8 Online Degrees That Pay Well & You Can Start Today

These days, more people than ever are enrolling in online colleges to earn their degrees. As you’re considering your next steps and what education path is right for you, you may be wondering what’s the difference between an online degree and a traditional college degree?

The biggest differences between online colleges and traditional colleges include

• Flexibility. Online colleges can be much more flexible than a traditional school. Many in-person colleges require you to follow a semester schedule, attend classes and lectures at specific times, and have enrollment deadlines so that you can’t start your degree until the semester officially begins. With online college degrees, you can usually enroll whenever you’re ready, take classes, and study around your schedule. You choose when and where you learn.
• Affordability. The cost of a college degree has increased dramatically. Going to college is now 107% more expensive than it was twenty years ago (for in-state schools) and so many students need to rely on student loans to afford it. Even then, that means you’re faced with years and years of loan payments after you graduate. Online colleges, however, can cost significantly less than your traditional degree! Penn Foster, for example, has affordable monthly payment plans that can help you cover the cost of your degree without relying on student loans.
• Self-paced. Most traditional colleges require you to follow the set schedule of classes with due dates and structure. With an online college, you take your classes at your own pace. That means that you can take as much time as you need to fully understand what you’re learning in one class before taking exams and moving on to the next course.

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Taking college classes isn’t just about getting a degree – it's about preparing for a career that can help you earn more money, better your life, and reach your professional goals. If you’re looking for a job that pays well, earning a particular degree could help you take the first step. The following are some degrees that can potentially help you start an entry-level job that pays well. We researched several industries’ average salary ranges, and while they often vary, we found the following degrees can lead to jobs with competitive starting pay and can all be completed through Penn Foster.

Read more: Which Healthcare Certifications Pay the Most? A Guide to Higher-Earning Medical Jobs Through Certification

A degree in business management can offer a great foundation for several well-paying, entry-level jobs. Through this degree, whether you pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree, you’ll learn the management, leadership, and problem-solving skills needed to qualify for an entry-level job in a variety of roles. Someone with a business management degree can work as a sales manager, in marketing, or finance.

Average salary: This can vary depending on the role, but some example business career median salaries include:

Office manager: $57,361

Information clerk: $43,730

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk: $49,210

Working in the skilled trades industry can offer plenty of job opportunities that pay well. Earning a construction technology degree could help you prepare to qualify for jobs like project manager, cost estimator, building inspector, contractor, and more.

Average salary: $58,360

Read more: Top 5 Skilled Trades Careers for 2025

Graphic design is a great career that combines creativity and technology. After earning a graphic design degree, you can work for a variety of companies, in marketing departments and agencies, or even as a freelancer. Becoming a graphic designer is the perfect job for someone who is creative, artistic, and tech-savvy.

Average salary: $49,300

Earning an Associate Degree in Engineering Technology can help you take the first steps toward a career as an engineering technician. Engineering technicians assist engineers in developing new products or finding innovative solutions to problems. They run tests, record data, and repair parts and equipment.

Average salary: $68,730

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A degree in human resources management can help you prepare for a variety of entry-level HR roles. As an HR employee, you’ll work closely with others, post job openings, conduct interviews, and more. Becoming an HR associate is a great job for those who consider themselves people persons and enjoy administrative work.

Average salary: $74,220

Read more: 5 Jobs You Need to Know About in 2025

Medical assistants are vital to so many healthcare facilities, so seeking out a medical assistant associate degree can be a great career move. They work with patients in both clinical and administrative tasks. Experience as a medical assistant can even help prepare you for other roles you may want to seek out in the healthcare field.

Average salary: $44,200

Read more: (Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Medical Assistant

Jobs in IT are great options as more companies rely on technology to complete their day-to-day work and keep their company running. With a computer information systems degree, you can potentially qualify for jobs in IT or as a computer support specialist.

Average salary: $61,550

Read more: How to Apply to College After High School (Guide)

Jobs in healthcare can be incredibly rewarding, so it can be worth it to prepare for a job in the industry if you’re interested in working in the medical field. A healthcare management degree can prepare you for entry-level and leadership roles in the administrative side of doctor’s offices, hospitals, and insurance companies.

Average salary: $55,734

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Even if you don’t pursue one of the above degrees, having any degree at all can make a difference in how much you earn. On average, someone with an associate degree can earn $57,148, while someone with a bachelor’s degree can earn $80,236.

Read more: Does Education Make a Difference in Salary? (How Learning More May Help You Earn More)

For the most part, no, employers don’t care if you got your degree online as long as your degree was earned from an accredited school. What’s truly important to employers and hiring managers is whether or not you have the knowledge and skills to successfully do the job they’re hiring you for.

Yes, you can absolutely get an online degree even if you work full-time or have multiple jobs. The biggest benefit of a self-paced, online college is that there are no scheduled lectures, due dates, or deadlines. That means you can fit studying and taking exams into your schedule, however it works best for you.

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Earning a college degree online can help you further your education at your own pace. Through an online program, you’ll have the ability to choose when and where to study. Besides the flexibility, online college can often be much more affordable than a traditional college; without student loans, you can choose to make affordable monthly payments toward your tuition instead of paying all at once or relying on financial aid.

Read more: 9 Best Careers for the Future

Through Penn Foster College, you can earn a nationally accredited associate or bachelor’s degree on your schedule, from home. We offer degrees in a variety of industries, like healthcare, technology, and skilled trades. To learn more about our degree programs and find the right one for you, request more information or reach out to our Admissions Specialists today at 1-800-275-4410.