in an online, flexible, and accelerated format.
If you are ready to take the first step in making yourself a more marketable professional, keep reading to explore just how exactly a four-year degree will transform your career.
A degree completion program is an accelerated and flexible degree program that is designed specifically for busy adults who have some college credits, but who have not yet completed a four-year degree.
Students of a degree completion program generally bring some traditional undergraduate education to the table — some may have earned as much as an associate’s degree, while some may solely hold some prior professional training experience that counts as college credit.
A degree completion program provides a flexible, quick way to complete your bachelor’s degree.
The degree completion option exists to build upon the work students may have already completed and help them earn a four-year undergraduate degree to better their personal and professional lives.
Going Back to School as a Working Adult
Many adults considering going back to college often wonder: can I work while completing my degree?
And the answer is yes! Degree completion programs are designed to fit into a busy professional schedule. Students seeking degree completion are often compelled to continue working to pay for their education and to support themselves and their families. Having on-the-job experience is also one of the factors that makes these students highly motivated, real-world learners who can draw on their practical and professional experience to help them complete their degree.
Degree completion programs are designed for busy, working professionals.
The bottom line is this: degree completion programs are designed for working professionals who are seeking to complete a four-year undergraduate degree and who may or may not have already-completed college credit. So, you can be confident that the degree completion program you choose will easily integrate into your already-busy life.
The research is overwhelming: holding a four-year degree is important for professional advancement.
But what is the value of a college education? When weighing the value of a high school diploma or some college credit against a four-year degree, research is clear that an undergraduate degree outperforms in every area of consideration. For instance, the ROI and value of a four year degree only continues to increase — studies show that those with a college degree experience higher salaries and more job security.
Today, the incredible value of a college degree is undisputed.
Further, a college degree has also been proven to lead to additional opportunities for promotions, an easier transition when making a career change, and increased levels of professional and personal satisfaction. But let’s talk about some of the data-backed reasons to go back to school.
In an evolving workforce, there are many reasons to choose to go back to school as an adult. Here are just a few of the data points related to how to finish college after dropping out for a period of time.
Higher Salaries
The Bureau of Labor Statistics asserts that bachelor’s degree holders make about $400 more per week compared to those with some or no college experience. While this weekly average doesn’t sound significant, studies also show that graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn $2.8 million over the course of their careers compared to $1.6 million for high school graduates.
Not only does your earning potential significantly increase with an undergraduate degree, but individuals holding these degrees also experience other forms of better compensation. Professionals with a bachelor’s degree are more likely to have access to quality benefits such as health insurance, 401Ks and retirement plans, life insurance plans, maternity/paternity leave, vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, cost of living increases, and more.
Other Reasons
Job Security
Promotions
Tuition
More Job Security
Getting a job is just part of the equation, keeping that job is another topic altogether. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who hold an undergraduate degree earn more and are less likely to be unemployed than those with an associates degree.
If a company experiences a difficult financial period or is going through an economic recession, employees possessing higher college degrees are often thought of as more valuable and are therefore less likely to be laid off.
More Promotion Opportunities
Earning an undergraduate degree can not only help you secure a job post-graduation, but it can also lead to promotions and further career advancement within the employee’s current industry. When the opportunity for a promotion occurs, having an undergraduate degree can place you above competitors that only hold an associates degree or a high school diploma.
Having a four-year degree is also incredibly important for those considering making a career change. Frequently when hiring, companies don’t require an undergraduate degree in the specific field, so long as you have related experience and can demonstrate that you possess the necessary skills. If you are looking to change careers or job positions, an undergraduate degree is extremely valuable because it serves as a stepping stone into that new industry.
Tuition Inflation
The most common objection to a traditional undergraduate degree is the cost. While this is a significant factor, college tuition is a commodity that falls victim to inflation, so, if you are set on returning to school to complete your undergraduate degree but are hesitating because of the cost — financially, there isn’t a better time to jump than now.
