8 Trending Online Degrees in 2024 

Updated on 03/21/2024

8 Trending Online Degrees in 2024 

Over the past decade, more people have been getting their degrees online because it’s easier to fit into their lives. Technology has made it possible to learn from home, and people really like being able to study from anywhere without having to move. 

An online degree is now a big part of getting better at your job and learning new things throughout your life. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the top online degrees you can get this year, including how long they take, what you need to start, where you can get them, and the kinds of jobs they can lead to.

1. Online Medical Assistant Programs

Online medical assistant programs make it easy to start a healthcare career. These courses teach you everything from caring for patients to handling office work like billing. You can learn how to help with medical exams right from your home.

Time to Earn: As little as 6 to 12 months for certificate programs, and 1-2 years for an associate’s degree.

Typical Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent.

Online Schools:

  • Herzing University
  • Penn Foster College
  • Purdue University Global

Common Jobs: Medical assistant, clinical assistant, administrative medical assistant, medical office manager.

2. Online Nursing Programs (Bachelor’s)

Online nursing programs provide Registered Nurses (RNs) with a golden opportunity to move up in their careers and possibly make more money by getting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This step up in education gives nurses better skills in thinking through medical problems, leading others, and looking after patients, helping them play a bigger part in healthcare.

Time to Earn: 1-2 years (for RNs advancing to BSN).

Typical Requirements: Must be a registered nurse with an active license.

Online Schools:

  • Western Governors University
  • Chamberlain University
  • Purdue University Global

Common Jobs: Hospital nurse, public health nurse, healthcare manager, nursing educator.

3.    Advanced Online Nursing Programs (Master’s)

Online nursing programs also allow nurses to work towards becoming top experts and leaders by getting a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. With an MSN, nurses improve their medical skills and learn a lot more about how healthcare policies work, what’s right and wrong in healthcare, and how to use the best evidence in their practice. An advanced degree helps them become key players in improving healthcare for people.

Time to Earn: 2-3 years (for RNs with a BSN advancing to MSN).

Typical Requirements: BSN, registered nurse (RN) license, and sometimes work experience.

Online Schools:

  • Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies
  • Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
  • Duke University School of Nursing

Common Jobs: Nurse practitioner, nurse educator, clinical nurse leader, nurse administrator.

4. Online Computer Science Degree (Bachelor’s and Master’s)

An online computer science degree opens the door to the ever-evolving world of technology and innovation. It lays a strong foundation in programming, algorithms, and system design. It offers the flexibility to dive deeper into specialized areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software engineering through various online master’s programs. 

Time to Earn: 4 years for a bachelor’s degree; 2 more years for a master’s degree.

Typical Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; prerequisite mathematics and computer science courses for master’s.

Online Schools:

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) OpenCourseWare
  • Stanford Online
  • University of London (Coursera)
  • Arizona State University (ASU online degrees)
  • Oregon State University E-campus
  • University of Florida Online

Common Jobs: Software developer, systems analyst, network administrator, data analyst.

5. Online Business Administration Degree (Bachelor’s and Master’s)

Getting a Business Administration degree online gets you ready to lead in the business world. When you take online MBA courses, you can learn important business skills and choose to focus on things like money matters, selling, or starting your own business. An online MBA teaches you how to think strategically and solve problems creatively, which are key for top jobs in management. 

Time to Earn: Typically, it takes 4 years to earn a bachelor’s degree and 1-2 more years for a master’s (MBA).

Typical Requirements: A high school diploma or equivalent for a bachelor’s degree; a bachelor’s degree and sometimes work experience for an MBA.

Online Schools:

  • University of Phoenix
  • Capella University
  • Indiana University (Kelley Direct)

Common Jobs: Business manager, HR manager, marketing manager, financial analyst.

6.    Online Psychology Degree (Bachelor’s and Master’s)

Psychology degrees offered by online colleges present a convenient and flexible opportunity for students to delve into the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. Online universities cater to undergraduates and graduates, enabling learners to explore various topics from developmental psychology to cognitive neuroscience and clinical practice.

Time to Earn: 4 years for a bachelor’s degree; 2-3 more years for a master’s degree.

Typical Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent for bachelor’s; bachelor’s degree in psychology or related field for master’s.

Online Schools:

  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • Capella University
  • University of Southern California

Common Jobs: Clinical psychologist, HR specialist, market researcher, counselor.

7.    Online Education Degree (Bachelor’s and Master’s)

Online education courses help those wanting to become better teachers or school leaders by teaching them new ways to teach and create lessons and tests. People who finish a Masters in Education online become leaders, ready to make big improvements in how schools and teaching work.

Time to Earn: 4 years for a bachelor’s degree in education; 1-2 more years for a master’s degree.

Typical Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; bachelor’s degree and teaching certification for master’s.

Online Schools:

  • University of Phoenix
  • Walden University
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Education

Common Jobs: Teacher, educational consultant, school administrator, curriculum designer.

8. Online Cybersecurity Degree (Bachelor’s and Master’s)

Cybersecurity degrees prepare you to protect computers and networks from hackers and threats. When you take these online college courses, you can use the latest security tools and learn from top experts. This degree prepares you for important jobs in places like government agencies, banks, hospitals, and more, where keeping information safe is critical.

Time to Earn: 4 years for a bachelor’s degree; 2 more years for a master’s degree.

Typical Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field for master’s.

Online Schools:

  • University of Maryland Global Campus
  • Norwich University
  • Purdue University Global

Common Jobs: Cybersecurity analyst, information security manager, network security engineer, IT security consultant.

By Admin