Working adults who enroll in an online bachelor completion program often do so to move up the corporate ladder and into management. Degree programs that focus on applied workplace leadership skills can open the door to promotion and a higher salary, allowing a graduate to take their career to the next level.
Attaining those skills involves learning to guide, inspire and support a team, pulling them together to achieve a common goal. Effective applied workplace leadership is not simple to achieve. It requires a focus on developing “soft skills” such as communication, critical thinking, skilled guidance, decision-making, and empathy.
For non-traditional students who continue working while earning their degree, an online bachelor completion program that focuses on applied workplace leadership gives them the flexibility they need to earn a degree while maintaining their current job.
Why Complete a Bachelor’s Degree?
Earning a college degree remains a highly beneficial investment, offering both economic advantages and societal contributions. The evidence supporting the value of higher education is substantial and multifaceted.
Substantial Earnings Premium
A college degree significantly boosts earning potential. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn considerably more than those with only a high school diploma. This trend of increased earnings with higher education levels highlights the financial benefit of pursuing a college education.
Economic Return and Stability
Most colleges provide a “minimum economic return,” where graduates earn enough to not only surpass the income of high school graduates but also recoup their college investment within ten years. This finding suggests that a college degree is more than just a path to higher earnings; it’s a critical factor in economic stability and resilience.
Lower Unemployment Rates
Higher education correlates with reduced unemployment rates. College graduates face significantly lower unemployment risks compared to their peers with only a high school education. This trend underscores the protective role of a college degree in career stability.
High Return on Investment
Despite the rising costs of education, the return on investment for obtaining a bachelor’s degree remains impressively robust. The average rate of return for a bachelor’s degree is considerably high, marking it as a sound investment with long-term financial benefits.
The convenience and quality of online bachelor degree completion programs allows more working adults than ever to earn a degree and reap the benefits.
Why Focus on Applied Workplace Leadership?
Earning a degree in applied workplace leadership can amplify the benefits of earning a college degree by helping professionals hone their leadership skills. Graduates from an online bachelor completion program that focuses on applied workplace leadership prepare themselves for success in management positions.
They also signal to their employer or hiring managers that they are serious about developing the skills needed for leadership. These include instilling a sense of purpose and enthusiasm in others, fostering ethical behavior, creating an innovative and diverse workplace culture, and learning how to properly set and assess expectations and goals for employees.
A professional with that skillset is immediately a serious contender for management positions. Becoming a manager also translates into financial rewards. According to federal data, many management occupations command median annual salaries in the six figures. Most offer salaries higher than the $52,000 median salary for all bachelor degree holders.
Jobs in management attainable for those with a bachelor’s degree include administrative services manager, facilities manager, compensation and benefits manager, computer and information systems managers, construction managers, and human resources managers.
NMU Global Campus Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion
NMU Global campus designed its online bachelor’s degree completion programs for non-traditional students and returning adults who completed an associate degree in any field, although an associate degree is not required. Accelerated courses also allow students to finish quickly.
Aspiring leaders who choose to concentrate on applied workplace leadership develop skills that employers value in leadership positions, including department management, team leadership, and project management. Courses in the program include:
- Effective Communication in the Workplace
- Ethical Leadership in the Workplace
- Assessment in the Workplace
- Leadership in Diverse Workplaces
- Systems Thinking in Workplace Leadership
Returning adults who enroll in an online bachelor’s degree completion program take an important step toward improving their career, both immediately and in the future. A focus on leadership can make the benefits of earning a degree even greater.
