Higher Education is Key for Indiana: The Top Programs to Consider

This content was produced in partnership with Archer Education.

Education is a critical part of any society's stability and growth. Getting a Ph.D., or opting for an online EdD in leadership for Indiana business students, is the type of degree that can help you become more valuable for scouts and recruiters when you hit the market.

Today, we'll show you the best programs you can attend to improve your skills. It will help you earn a higher salary, find more exciting career opportunities, and add value to the company or field you'll work in.

Indiana Workers Could Benefit from Advanced Degrees

Indiana ranks 43rd among highly educated states, and most people working with a college education only have a bachelor's. So, if you manage to study a bit more, you can stand out since you offer more value for recruiters. It also means that jobs requiring more skills will either stay vacant or go to people from other states willing to move to Indiana.

It's excellent news for an educated student living in Indiana because you don't need to move. Your profile will be more appealing to a recruiter, especially with only 18.5% of people under 25 having a bachelor's in 2021, according to Statista. You cost less, and you're more likely to know more about what's going on in your vicinity.

Three Degrees To Improve Your Skills

1) The EdD: A Quick Formation With Plenty of Added Value

If you're studying business, the Doctorate of Education in Leadership (EdD) is a valuable complement to your current formation. It's a course for people from various backgrounds. You can take it online or in-person to improve your leadership skills for educational purposes.

However, it must be noted that an EdD can open the door to many jobs. You can become a Postsecondary Education Administrator and work in colleges and universities. Under this category, we find jobs like dean, provost, vice president, or even president. The skills developed naturally allow you to seek a job as a school superintendent.

There, you'll manage several aspects of the education system, from academic programs to budgeting and staff management. Another educational category is instructional coordination. An instructional coordinator is in charge of managing a school's curriculum. It's the overall academic program students will go through, and the goals they're expected to attain by taking the courses.

Nonetheless, if educational jobs aren't for you, it's essential to know that the knowledge you'll gain can also be applied to become a top executive. As a senior professional in a company, the EdD will create and drive strategies to help the company accomplish business goals and adapt the organization to improve the inner workings of the company.

2) The DNP: Making a Difference in Healthcare

If you're a nurse and love working with people, you should also consider a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. This degree is similar to a Ph.D., but it’s a practical degree, not a research degree. As a nurse, it's actually the highest degree you can get. A profile with a DNP is highly sought after in Indiana, a state where teen birth is one of the highest in the US, according to the CDC. It allows you to follow several paths, but in Indiana, the most valuable would be to become an autonomous practitioner.

As a nurse practitioner (NP), you can make a change in your community by taking direct care of the people who need access to health. Since Indiana is an agricultural state, with over $6 billion worth of corn produced yearly, it means a quickly aging population and limited access to healthcare. So, as a DNP graduate, your work will always be helpful.

3) The Ph.D.: The Most Recognized Degree

After your bachelor’s degree, you're confronted with a choice: join the workforce or keep studying to master your specialization. With the unbelievable costs of schools, it's understandable that after a bachelor's degree, most students will want to start paying their student loans and find a job for a steady income.

However, this shortcut may lead to an unfulfilling career. So, staying in school for a couple more years will significantly impact your career in the long run and offer more opportunities. You can fast-track your master's degree and go straight to a Ph.D., although it's very demanding.

Get Educated, Improve Your Value, Add To The Community

Even in fields like nursing, where most people think the base degree is enough for a lifetime, adding value to your profile with an additional formation or pushing through a few years more can really be a game-changer. It's not only about your salary but also about the opportunities that will present to you and the good you can bring to your community.