When deciding whether or not to go back to school, some people may shy away from doing so simply from a financial standpoint.

One great thing about pursuing continuing education through the University of West Alabama Online is that it is cost effective. Most UWA Online continuing education courses only cost between $195 and $495.* To put that into perspective, consider these eight things that cost more than taking a continuing education course through UWA Online!

• A month or two’s rent. Depending on where you live and if you have roommates, a continuing education course could even be less than a month’s rent. If you can put money aside each month for rent, you can put money aside to continue your education.
• Even the cheapest of used cars. Once you start getting into the $1,000 and below range of used cars, the quality of car you’re looking at gets iffy. Stick with the car you have for now, and use your continuing education credentials to get a pay raise that will allow you to buy a better one in the future!
• A weekend beach trip. When you add up gas, hotel prices, food and drink and any time you had to take off work, you’re looking at a price tag well over the cost of a continuing education course. Save the trip to celebrate earning a certificate from UWA Online.
• Gas for commuters. If your home, job and go-to grocery store are all within close proximity, then it is unlikely you will top the cost of a continuing education course in gas prices in a month’s time. However, for people who commute far for work every day, it is not uncommon to spend a couple hundred dollars every few months in gas, depending on how far you are going. The great thing about taking online courses is, you can do so without ever having to spend a penny on gas!
• A plane ticket across the country. Want to go to Seattle? You are looking at paying anywhere from $300 to $1,200 to get there. You can be anywhere in the country to take a course via UWA Online, as long as you have an internet connection.
• The gym membership you rarely use. If you spend $20 a month for your gym membership, that is $240 a year. If you spend $50 a month, that is $600 a year. If you never go, spend the time (and money) on your education instead.
• Cable payments. In 2016, cable bills hit an all-time average of $103 a month nationwide, according to Fortune.com. Skip the cable for a few months, and you’ll have completed a continuing education certificate.
• Your daily cup of Starbucks. According to Time.com, if you buy a cup of Starbucks coffee every day, you will spend $766 a year on coffee. Save $737 by making your coffee at home, and enjoy it while working on a UWA continuing education certificate!

 

To see a full list of UWA Online Continuing Education course offerings, visit https://uwa.augusoft.net/!

*There are some exceptions.