Education Costs Are on the Rise, Now is the Time to Invest in Yourself

What does your post-pandemic life look like? With a renewed focus on achieving a better work-life balance, this is the perfect time to learn new skills.

It’s true, education costs are on the rise. However, a 4-year degree isn’t the only path to a new career. Old Dominion University offers three exciting digital skill bootcamps. You can gain the new skills you need to start an in-demand career in under a year.

Life has changed since the pandemic. It’s time to invest in your future by investing in yourself.

Digital Skills are in High Demand

During the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ 2022 conference, it was estimated that by 2025 over 95% of new digital workloads will be deployed on cloud-native platforms, up from 30% in 2021. 

The need for digitally-skilled workers is on the rise as technology evolves. The increased demand for employees with the right skills continues to widen the gap in unfilled jobs.  

Industries globally are on the hunt for workers to fill open positions related to digital technologies. One thing the pandemic highlighted was our ability to work productively from anywhere in the world.

With 76% of global workers reporting they are underequipped for the future of work and only 28% actively involved in digital skills learning and training, the door is wide open for new talent. 

As education costs increase, so does the gap between underskilled workers and open positions. The silver lining: those willing to invest in themselves are all but guaranteed new opportunities. 

Learning doesn’t require obtaining a 4-year degree. In fact, many companies are now expanding their search for talent beyond those with traditional educations. 

Investing in yourself to enhance your skills is the best investment you’ll ever make! In return, you’ll increase your potential to reach your career goals and make others want to invest in you too.

Feeling uncertain about education costs? Explore your options with Old Dominion University Digital Skills Bootcamps.

Is a Bootcamp the Right Investment?

Our bootcamps provide a hands-on approach to learning the skills you need to achieve your career goals.

As technology continues to evolve, addressing the massive skills shortage among workers is a concern. Bootcamps offer comprehensive training to get you on track to a new career in less than a year. This expedited learning method also means avoiding the rising costs of traditional education. 

As more and more companies recognize the need for skills over academic qualifications, traditional degrees are no longer a barrier to getting your foot in the door. 

Kickstart a fulfilling digital career backed by the university you trust with one of our Digital Skills Bootcamps.

Get More With Our Bootcamps

Our bootcamp learners benefit from many aspects of accelerated learning. 

• No Experience Needed

You can break into the tech field in less than a year. Our beginner-friendly bootcamps offer comprehensive training for all skill levels, regardless of job and educational background.

• Online, Part-Time Courses 

Personal or work commitments don’t have to stop you from pursuing an education to improve your earning potential. Our bootcamps offer live, online classes on evenings and weekends to give you more flexibility.

Remote learning allows you to learn from anywhere and saves your money! No need to drive to classes while faced with increasing gas prices. Plus, parents can learn from home and avoid the increasing costs of childcare. 

• Networking opportunities

Stay in the loop with the latest trends in today’s fast-changing digital world with industry professionals. Throughout your learning experience, you will have the opportunity to meet new people within and entering the industry.

Traditionally networking events can cost hundreds of dollars. This value is built directly into our Digital Skills Bootcamps, where we offer our learners alumni and professional networking opportunities.

• Personalized career support

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to getting ahead in your career path. Our dedicated career counselors are here to help support your journey as you enter the world of digital technology. Get help working on your resume, creating a professional LinkedIn profile, and access interview skills to prepare for job applications successfully.

Services such as career counseling can easily cost you around $125 per session, and outsourcing a professional resume writer can cost you $100-$700. These services are included with our bootcamps, and are available to you for 6 months following program completion!
If you are on the fence about choosing the right career path and making any commitment, you can try our Free Courses to see which digital skill bootcamp is the best fit for you.

Your ROI With a Bootcamp Education

Return on Investment (ROI) refers to the profitability of a purchase or transaction. Calculating ROI is a good measure for determining if an investment will pay off. Let’s look at the potential of investing in a Digital Skills Bootcamp.

Digital Skills Career Annual Salary Averages

• Information Security Analysts: $103,590 per year
• Computer and Information Research Scientist: $131,490 per year
• Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers: $133,380 per year

All occupations in the United States combined: $51,168 per year

Let’s work out an example together. 

Someone who earns $50,000 a year and invests $16,000 in the Cybersecurity Bootcamp has the potential to earn $100,000 as an Information Security Analyst. That’s a  $34,000 ROI just for the first year of employment.* Once you’re in the door, the opportunities are endless.

When you invest in yourself, your ROI is exponential. The Digital Skills Bootcamps are a cost-effective investment that will pay you dividends for years to come. Whether you want to earn more, enter a new growing field, or achieve a better work-life balance, an investment in yourself is the key to success.

Rising education costs are intimidating, but you have options when learning new skills. Investing in a bootcamp means investing in your dreams for the future. 

*These scenarios are hypothetical. Salaries vary based on a number of factors, including position, location, experience level, skills, as well as work, and personal history.

Career Trends And Opportunities

Consumer prices have risen by 8.5% leading to the highest inflation rate in 40 years. This means you now pay more to buy the same amount of commodities or services compared to last year.

Your buying power is diminishing quickly if your salary or income does not increase in line with inflation trends.

In addition to the already high education costs, the upward trend in inflation has led to several institutions announcing hikes in tuition fees and costs for other services.

Fortunately, several organizations are working towards building a skills-based workforce in response to bridging the digital skills gap amidst rising education costs.

According to the Future of Work Trends 2022, Korn Ferry reports, “69% of the world’s most admired companies value learning agility and curiosity over career history and experience when it comes to hiring.”

With skilled-based hiring on the rise, the lack of preferred academic education will no longer become a barrier to securing higher-paying careers.

CompTIA key findings report:

• The average tech occupation wage is 125% higher than the average national wage in the U.S.
• The estimated growth rate for tech jobs over the next decade is nearly 2X the national jobs rate.

As remote jobs continue to be favored over traditional office positions, Glassdoor workplace trends suggest that employment opportunities in tech are no longer limited to tech hubs. Companies are now in a position to search for qualified employees across the country. 

There are numerous digital career paths available. Whether you wish to advance in your position by leveling up your skills or are planning to switch to a more fulfilling career, now is the time!

Give yourself the opportunity to begin the journey into a high-demand field. Discover your opportunities and invest in yourself with Old Dominion University Digital Skills Bootcamps.

Finance Your Investment in 4 Easy Steps

We offer convenient payment and financing options to help you invest in your professional development. Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Set your career goals in line with what you wish to achieve.

Step 2: Select the Digital Skills Bootcamp that resonates with those career aspirations.

Step 3: Try our 30-hour Introductory Course to gauge if the bootcamp is a good fit for you.

Step 4: When you’re ready to commit to the full program, choose your payment options.

Our bootcamp programs do not qualify for federal financial assistance. If you need more information on your payment options, call 757-453-3600 to speak with an admissions advisor, who will walk you through your options so you can make the best decision for your future.

A Brighter Future Awaits

An investment in your education means believing in yourself. We’re here to help you build confidence in yourself as you gain in-demand skills. 

Get trained with hands-on digital skills and make others want to invest in YOU! Switch to a new career path in less than a year with Old Dominion University Digital Skills Bootcamps.

For questions, you can get in touch with our admissions advisors by calling 757-453-3600 or filling out the form below.