Online Degrees Grow Salaries for Programming Professionals

by Joe Taylor Jr.

It's every recruiter's nightmare and every student's dream: the demand for experienced professionals is higher than the pool of available job candidates. With fewer graduate students on campus, professional development is moving into the office suite through online education programs. While an advanced degree can improve your salary, an online degree program can eliminate the opportunity costs involved with taking an on campus time out.

Taking two or more years off to complete an on campus degree can certainly improve your long-term earning potential. In today's hot job market for computer professionals, you might be more tempted by company cafeterias than the campus dining hall. According to government statistics, an IT professional can usually add between $30,000 and $50,000 to his or her annual salary upon completion of a technical master's degree. Instead of living on financial aid, a recent graduate can enjoy earning strong wages and benefits while still working toward an advanced online degree.

Typical salaries for IT professionals reflect degree levels:

• Entry level data processor, associate's degree: $24,880
• Computer operator, bachelor's degree: $31,070
• Game designer, master's degree: $83,670
• Scientific research programmer, doctorate level degree: $91,390 to $118,350

Tuition Reimbursement Programs Reduce Student Loan Debt, HR Expenses

A recent Wall Street Journal article suggests that a typical tuition bill of $20,000, financed by student loans at today's interest rates, could cost you over $27,000 over the life of the loan. Clever corporate managers define tuition reimbursement programs for online classes as a perk that can keep a significant amount of money in a new recruit's bank account. Not only can an employer-sponsored online degree help you reach a higher salary sooner, it can save you thousands of dollars in interest when compared to a campus based degree.

Online education also offers significant financial benefits for companies. A recent study indicates that nearly one in three dollars spent by corporate tuition reimbursement programs pays for online classes, and experts predict that number to rise as more employees become comfortable with the concept of online degrees. Human resource managers easily justify their online education expenses by pointing at lower recruiting costs and lower turnover. One company that implemented online classes boasts an annual churn rate of under three percent in an industry that often sees one in five workers shifting employers each year.

Computing Standards Make Online Classes Powerful Learning Tools

When online education first emerged, employers were skeptical about whether they could trust that job candidates possessed the same skills as graduates with campus based degrees. Certifications, accreditation, and a growing comfort level with online communication have helped most employers embrace online classes as powerful tools for professional development.

Most programming languages and hardware vendors offer independent certification exams for technology professionals, to assure employers of a candidate's skill level regardless of where they attended college. Instead of spending thousands of dollars preparing for exams, an employer-sponsored online degree program includes every class you need to gain certification.

Online Classes Open Career Options

If you're not already working at a technology company, it's easier than ever to gain the credentials to make yourself attractive to corporate headhunters. Depending on your learning style, you can select an online education program that involves a lot or a little real-time interaction with faculty and staff.

Meanwhile, online education programs are changing the career paths for future programmers and database managers in old-line businesses. The convenience of online classes has spurred professional development in a growing number of traditional companies outside of Silicon Valley. With employers of all sizes looking for skilled technology professionals, it often makes sense to recruit from within and provide key training than to lure potential staffers from high tech companies.

A Sampling of Top IT Employers, According to Computerworld:

• General Mills
• Quicken Loans
• Anheuser-Busch
• Hilton Hotels
• Reader's Digest

Online Classes Increase Job Security and Earning Potential

An online degree in computer science can help you land a promotion within your existing company. It can also make it easier to find a new job if your employer relocates or downsizes. Even if your current employer shows no outward signs of weakness, starting your online education program with just a few hours of study each week is effective insurance against sudden shifts in the job market.

You no longer need to uproot yourself or your family so you can enroll in a campus-based degree program. Likewise, you no longer have to postpone your professional education because of a transfer to a new location. Whether you're dreaming of moving to Silicon Valley or you simply want to secure a better paying job in your current field, an online degree in computer science can get you started.