PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- A significant percentage of adults who are pursuing online graduate degrees are motivated by self-fulfillment, indicates a survey conducted by Distance.GradSchools.com, an Internet directory of online graduate programs. According to the survey, 24 percent of all adults considering an online graduate degree are doing so for personal enrichment, as opposed to other factors like monetary gain or promotions.
The survey has also found that 12 percent of all potential students are over the age of 50, and 29 percent are over 40-years-old. Impressive numbers considering people 50-years-old and older make up just 27.2% of the country's population, and people over 40 account for 42.3%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
"We are delighted to see such a high percentage of people getting degrees for personal fulfillment," says Tara Longo, manager of Distance.GradSchools.com. "This survey shows that our world is moving in a direction where education is seen as something to be desired, not just required. Becoming educated is an achievement people want to accomplish for themselves now. It also shows that a whole new generation has embraced online degrees."
While 41 percent of potential students cited advancement in their career as being the main reason for seeking an online graduate degree, personal enrichment was the second highest reason, representing almost a quarter of all the responses. Change of career and an increased chance of employment each had 15 percent of the responses, while finishing a previously started degree received 4 percent, and rejoining the workforce after not working totaled 2 percent.
Distance.Gradschools.com
Distance.GradSchools.com is a comprehensive directory of online graduate education programs. With over 30,000 visitors each month, it is the largest sub-portal of GradSchools.com, the number one online source for graduate school information. Distance.GradSchools.com is a service of Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc. (EDU), a leading Internet company serving higher education. Based in suburban Philadelphia, EDU's steady growth since its inception in 1989 has led to its inclusion in the Philadelphia 100, Inc. Magazine/ICIC Inner City 100 and Inc. 500 lists of fast growing businesses.