how to switch careers with an online degree a complete guide
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How an Online Degree Can Help You Switch Careers in 2025

vaishnavi Sep 18, 2025 1K Reads

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Are you also confused about your career? Online degrees are strong tools that professionals looking to change careers should consider. An online degree offers flexibility while also assisting with networking and skill development to help you advance in your job. They give an easy method for professionals to make a smooth career transition.

Online programs allow you to take a course without having to attend traditional classes. You can escape the stress of daily commutes to college, as well as the costs associated with the process. 

Many reasons exist why online education is popular among students and working professionals. It is a reliable and flexible alternative to regular education, making it more popular and easily accessible to all. Most importantly, as an online learner, you can navigate a smoother career transfer while studying your preferred online degree program. In this blog, we will look at how you can improve your abilities and get better job chances.

What is a Career Switch? Reasons to Change Careers and How to Make It Happen? 

When professionals shift their work roles and enter into a different area of industry, it is referred to as a career switch. Anyone can change a career without taking care of their age or experience. People can change their careers when their regular jobs become to experience the new job opportunities. 

Sometimes people decide to change their careers for many reasons; some try to experience the new or want to continue their dream job. Understanding why people can change businesses can help determine if a career change is right for you and how to make the infection evenly. 

  1. Salary

One of the most common reasons for a career shift is the desire to earn more money. According to a recent study, only 32% of employees believe their remuneration is appropriate. Of course, money is not everything, but it does not prevent them from becoming important. No matter how much you like your work, you will affect your mood and welfare by making qualified payments.

You should know how to check the fair market value of your job and skills will let you know if it's your business or the industry as a whole that must compensate better. If it's the industry, then it's time to look at career paths with higher pay potential.

  1. Career Satisfaction

Life transitions impact your hobbies and interests. You might have accepted a position believing you'd be completely engaged for the duration of your work life, but now you wish to apply your skills in alternative ways, or you've encountered an occupation that you're interested in.

According to the Journal of Applied Psychology, more job satisfaction translates into higher energy and a positive mood that spills over into your personal life. If you find your job leaving you feeling unfulfilled or as though you're not doing something significant, a new career may result in a happier place both within and outside the office.

  1. Career Advancement

What's the next promotion on your horizon? Are the choices few and far between? Do you have to figure out how to put together a career development plan to reach the next rung, or are you at the pinnacle of your career choices?

When you’re stuck in your current career and looking for a new career with growth potential. Whether you want a shift in the job market or technological advances, take a realistic look at where and how you’ll get to the new level. New opportunities and professional growth can bring excitement back to your workdays.

  1. Toxic Leadership

Working with a bad boss or a bad culture can be exhausting. In a recent survey, almost 30% professional respondents admitted to attending therapy to deal with this. 

Your physical and mental health are at risk when you are under stress. If you are in an environment where poor bosses and sick work cultures are standard, you can look for new professional roads where you can work with leaders and colleagues who inspire and encourage you.

  1. Unhappy at Work

For no known reason, a basic dissatisfaction in the workplace can be a powerful indication that a career change is in order. It's time to do some self-reflection and figure out where and why you're feeling the drain. Occasionally, it's your subconscious letting you know that your chosen profession is no longer where you need to be.

Depends on hobbies and priorities, or you've reached a new stage in your life, and the old work no longer suits you.  You can get through some unpleasant days, but when you have more bad days than good days, you should consider making more serious changes.

How online degree help you in changing careers?

Online education is no longer a specialty for those wanting to seek higher learning. The majority, if not all, colleges provide some or even all courses and programs online, enabling students to enjoy an open-learning environment while they juggle work and family.

There are many questions while selecting a university, including affordability, convenience, flexibility, time, and more. However, as reported by an annual Learning House and Market Research survey, well over half of online program enrollments are motivated by a desire to change careers.

Understanding the Value of Your Online Degree

Before making a career change with the assistance of an online degree program, it is essential to realize the worth of an online degree.

The majority of students and working professionals who perceive online degrees or certifications as valuable tend to improve at updating their skills and knowledge with new trends prevailing in the market. This increases the employability chances of graduates with online degrees.

The Flexibility of Online Education

One of the numerous benefits of online degree courses that are usually provided by the most popular universities or institutes is the flexibility for students, especially working professionals.

This mode of online learning gives you a good work-life balance so that time is available for education on your schedule and time. The online method of teaching makes learning and upskilling easy for the learners, so it assists them in a smooth career shift.

