Percentage of Online Students Increases among Diverse Graduating Class
Friday, June 5, 2020
Join the Conversation: @BerkeleyCollege #BerkeleyGrad2020 #NewsBerkeley
Berkeley College recognized more than 2,200 graduates during its first all-virtual Commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2020. While the 2020 Berkeley College graduating class continues to reflect high diversity in terms of ethnicity and age, the number of graduates who utilized online learning has increased. Nearly 90% of this year’s graduates enrolled in online courses while earning their degrees at Berkeley College compared with 83% of last year’s graduating class. The percentage of graduates who took only online classes to earn their degrees this year was 8.9% compared with 5.5% last year.
Among the graduates who received Certificates, Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, more than 37% received them with honors. Among the 163 graduates who comprised the military veteran cohort, more than 47% graduated with honors. Age-wise, more than 56% are age 25 and above, with the average age of an undergraduate just above 28 years.
In 2020, for the seventh consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Berkeley College among the Best Colleges in the nation for Online Bachelor Degree Programs. The ranking also recognizes Berkeley College as among the best Online Bachelor Degree Programs for Veterans.
Graduates of the Berkeley College Class of 2020 join a network of more than 60,000 Berkeley College alumni eligible to receive lifetime career assistance.
Graduates Excel in an Increasingly Virtual World – in College and Careers
Paola Monroy of Englewood, NJ, began her college career intending to complete her degree online. She first graduated from Berkeley College with an Associate’s degree in Fashion Marketing and Management in 2012. When she returned in 2018 to pursue a Bachelor’s degree, her approach included a combination of on-site and online courses.
“I saw the opportunity to have both online and on-site classes as a ‘Mommy-Time,’” Monroy said. “It was time for myself, to go out and study, meet with classmates, see people and interact without being interrupted … I made good friends with moms I could relate to. It was all about us exceling in our career goals while managing the responsibilities of raising our families.”
Monroy completed her last semester at Berkeley College while sharing parenting duties of her 2-year-old daughter Amelia, with her husband Jason. In early March, she landed a position as a market analyst of lubricant products for a French oil and energy firm. Due to the pandemic’s shelter-in-place directive, Monroy has not been able to go into the office for her new position, but is working from home.
“I’m very happy to complete my Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications,” Monroy said. “It is a big, big accomplishment to be a full-time mom and full-time employee and a full-time student.” You can read the full story about Monroy here.
Edward Hernandez, who resides in the Hudson Valley, served six years in the U.S. Air Force in the military police and soon expects to complete 20 years of service in the New York Police Department where he worked his way up through the ranks to reach his current position as a Detective. At age 40, Hernandez is celebrating earning his Bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies – Criminal Justice.
“When I first attempted college I was unsuccessful. I needed structure and the military gave me that,” explained Hernandez, who took most of his courses online at Berkeley College. “There I learned about setting priorities, scheduling and putting what matters first for my future. While working full-time and being a full-time student, you have to dedicate your own time to school.”
Hernandez noted the difference in what he learned in the military compared with his college education. “I received hands-on training in the military,” he said. “At Berkeley, educated professors teach. You learn a lot of detailed information. It brought me to the roots of education by writing and reading – these things that will prove to be what I need to be more successful in my next career.”
Hernandez also had advice for younger students considering earning their college degrees. “Try to get mentorship and talk to alumni to get a better understanding of how important that education is, how important it is to not waste the opportunity. Don’t be afraid to seek some type of leadership. Do not waste opportunities.”
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan and White Plains, NY, as well as in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 5,700 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for seven consecutive years. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower students to achieve lifelong success in dynamic careers.
-end-
