Nursing is among the fastest growing career paths online, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nursing careers that can be pursued after earning an online degree include RN (registered nurse), occupational health nursing, forensics nursing, nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner and nurse educator.
In addition to nursing, online health-care degrees in other areas are also popular, including those in systems administration, psychology and pharmacy. Online psychology degrees can lead to careers in mental health, health administration, business sectors and social work.
An online master's degree in business administration, or MBA, can lead to multiple career opportunities. MBA concentrations include business planning and implementation, finance and economics, management, communications and trends forecasting.
Marketing majors take online courses that are concentrated in the marketing and sale of goods and services. In the global marketplace, marketing is expected to continue to expand in opportunity and salary for marketing executives--upward of $120,000 a year.
Jobs in accounting continue to be plentiful in the private and government sectors, including careers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Accounting degrees are among the top choices in online education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for Certified Public Accountants is expected to grow faster than all other occupations.
Information technology is among the top in degrees to earn online. Hands-on experience is required in hardware, software and networking infrastructure. IT degrees, both undergraduate and graduate, can open doors to jobs in networking security, systems analysis, government and project management.
Education is a popular online degree in all concentrations at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. IT degrees are also offered in education, as school districts prepare students for the 21st century workforce.
It's not possible to become a dentist by studying online, but dental hygienists and medical transcriptionists can earn their credentials online. Demand for graduates in dentistry is expected to increase in the next decade.
Engineering graduates have always been known to command good salaries. Although many engineering degrees still require hands-on intensive course work, online degrees in engineering technologies include accounting technology, health information technology, mechanical engineering and network systems administration.
A online degree in criminal justice can feed nicely into future law studies, while commanding a well-salaried job. Employment in areas of law is expected to increase.