Building a Strong Professional Network

Online degree courses making headlines nowadays are also beneficial in generating sufficient networking facilities for students over geographical distances.

One of the exceptional ways to develop a professional network via online degree programs, such as online MBA in Finance, online MCA in AI & ML, etc, is by participating in online discussion forums on the topic of your study or the topic for which you have the greatest passion. It provides you with a better means of molding your ideas and other important ideas with people who share similar ideas to yourself, to reap the maximum benefit of the right knowledge that can fuel your learning process.

Improving Your Skill Set

Upskilling with bachelor's degree courses and master's degree courses has become the norm, and that is all because of the easy accessibility, affordability, and convenience of pursuing an online course. It has enabled many students of all age groups, including working professionals and employees, to enhance their skill set and accelerate their careers in a better manner.

Online courses offer a vivid perspective for students and graduates to utilize the skills and knowledge that they acquired through the online degree programs in real-world applications, for example, in their current job position.

Marketing Your Online Degree

This is also an important step after you complete your online degree program. It is critical to discuss the relevance of your online degree in the job market in order to increase your employment alternatives and secure a rewarding profession after graduation. Building an excellent CV is an essential component of this entire process.

While highlighting an online degree in your CV, ensure that you verify the course's relevance, the skills that you acquire, and its functionality in addressing real-life applications. Furthermore, have an eagle eye on the example of online learning that you have observed while acquiring the required knowledge and skills about it.

Benefits of Online Degrees that Help Professionals in Career Changes

Career changes and promotions are a part of one's professional development. They enable you to look at your career differently and achieve success in a sector that motivates and fascinates you.  Many professionals opt for career changes to escape their routine job profiles and infuse newness into their work.

Online courses enable professionals to juggle between jobs and other responsibilities in order to ease the transition to a career change. The following are some advantages of online degrees that facilitate professionals in changing jobs smoothly:

  1. Develop Skills according to Industry Demand: All employers seek workers who possess the expertise of new and upgraded skills so that they can implement these skills at the workplace as soon as they get a new employee. Thus, acquiring skills in demand in the industry assists job-switch candidates. Online courses enable people to obtain various skills to assist them in their career switch.
  2. Assistance in Work-Family Balance: Online learning is appropriate for working professionals who are seeking a career shift. Online education enables such students to learn at their convenience while attending to other obligations in order to catch up with their studies.
  3. Assist in Investigating Specific Career Paths: With online learning, you can investigate specific career paths that you can pursue. Some of these paths you might be unaware of, while for others, you may need expert knowledge.
  4. Facilitate Learning from Experts: Obtaining an online degree or certification from a recognized and accredited institution provides the opportunity to learn more than your standard curriculum due to the intellectual and global faculty.
  5. Gain Confidence: A career change is a very big decision that demands sufficient courage. Obtaining a course from a recognized online university ensures building the confidence within you to be in a position to succeed in your profession in the new job and responsibilities you have sought after.
  6. Permit Choosing a Career that Enthusiastes You: Studying or pursuing a course of your choice that enthuses and inspires you, brings you tremendous happiness. You feel the confidence and boost in your new career choice.
  7. Meet Like-Minded Individuals: An Online degree offers the chance for students to engage with peers and instructors to exchange their opinions and interests. In addition to classroom forums, students can seek offline engagements outside of their courses. 
  8. Get information about the latest Education: The majority of colleges that provide online degrees utilize the latest and innovative technologies in online classes. Enrolling in a new course makes it easier for students to become acquainted with these latest technologies.

Popular Profiles To Switch Careers

If you are not sure which job is best for the future or which industry will develop the most, take a look at promising and attractive career opportunities with an average annual salary.

S.No.

Job Role

Average Annual Salary (INR)

1 Product Manager ₹14 – ₹30 LPA
2 Data Scientist ₹9 – ₹20 LPA
3 Chartered Accountant (CA) ₹4 – ₹19 LPA
4 Investment Banker ₹5 – ₹19 LPA
5 Artificial Intelligence Engineer ₹6 – ₹18 LPA
6 IT Consultant ₹6 – ₹16 LPA
7 Cybersecurity Expert ₹7 – ₹17 LPA
8 Business Analyst ₹5 – ₹13 LPA
9 Lawyer (Corporate/Criminal/Civil) ₹3 – ₹12 LPA
10 Digital Marketing  ₹4 – ₹8 LPA

Do you know that 93% of students between the ages of 14 and 21 were aware of only seven career opportunities? India has a number of 250 career opportunities in 40 domains. This means that you can disappear from the world of opportunity.

