Underneath the caps and tassels of recent grads hung the preverbal question mark about what’s next. Should they join the cutthroat mess that we now so lovingly refer to as the job market, or settle for a dead-end job?

While the deathly grip of job market is showing no sign of letting go, more and more grads are enrolling in online graduate programs.

I know what you’re thinking: you just footed a massive bill for a pricey education; why pile on more student loans or shell out money for a framed piece of paper that will hang in your office and collect dust?

Technology has provided students all over the world with the opportunity to further their education with online graduate school programs. With features like live streaming audio, video, podcasts, audio files, shared e-mail and collaborative interfaces and platforms, it’s easy to get your online graduate degree – and it might just give you a much needed edge.

Searching for a job after graduation is a full-time job itself. After countless hours, weeks, or even months spent networking, searching, re-writing your resume, and e-mailing distant nerdy cousins you didn’t even know you had, often results in nothing but a headache. Eventually, mom and dad’s piggy bank will start to run out and soon you will be kicked to the suburban curb with nothing but a stained futon.

To avoid this embarrassing and eventual doom, why not get your graduate degree while searching for a job or while you’re currently working. It’s a lot easier than you think.

All you need to tap into your virtual classroom is the Internet. You can attend class from anywhere, whether it’s on your lunch break or in the wee hours of the night. Students have constant access to personal work, e-mail, and projects. Don’t have a laptop, tablet or PC? Research your town or city public library hours and policies; most libraries allow resident’s access to the Internet.

Universities and institutions provide online graduate programs and classes at a low price. Because you meet in a virtual classroom over the Internet, there’s no need to relocate to a different state or city. You also have the ability to keep your current job or start a new one while attending class, which brings in a steady paycheck.

Online learning has not only increased in popularity, but in legitimacy as well. Online graduate degrees are no longer viewed as “fake” or “non-reputable.” In fact, they provide a special edge that can help you stand out amongst the cookie cutter grads that are lining up in offices across the U.S.