Although most economists say the United States is not in a recession, the pocketbooks of many Americans would say otherwise. In fact, a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll found that the majority of people in the U.S. believe we are now in a recession and inflation is their top concern. In the face of economic struggles, eLearners.com, a web resource of EducationDynamics that connects prospective students with online colleges, is seeing an increase in requests for information on online MBA degrees.

"In tough economic times people with an MBA or other advanced degree are often the ones that come out ahead," said Terrence Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer for eLearners.com. "Those with a higher education will stand out against their competitors, making them more marketable for higher-paying jobs."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a higher level of education equals higher overall lifetime earnings. Census Data projects that a professional degree holder (e.g. lawyer or doctor) will earn $4.4 million in the span of his or her career. The U.S. Census Bureau also found that people with an MBA or other advanced degree earned four times that of people with a high school diploma ($82,320 compared to $20,873 respectively).

"But, it's not just about about the money, particularly in recessionary periods," continued Thomas. "It's about employability."

A September 2007 College Board report titled "Education Pays" found that higher levels of education directly correspond to a lower unemployment rate. The average unemployment rate for people with at least a bachelor's degree was around two percent, while the average unemployment rate for high school graduates was nearly five percent.

To "recession proof" their employment, many Americans are seeking advanced degrees, such as an MBA degree, to solidify their current position or to switch careers entirely. People are also looking to education to tap into jobs that may handle the hard economic times better than others. Some of those fields include education, international business, security and healthcare. For people having to juggle a career and school, online colleges are a perfect fit because of their convenience and flexibility. eLearners.com lists the following as its top ten most requested online master's degrees: Business Administration, Counseling, Psychology, Health Administration, Criminal Justice, Nursing, Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education, K-12 Education and Educational Leadership.

In addition to serving as a comprehensive resource on online graduate degrees, eLearners.com recently launched a Guide to Online Graduate Schools to walk students through the selection and application process. The site, which features simple-to-navigate, concise and in-depth information, is located at

http://www.elearners.com/guide-to-online-education/guide-to-online-graduate-degrees.asp.

For more information on eLearners.com, log onto http://www.elearners.com.