Your Guide to Navigating Online Graduate Programs

• You’re easily distracted. When you’re studying online and at your own pace, it can be easy to get distracted by the kids, work, and other things going on around you. To thrive in an online program, you need to be able to stay motivated and stick to a schedule of some sort.
• You’re looking for a lot of hands-on experience. There are certain programs — especially those in fields where you might need to conduct research and/or lab work — where being able to gain hands-on experience is important to your learning process. If you’re pursuing one of these options, an online program might not equip you with the skills you need to develop to be successful.
• You struggle with technology. To succeed in an online program, you need a reliable internet connection and a computer that you work well with. You also need to understand how to use your online learning platform and other online resources you’ll use as a student ranging from email to video conferencing platforms like Zoom.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), those who earn a Master’s in Economics typically receive a median salary of more than $115,000 each year.

Then, there are students who pursue a Master of Science in Nursing. According to the BLS, jobs as nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners are expected to grow by 38% from 2022 to 2032. And people working in these roles typically earn a median annual salary of more than $129,000.

The bottom line is that with a master’s degree, you’ll earn more each week than if you stopped at a bachelor’s degree — $1,737 vs. $1,493. And with a doctoral degree, you stand to earn an even higher median weekly salary of $2,109!

This is thanks to our partnership with Southern Regional Electronic Campus (SREB), which aims to make tuition payments easier for out-of-state residents. Plus, with financial aid, scholarships, and grants factored in, our tuition won’t break the bank.

Just as important as cost is the support that we offer to you through WVU Online. This unit is home to online admissions coaches who assist you from the first moment you reach out with a question to your first week of classes. WVU Online also offers special sessions to accommodate student availability, Online Student Ambassadors, and more to support your academic journey as a student.

Here are a few additional reasons to consider WVU’s online programs:

• WVU Online offers a variety of graduate certificate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (which guarantees the quality of WVU as a whole). So you know that our degrees are legitimate and respected by employers.
• Our online faculty are the same quality faculty members who teach on-campus courses.
• Your diploma and transcript will not indicate that you earned your degree from an online program. It will show that you graduated from West Virginia University — just like it would if you attended an in-person program.

As a WVU graduate learner, you’ll engage in internationally recognized academic programs. And our graduate community of scholar-teachers and passionate learners provide the perfect environment to support your growth and learning.

For more about graduate admission requirements, financial aid, or the graduate application process, visit WVU’s Office of Graduate Admissions website.