At the precipice between high school and the career world, it can be daunting to figure out what your next move should be. While most stats agree that college learning equals career earning, finding the right school to accommodate your needs -- especially when you're an adult learning -- can be difficult.

Fortunately, there are institutions of higher learning out there that offer the career-focused courses high school grads and working adults are looking for;  

Grand Canyon University

  in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. Founded more than half a century ago, Grand Canyon University is a private Christian school that offers students the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree or master's degree via the Internet or through old-fashion brick-and-mortar learning.

There are plenty of programs to choose from, too -- 60 in all -- thanks to the following four schools that comprise Grand Canyon University: the College of Education, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Ken Blanchard College of Business. In selecting one of these specialized schools to attend, students will be able to select degree programs in areas like marketing, entrepreneurial studies, Christian studies, justice studies, elementary education, special education, medical imaging sciences, athletic training, and addiction counseling.

Although not all on-campus programs are offered online, a significant portion are, enabling students to earn a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, or a Master of Science degree. And unlike some online degree programs offered by other postsecondary institutions, Grand Canyon University is known for the quality of its program with the Online Education Database (OEDb, http://oedb.org/) ranking it in the top 10 online degree programs nationwide.

In addition to degrees that are backed up by accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, Grand Canyon University can also boast about the quality and credibility of the education it offers through individual programs. For example, both the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Science degree programs have been accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program has been approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing as well as by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Another appealing aspect of this Christian university is the ease with which students can access the spiritual side of the school. Not only does the college ministry have presence on campus thanks to a chapel, it and the congregation can also be accessed via the Internet thanks to a discussion board on the Grand Canyon University site.


About the author:
Genevieve M. Blaber is a staff writer for The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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