When choosing a career path, you can make these common mistakes that can affect your bright prospects.

Top Universities Offering Online Degrees 

List of universities that can help you do an online degree:  

Universities

University USPs

Amity University Online
  • UGC
  • NAAC
  • WASC 
  • QAA has accredited the program. 
Manipal University online  Known for global tie-ups and placement support. 
Jain University online Offers various online programs with specializations. 
Sikkim Manipal University online  A recognized institution for online degrees. 
NMIMS Online  Another option for online degrees. 
Amrita University Online  Known for its online programs. 
MAHE University online It is a part of Manipal University and also provides online education. 
GLA University online Offers online programs in various disciplines. 
Kurukshetra University online State university that also offers online courses. 
Mody University online  Offers online degrees, also known for online mode education 

Which Online Degree Can Be Suitable for a professional? 

Pursuing an online degree can be a great way to continually improve your skills and expertise. Here are some breakdowns:

  • For UG, you should have completed class 12th from any central or state board.

Online UG Degree (3 years )

Career Opportunities

Online BA 
  • Journalist or Content Creator
  • Civil Services Aspirant
  • Social Media Strategist
  • Human Resources Professional
  • NGO Associate
  • Community Development Worker
  • Marketing Specialist 
Online B.Sc
  • Scientific Assistants
  • Lecturers, Chemists
  • Biostatisticians
  • Research Analysts
Online B.Com
  • Financial analyst
  • Tax consultant 
  • Data analysis
  • Accountant 
Online BBA
  • Finance
  • Human resources
    Operations
  • Marketing managers
  • Marketing
  • Financial analysts 
  • Operations managers, and many more. 
Online BCA
  • Software Developer
  • Web Developer
  • Systems Analyst
  • Data Analyst
  • Technical Support Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Analyst, and many more.
  • To be eligible for postgraduate courses, you must have completed a bachelor's degree from a UGC-recognized university with a minimum of 50% marks.

Online PG Courses (2 years)

Career Opportunities

Online MA
  • Journalist or Content Creator
  • Civil Services Aspirant
  • Social Media Strategist
  • Human Resources Professional
  • NGO Associate
  • Community Development Worker
  • Marketing Specialist 
Online M.Sc
  • Data Science & Analytics
  • Teaching & Academic Research
  • Information Technology & Software Development
  • Government and Public Sector Jobs
  • Environmental Science & Sustainability
Online M.Com
  • Financial Analysts
  • Tax Consultants
  • Accountants
  • Auditors
  • Professionals in the Banking and Insurance Sectors
Online MBA
  • Management Consultant
  • Entrepreneur
  • Project Manager
  • Operations Manager
  • Financial Analyst
  • Human Resources Specialist
  • Information Technology Professional
  • Digital Marketing Manager
Online MCA
  • Software Developer
  • Data Scientist
  • Cloud Computing Specialist
  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • and many more roles in the tech industry
  • Provides online degrees and has a solid reputation in the field of online education.
Online Doctorate Courses Career Opportunities
Online DBA
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Management Executive
  • Corporate Training and Development
  • Management Analyst/Consulting
  • Management/Organizational leaders

Conclusion 

Online degrees for job professionals are flexible and enable professionals with the desired skills and networking to switch careers easily. These courses give relevant industry training and guidance to applicants to become successful career changers in their area of choice.

If you need online degrees to facilitate career switching, online degree provides some of the best online courses to assist your choices. You can take these courses while maintaining your other engagements, such as jobs, business, etc.  These courses can help you shift your career or enhance your career to get better.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Yes, you can change your career from an English teacher to any professional field, as online degrees like online MBA, online BCA, and many courses can help to enhance your skills and also help to get a good job in the future.

If you are thinking about changing your career, then online programs or degrees are a suitable choice. Or if you wish to grow in your present career, then an online degree is also an option since online courses are flexible and convenient for candidates.

Yes, you can do an online degree while continuing your job, as this program gives flexibility, career opportunities, and the main thing, a promotion in your post.

Yes, networking is possible for online learners. Learners can grow their professional network by embracing various approaches to networking.

You can attend the classes online, or if you don't have any time, you can just watch the recorded classes that will be provided in your LMS. 

You can give the exam according to your flexibility, that means you can book the slot time according to your convenience.

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By vaishnavi

3 Years of experience/ academic writer/ freelance writer

An academic writing expert and a freelancer with an experience of 3 years.

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