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Home to famous Americans like Harry Houdini and Frank Lloyd Wright, the Badger State, Wisconsin is known for its well established education system, which boasts a good network of school and libraries. The Need For Higher Education According to the 2007-2011 census, 89.8% of people above 25 in Wisconsin are high school graduates while 26% of them have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Educational attainment in this state is better …

Home to famous Americans like Harry Houdini and Frank Lloyd Wright, the Badger State, Wisconsin is known for its well established education system, which boasts a good network of school and libraries.

The Need For Higher Education

According to the 2007-2011 census, 89.8% of people above 25 in Wisconsin are high school graduates while 26% of them have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Educational attainment in this state is better than most; however, end of last year saw mass layoffs shooting up and reaching 8.9% which indicates that in order to deal with the economic crisis and secure jobs in the future, more Wisconsinites will have to pursue higher education.

Why Study Online in Wisconsin?

State support for public higher education was cut down by 21% from $1.46 billion to $1.15 billion in 2012, which is the third biggest cut in the nation superseded only by Arizona and New Hampshire. This is bad news for students, who will have to worry about increased student loan debts. In such a scenario, online programs from accredited universities education are a more cost effective option, as not only do they help you save on commute and childcare expenses but they also give you the option of continuing your job while you study thereby allowing you to fund your studies and accelerate your career.

Major Wisconsin Industries

Wisconsin is known as the dairy capital of the United States and dairy production makes up the largest industry of the state. The major industries of the state include:

• Dairy products,
• Farming,
• Machinery,
• Paper manufacturing,
• Beer,
• Tourism

The state also ranks 10th in the top 10 states in the manufacturing industry.

Most Popular Degree Programs in Wisconsin

Feeding the top industries in the state, the most popular degrees here continue to be in fields like healthcare, agriculture, advanced manufacturing and life sciences. Many of these top degrees can also be pursued online which is becoming a popular alternative among adult learners looking to earn a degree on the side while they continue with work. Wisconsin’s official website (www.wisconsin.gov) provides a very comprehensive listing of all accredited states universities and institutions.

High Growth Occupations for Graduates in Wisconsin

In 2012, according to BLS, the average annual salary for Wisconsin employees was $46,272. Surgeons in West Allis, Milwaukee were the highest paid professionals in the state, taking home an average salary of around $245,290 per year. In the future too, state wide, healthcare professions are likely to see the highest growth.

Largest Employers in The Badger State

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 3,824,650 Wisconsin workers employed in the US. Across all sectors in the 2nd quarter of 2012, the largest employers in Wisconsin were:

1. Wal-Mart Associates Inc.
2. UW-Madison
3. US Postal Service
4. Milwaukee Public School
5. Menards

If you are already working but feel your career has stagnated, pursuing one of the popular degrees in this state through online education while you work can allow you to transition to a second career more in line with the trends in the state.