How To Get a College Degree as a Stay-at-Home Mom
“Moms are superheroes who don’t wear capes,” is just one way to put it. With managing the household and taking care of the kids, stay-at-home moms keep the family together. Giving birth to a new-born child, focusing on his or her needs, and taking care of everything else that goes into raising them is something every parent strives to achieve. But by the time your child becomes old enough to take of him or herself, you may want to turn the focus back onto yourself. You might start looking into career goals or getting an education to keep your options open in the future. Remember, it’s possible to take joy and pride in the process of raising your children while working towards your career aspirations.
Although stay-at-home moms (SAHMs) must abide by a certain set of responsibilities, many will disagree with the idea of giving up what could be a thriving career by staying home. About 45% of the SAHMs said that every growing child needs a working mother. Another statistic suggests that around 90% of stay-at-home moms genuinely consider the idea of obtaining a degree or getting back to work. Unsurprisingly, a good majority of women who generate income prefer to take control over the financial decisions of their households.
There are several advantages of returning to college as a stay-at-home mom. One key advantage of obtaining a college degree remotely is the flexibility it provides. Another revolves around the multitude of career options available once you obtain your degree.
While you may decide to halt your career until your children start school, starting an online degree beforehand opens a whole array of opportunities and options when you are ready to pursuit work outside of the house. We encourage all the moms who have put their careers on hold to stay at home and are now looking to restart their careers to check out the guide below.
Stay-at-home moms as college students
A highly trained and well-educated labor force is currently in high demand across the global market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to meet the projected total employment of 161 million by 2022, an estimated 15.6 million jobs must be filled. With fast-growing occupations demanding more graduates, there’s a projected growth of 14% in jobs that demand some level of post-secondary education.
With that, it’s understood that earning a degree will give you a better shot at career success. Going back to college carries a specific set of benefits, though it also introduces challenges that stay-at-home moms must contend with. Finding the right kind of program for you is one of them.
Why online learning makes sense for stay-at-home moms?
The advancements in modern technology have enabled moms to access all the necessary information they require from the comfort of home. Getting a college degree without physically attending college has been one of the major perks these advancements provide. This has allowed stay-at-home moms to strike a balance between managing household responsibilities and contributing to finances – all without leaving home!
Online classes offer flexible schedules, convenient for stay-at-home moms. Thanks to both the flexibility and affordability they provide, online degrees remain a perpetually popular option among SAHMs. The perks of online learning are endless. Without even actually visiting the campus, one can remotely complete assignments, communicate with professors, and listen to pre-recorded lectures at your convenience and when your schedule permits. Don’t forget that online learning helps SAHMs save on transportation, too!
Best college degrees for stay-at-home moms
There are several steps stay-at-home moms can take to prepare themselves for a new career path. Gaining knowledge and required skills can give you a head start before you even set foot in the job market. Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees are all offered online. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these kinds of online degrees can help you land jobs in these fields:
- Nursing degree: An online associate degree in the field of healthcare could be a perfect start for stay-at-home moms interested in a career in the field. Healthcare services have always had stable employment irrespective of the economic situation. Without having to spend years together in a medical school or hospital, there are several online medical programs that can land you a job in the healthcare industry. The next decade’s top 20 fastest-growing occupations involve several jobs from medical-related fields.
- Business degree: A business degree opens up several opportunities for moms when they graduate. Moms can create a professional pathway of their own by building their own business at home. A very broad field that can yield a great return on investment, a degree in business administration is sure to lead to a flourishing career in the future. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is expected to boom over the next ten years. As of 2018, business occupations had a higher median annual wage for all occupations.
- Information technology degree: Not just for the corporate setting but also for those who’d like to work from home, the IT field delivers bright prospects for a wide range of computer and tech jobs. Using their problem-solving skills, moms can work from home by giving clients the solution or the business processes they need. This field also enables you to interact with many individuals or clients directly. The idea of meeting the financial needs of the family likely helps motivate moms to work in this field. With a median annual wage of $86,320, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Computer and Information Technology Occupations and employment will grow 12% in the next 9 years. When compared to the average of all occupations, this is much faster. The information technology field can give moms a long list of work-at-home jobs.
- Software development degree: Software development is a thriving career option and the need for skillful developers is now sky-high. Computer programmers use various designing foundations of operative systems that are provided by software developers. If you’re looking to re-enter the workforce, learning and acquiring in-demand tech skills is essential.
Although it’s not easy, it is possible. For some, a career in the software development field is a dream. While they may have already undergone some training, parenting responsibilities have put a pause on their careers. Fortunately, more and more accredited schools are adopting online learning formats dedicated to computer programming and software development degree programs.
Without actually having in-class attendance, moms can get an associate degree in software development and information system analysis. These programs also help in bridging the skill gap amongst students and parents.
Career options for stay-at-home moms
There’s a wide array of career options for stay-at-home moms once you get an online degree including occupational therapy assistant, medical assistant, physical therapist assistants and aides, phlebotomy, and nursing. Business degrees also lead to a number of different opportunities, including business writer, or be virtually employed as a market research analyst, sales manager, human resources specialist, and much more. Moms can even opt to work full-time remotely, meaning they never have to leave home.
For stay-at-home moms, it’s never too late to start in on a new career path. In fact, taking care of an infant, preschooler, or school-age child may provide the perfect opportunity to take advantage of online learning programs. Take advantage of when the kids are out all day or at school. Use that time to do something for yourself and enroll in online human services degree courses. Oftentimes, all you need to do is get a degree or certificate to become a highly marketable subject. This will automatically give you the kickstart you need to get back into the working world. For all the super moms out there, this is your chance to get back to doing what you love.