Imagine a 12% return on your investment. In today’s struggling economy, that kind of return is something like financial wizardry. Distance learning degree programs, however, are continuing to experience that kind of phenomenal market growth.

The latest distance learning degree program surveys, conducted by the Sloan Consortium, however, concluded that enrollment in online degree courses throughout the country had in fact increased by 12 percent during the last year. As a result, more than 4 million people nationwide are enrolled in distance learning classes.

Increasing fuel costs, job losses and economic uncertainties have contributed to these rising figures, according to the survey. As more people struggle to replace lost jobs during this recession, they turn to online degree universities to find distance education degree programs to help them gain an educational edge over their competitors.

In addition, many people find themselves working harder, or working more than one job, in order to meet the financial demands of their family members. Graduating from a traditional college degree program is almost impossible for these people, who turn to distance degree programs to help them achieve these objectives. And in the end, those who are motivated and dedicated do find what they are looking for - undergraduate and graduate degree programs that provide family and job security.

When you graduated from high school, the manager of the retail chain for which you worked informed you that he was promoting you to assistant manager, and you started earning over $30,000 yearly. Not bad for a high school graduate, and suddenly it seems as though maybe your future is already set. Why even bother to earn a college degree?

The average salary for people who work in business fields and don’t have a college degree is about $38,000 each year. While this salary isn’t peanuts, compare it with the average salary of a person who has a Bachelor Degree in Business: $88,000 a year. This now puts you in the top 25% of American wage earners.

If you decide to find a graduate degree program in business and earn an MBA, though, you can earn more than $100,000 each year. This is almost three times the amount you would earn if you decided never to go to college.

College degree programs don’t have to be painful any more, however. Students can earn a degree online in business administration in less than two years. These accredited online university degree programs are as helpful in finding jobs with good salaries as those of traditional university degree programs.

The choice is yours. Going to college doesn’t have to mean putting off the rest of your life for four years. If you are willing to invest just a little time and energy, you can earn a college degree at home without ever setting foot on a college campus - and make the kind of money you were destined to earn!

Recent research has shown that women are more likely than men to enroll in distance degree education programs. This is especially true for mature women going back to school, as well as minority women and those with low incomes. The convenience and flexibility of these online degree programs has offered this group of people a chance to complete a college degree program and succeed in their careers.

Distance learning is becoming ever more popular. in 2006, the number of people who were enrolled in a distance education degree program was approximately 3.5 million. This represented an increase of almost 20 percent from 2002 figures. Furthermore, studies indicate that this number continues to grow significantly each year.

More women than men are enrolled in online degree universities. This may be because women often tend to need the increased schedule flexibility offered by these degree programs. Taking online degree courses rather than enrolling in a traditional college degree program can often mean significant savings in terms of time, commute expenses, and childcare costs, all of which are important to single parents and low income families.

Distance learning offers a wide variety of career opportunities to students, and allows individuals to choose among certificate programs, associate degrees. Students can even earn a bachelor degree online, or finish master degree programs. Don’t let the opportunity to finish your degree get away - learn more about online university degree programs today!