Online Schools in Florida

With a wealth of colleges and universities, Florida has proven itself to be a leader in higher education. From certificates to doctorate degrees, online colleges in Florida are poised to help students move into sunny horizons. Florida itself should see a gradually strengthening economy during the next several years.

With a wealth of colleges and universities, Florida has proven itself to be a leader in higher education. From certificates to doctorate degrees, online colleges in Florida are poised to help students move into sunny horizons. Florida itself should see a gradually strengthening economy during the next several years.

Living and working in Florida

Many industries in Florida suggest promising increases in employment, with leisure and hospitality occupations showing the strongest growth. According to an August 2011 report from the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the greatest gains are occurring in private education and health services; trade, transportation and utilities; and professional and business services. Construction, information and government jobs showed the sharpest declines.

For July 2011, the Florida Labor Market Statistics Center reported an unemployment rate of 10.7 percent. While down from a high of 12 percent in December 2010, that figure is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.1 percent in July 2011. However, there is good news: July 2011 is the 10th consecutive month of job growth.

Florida was home to 16 Fortune 500 companies in 2011, according to CNN Money. These top businesses were located all over the state, including the cities of Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Boca Raton. Included in the list are companies focused on health care, energy, transportation, retail and grocery. Florida ranks 24th in the nation for cost of living, with the price of health care, utilities and housing below the national average, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

Education in Florida: online schools and more

There are 28 public colleges in Florida, spread out across 64 campuses, according to the Florida Department of Education. In 2010, 39 percent of all students were enrolled full-time, while 61 percent were attending college part-time. The associate degree was by far the most popular degree sought, with more than 333,000 of Florida's approximately 887,000 students enrolled in an associate degree program.

Still, public colleges don't tell the whole story. According to the College Bound Network, there are more than 3,500 colleges and universities in the state of Florida, both large and small. With options for traditional classroom instruction, online education or a hybrid of both, Florida colleges and universities are poised to cater to both the high school graduate or the working professional.

As in most states, the cost of tuition at Florida colleges and universities continues to rise. Online learning can ease the financial burden of education for students, as classes can be taken over a longer period of time than what is usually allowed in a traditional classroom setting.

Job outlook and salary expectations

The following occupations are among the highest yearly gainers in employment, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, along with 2010 salary information from the BLS:

1. Biomedical engineers. Florida projects job growth of 7.6 percent per year, making biomedical engineering the highest gainer in jobs through 2018. Most entry-level positions require a bachelor's degree. The mean annual salary was $77,280.
2. Home health aides. Annual job growth is projected to reach 5.1 percent in Florida. The mean annual wage in 2010 was $21,660. Some employers require certification.
3. Veterinary technicians. Statewide, 4.2 percent annual job growth is expected to fuel these positions. An associate degree is the minimum educational requirement. The 2010 mean annual wage was $29,650.

Florida online degrees can open doors to new positions or advancement. Whether the goal is a certificate or a doctorate, there is a college in Florida that can help you get there.