Many parents across the country are being faced with financial hardships that have caused them to rethink their career options. The economic downturn has resulted in thousands of stay-at-home moms making the decision to re-enter the workforce in order to help keep their families afloat financially.

According to the Washington Post, there’s a gender gap in the nation’s unemployment rate, which stands at 10 percent for men and 7.9 percent for women. In addition, male-dominated industries such as construction and manufacturing have been hit hard by the recession, while industries typically dominated by women such as healthcare and education have seen job growth, despite the economy.

Many mothers contemplating a move back into the workforce are turning to online colleges and degree programs to increase their marketability in a competitive work environment.
Experts say moms who choose to go back to school to expand their career options should consider a few things before enrolling. Making sure their online college is accredited is important, as is the type of degree program they choose. Juggling family obligations with school requirements can be difficult if these students enroll in a program that’s not right for them.

Some online college programs – known as synchronous programs – require students to log on at designated times each week, often at the same time a professor and other students are logged on and completing coursework as well. While these classes are preferred by many since they feel like they’re a part of a “real” class, they may be challenging for some parents with time constraints. Other online colleges – known as asynchronous colleges – allow students to fulfill their classroom study time on their own schedule taking all their college courses online.

There are also many financial aid opportunities for moms.  For instance, Pell Grants are great single mother grants because they are awarded based on financial need.  There are are also many other scholarships and grants that moms can take advantage of, such as state grants.

Enrolling in an online degree program does take some research, but many parents who have completed them say the convenience and other benefits make them the preferred method of education for busy adults.