Each one of these factors demonstrates the value of earning a four-year undergraduate degree. There is not just one area in which graduates of a four-year degree program excel, but the data shows that these candidates possess the necessary skills and education to advance in the workforce — and thrive personally.
At Neumann University, we know that you are making sacrifices to return to school and finish your bachelor’s degree. For that reason, we offer two degree completion programs that allow you to complete your degree in a flexible way.
We employ experienced faculty, supportive admissions staff, and knowledgeable financial aid professionals that all work together to provide you a quality, unique education that will serve as a launching pad for your dream career.
These two degree programs are also perfect for working professionals. These programs are offered entirely online, and there are no set login times — making them both accessible and convenient.
A Degree for Those in Public Service: Public Safety Administration
Neumann’s Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration is an accelerated, online undergraduate degree completion program for adults currently working in the fire/police/EMS fields.
The Public Safety Administration program provides a foundational knowledge of this unique administrative environment with specific emphasis on the skills needed to meet the challenges in public safety structures. It is structured to help you advance in your career and focus on real-world issues.
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This accelerated program, taught by working professionals in the field, can be completed in 20 months. A minimum of 60 credits in transfer (college credit or documented prior learning), and completion of a state or municipal police academy, firefighter academy, or EMS program (EMT, Paramedic, etc.) is required for application, with up to 90 transfer credits available. Neumann will evaluate military and work experience for possible transfer credits.
To complete this degree, students must earn 120 credit hours in Public Safety Administration with a 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA.
Take the next step with our Public Safety Administration Program
A Degree for Future Leaders: Business and Organizational Studies
Neumann’s Bachelor of Science in Business and Organizational Studies provides a foundational knowledge of business practices while giving students the tools needed to transform traditional business practices and innovate new processes and ideas — both sought-after skills in today’s dynamic, ever-changing field of business. This program also aims to further develop a student’s problem solving abilities, strengthen presentation skills, and equip students to describe organizational dynamics through multiple perspectives.
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The Business and Organizational Studies program is customizable to meet your needs and your schedule. Courses are delivered in an accelerated 7 ½ week seminar format. Students can begin their degree at the start of any semester. The ideal candidate has previous writing experience (equivalency of English Composition I and II) and has completed one year of college work (equivalency of 30 credits). Applicants can transfer in up to 90 college credits.
To complete this degree, students must earn 120 credit hours in Organizational Studies with a 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA.
Take the next step with our Business and Organizational Studies program:
Financial Aid for Degree Completers
There are many degree completion students who benefit from some form of financial aid. Here are a few financial aid options for students considering going back to school to complete their bachelor’s degree.
FAFSA
The financial aid process begins with filling out the FAFSA form, which helps determine a student’s eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid, as well as certain grants and scholarships.
Need-Based AID
Students may be eligible to receive funding from various need-based aid programs such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, State Grant, Federal Work-Study, and the Neumann Grant.
Employer Assistance
Some employers participate in a tuition assistance or a tuition reimbursement plan in which an employer pays all or part of any employee’s cost to attend college or university classes.
Aid for Degree Completers
There are also several financial aid opportunities that are open specifically to adults returning to college, such as the Return2College scholarship or the Imagine America scholarship.
Other Financial Aid Options
Students in need of financial aid should also consider loans, explore outside grants and scholarships, and contact local banks, churches, and other organizations who might give aid.
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Take the Next Step with One of the Best Degree Completion Programs
At Neumann University, our community is alive with intellectual energy and creativity. The faculty who teach our degree completion programs are experts with real-world training and field experience, many of whom are still working in their specific industries.
We are dedicated to nurturing students and helping them to grow and thrive by cultivating an environment of diversity, creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving — all of which develop the talents needed for a successful career.
If Neumann sounds like a place you would thrive, contact our admission office to start your application and learn more about specific degree offerings and requirements.
