Awesome! Congratulations on all the hard work!

I have considered local colleges, but with two small children and a wife that is a social worker, it is very difficult to find classes that fit my schedule. The premium for online schooling is absolutely ridiculous, but it is the price I pay for the convenience. Also, I have no interest in changing careers, so going full-time is not really an option either.

As for learning experience, an AA in IT is about as basic as it gets. I'm a Systems Administrator taking classes like 'Introduction to LAN Technologies.' I had the most fun in my two Web Design classes because that is something I had not tackled previously... though, to be honest, I could have learned everything those two classes taught me in a weekends time on my own.

Thanks! I understand the family thing, my daughter is 15 months old and my wife is currently getting her MBA at the same four year school.

When I was in community college, finding night classes and online classes was easy. Once I switched, I had to take more day classes. Glad I had a flexible employer.

As a Sys Admin, I think certifications are king. I work for a global engineering firm and most of the IT guys here need the MCSE and CISCO stuff.

In the real world, certifications are more desirable for Sys Admins. I work for the State Board of Education, however, and as with any government job, pay scale is based off of education level. I receive supplements for my certifications, but they do not factor into my yearly raise or advancement schedule.