Online Schools in South Carolina

Data from early 2011 shows that South Carolina's economy is on the rebound. The state's unemployment rate dropped a full percentage point from 10.9 to 9.9 percent between December 2010 and March 2011 and South Carolina led the nation in the percentage of jobs added between January and February of 2011, the state Department of Labor reported. These positive trends, combined with growth in hot job sectors such as education and health care, could mean improving employment prospects for those with the right educational background.

Data from early 2011 shows that South Carolina's economy is on the rebound. The state's unemployment rate dropped a full percentage point from 10.9 to 9.9 percent between December 2010 and March 2011 and South Carolina led the nation in the percentage of jobs added between January and February of 2011, the state Department of Labor reported. These positive trends, combined with growth in hot job sectors such as education and health care, could mean improving employment prospects for those with the right educational background.

Improving employment outlook in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state's 1.8 million employed workers earned mean annual wages of $37,040 in 2009. South Carolina's cost of living was about 1 percent lower than the national average in 2010, according to ACCRA, ranking the state 28th in the nation.

Job growth in South Carolina can be found in a range of fields, including manufacturing, health care and education. Among jobs requiring higher education, careers for registered nurses, dental hygienists, teachers and pharmacists are expected to show particularly strong growth, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce Labor Market Information. Leisure and hospitality as well as retail trade have seen big gains and were instrumental in the improving employment figures, the state Department of Employment reported.

Higher education in South Carolina

South Carolina is home to 71 Title IV degree-granting institutions, according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). That's slightly lower than the national average of 88 schools. Of the 71 schools in the state, 33 schools are public and 38 are private.

Public South Carolina universities have seen big budget cuts recently and more are set to come in the future. The University of South Carolina saw a 21 percent cut in state funding in 2010, while cuts totaled $16.5 million at Clemson University and $5 million at the College of Charleston, the newspaper The State reported. While federal funding continues to support South Carolina's public schools, rising tuition or decreased faculty may be an issue in the coming years. Attending online schools in South Carolina is one way to avoid the budget issues found in state-supported schools.

South Carolina online schools

Online education can be found in South Carolina in the form of online/campus hybrid degree programs or fully online degree programs. Hybrid degree programs, combining the campus experience and online education, are most likely to be offered by large state schools and some community colleges.

Fully online programs can be based in South Carolina or elsewhere and offer degrees and career training in fields varying from health care to business to technical training. Some degree programs requiring hands-on training, such as advanced health care or engineering degrees, may not be available in the fully online format.

6 hot jobs in South Carolina

Over 19 percent of residents in South Carolina had some college education in 2009, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce Labor Market Information. The department provides a list of some of the occupations in the state projected to experience the most growth between 2008 and 2018. Take a look at the top jobs requiring up to two years of education beyond high school plus their average hourly pay:

• Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants: $10.14/hour
• Heating, A/C and refrigeration mechanics/installers: $17.56
• Real estate sales agents: $22.50

For bachelor's degree students, consider these top-growing jobs requiring at least four years of education after high school and their hourly pay:

• Elementary school teachers, except special education: $21.78/hour
• Management analysts: $33.74
• Network systems & data communications analysts: $30.10

Careers in education, health care, and information technology are expected to see big gains in South Carolina in the coming years, making them smart choices for students at online schools in South Carolina looking to take advantage of the state's economic growth.