Higher education: MBAs and degree-completion programs offer career advancement opportunities.

• Author: Ellis-Knapp, Jody

It's no secret that furthering one's education can help in job placement and income levels. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, the average college graduate earns 62 percent more than the average high school graduate. In a perfect world, we'd all go straight to college from high school, getting that degree and reaping the financial rewards from it.

In the real world, however, things don't always work out that way. Some choose to go right to work after high school. Some go to college for awhile, yet end up disgruntled at the expense and time involved, opting to quit and enter the work force. Some are able to obtain a job in the field of their choice, only to find that in order to advance in their business career, they really need a Master's in Business Administration or a completed undergraduate degree. But by this time, life has gotten in the way and the reality of mortgage, kids, car payments, etc., makes going back to school seem impossible.

Fortunately, for us in Alaska, the variety of choices offered in regards to degree completion or MBAs can make adult education an easier fit with work and real life. ABM has provided a roundup of some of the most comprehensive programs available in the state, with an overview that can assist you in deciding which program might be the best for you.

ALASKA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY

One of the most popular and well-known programs offered in Alaska is the degree-completion program at Alaska Pacific University. Designed for the working adult with approximately 60 transfer credits to complete a bachelor's degree in two years, APU provides fast-paced seven-week courses that are held exclusively in the evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. A commitment of attending two classes at a time is required. From last summer through this spring, APU has had more than 200 students enrolled in degree-completion programs.

Program Director Carole Lund states that having a bachelor's degree can sometimes make the difference between getting that sought-after job or promotion. "Degrees open doors for our students and their careers," she says. "The classes they take here prepare them for the challenges of new positions." Lund says that most of the attending students are adults over the age of 25, many holding associate's degrees or credits from other accredited institutions. Job enhancement (pay raises, promotions, etc.) is cited as their No. 1 reason for returning to school.

At $320 per credit hour (with costs...