Video games are both a powerful cultural force and a multi-billion dollar global industry. Recent statistics show that nearly two thirds of U.S. households play video games and that video game sales topped $10.5 billion in 2009.

This is good news for those interested in working in the video game industry as designers and programmers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, software engineering and related jobs are among the occupations expect to grow the fastest and add the most new jobs over the next decade, meaning job prospects should be excellent.

The Value of a Video Game Design Degree

It is not necessary to have a degree in video game design to be successful in the field. Many video game designers and programmers done extremely well in the industry without a game design degree. Indeed, video game design programs are a relatively new phenomena. That said, things are rapidly becoming more competitive in the industry and having a degree in game design from a respected and accredited school can help set you apart from the crowd. Among other things, it tells prospective employers that you are serious about your career as a game designer or programmer, have a broad understanding of the game development process, and have the stability and determination to finish a multi-year project (like a college degree). Continued…

The popularity of video games has exploded in the past two decades, going from the pastime of a few, to a culture for many, to a multi-billion dollar global business industry that continues to grow at an astounding pace. It’s an exciting time for video game connoisseurs and creators.

For our list of the Top 40 Video Game Design Blogs of 2011 we chose what we thought were the most interesting and useful blogs written by professional video game designers, programmers, developers, artists and industry insiders. Only blogs active in 2011 were considered for inclusion. For those interested in becoming involved in the process of designing and developing video games, or just want to learn more about it, we believe this list offers a great place to start. Continued…

With education as our focus here at The Best Colleges, we obviously love libraries. College libraries, public libraries, private libraries, it doesn’t matter, we think they are all awesome. With that in mind we’ve done hours of research trying to find the most interesting libraries in the world, and come up with these 35 that we thought were especially noteworthy. We’ve tried to balance our list between architecturally interesting libraries and libraries with interesting collections, but most of these libraries are actually fascinating in both respects. We’d love to spend a day in any of these libraries, and we hope you’ll agree.

35. National Library, Minsk, Belarus

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One of the most distinctive libraries on our list, the National Library of Belarus is shaped like a Rhombicuboctahedron (here’s what a rhombicuboctahedron is, just in case you’re not a mathematician.) The building is 22 stories tall, and was opened in 2006, although the library has been in operation since 1922. The Library is the copyright library of Belarus, and is an attraction in Minsk, featuring a public observation deck and public concerts on its lawn. The Library holds over 8 million items, and has the third largest collection of Russian works in the world.
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Statistics is a branch of mathematics that deals with the interpretation of data. Statisticians work in a wide variety of fields in both the private and the public sectors. They are teachers, consultants, watchdogs, journalists, designers, programmers, and by in large, ordinary people like you and me. And some of them blog.

In searching for the top statistics blogs on the web we only considered blogs that have been active in 2011. In deciding which ones to include in our (admittedly unscientific) list of the 50 best statistics blogs we considered a range of factors, including visual appeal/aesthetics, frequency of posts, and accessibility to non-specialists. Our goal is to highlight blogs that students and prospective students will find useful and interesting in their exploration of the field.

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Counselors are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for licensed professional counselors in every area of specialty are expected to grow at a faster than average rate over the next several years as job openings exceed the number of students graduating from counseling degree programs. Opportunities in certain counseling specialties such as substance abuse and behavioral disorders are expected to grow at a much higher than average rate.

The Value of a Masters in Counseling Degree

A masters degree in counseling is a prerequisite for becoming a licensed counselor in almost every case. An accredited masters in counseling degree will prepare students to sit for the necessary licensing exams and provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in the field.

Advantages of Online Masters in Counseling Degree Programs

Online counseling degree programs are currently among the most popular online degree programs according to the latest online education statistics. Prospective students seeking an accredited online masters in counseling degree program now have several high quality options to choose from. A number of the top counseling programs in the country are now offered online. Among the advantages of earning a degree from a top online masters in counseling program is that students can maintain their employment and/or family responsibilities while earning their degree. Many of the best online masters in counseling degree programs can be completed entirely online, with practicums and internships arranged in the student’s home community. Continued…

With the 2011-2012 edition of The Best Colleges Top 50 Colleges and Universities in America, released last month, our editors sought to produce a college ranking that outperformed the other major ranking systems in terms of measuring what ordinary American students and their parents care the most about. The recent publication of U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 college ranking provides an opportunity to compare and contrast our ranking system with one that many have come to consider the industry standard.

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Healthcare has become one of the largest industries in America, generating some $1.7 trillion annually. With an increasing number of people in the industry expected to retire and a rapidly aging population overall, healthcare workers and administrators are expected to be in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of medical and health services managers will increase at a faster than average rate over the next several years.

The Value of a Master of Health Administration (MHA) or Healthcare Management Degree

Those with health care experience and solid business management skills will be in the best position to move into administrative and leadership positions. A Master of Health Administration (MHA) or Healthcare Management degree can provides students with these business and management skills, as well as the knowledge they will need to understand and navigate the complex and rapidly-changing medical industry. Graduates will be immediately qualified for leadership positions in hospitals, clinics, retirement communities, ambulatory care centers, rehabilitation and long-term–care facilities, and home healthcare settings. Continued…

Health care is a $1.7 trillion industry in America, making up nearly 16 percent of the U.S. gross national product. The health care industry is on the cusp of its largest expansion ever as “Baby Boomers” approach retirement age, which means a new generation of industry leadership is needed. According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the employment of medical and health services managers is expected to increase at a faster than average rate over the next several years.

The Value of an Online Health Management or Health Administration Degree

Those with health care experience and solid business management skills will be in the best position to move into administrative and leadership positions. An online bachelor’s degree in health management or health administration can provides students with these business and management skills, as well as the knowledge they will need to understand and navigate the complex and rapidly-changing medical industry. Graduates will be immediately qualified for entry-level leadership positions in hospitals, clinics, retirement communities, ambulatory care centers, rehabilitation and long-term–care facilities, and home healthcare settings. Continued…

As students prepare to return to school and college application application deadlines appear on the horizon, The Best Colleges has put together a special 2011-2012 back-to-school report to help prospective students find the best colleges and college degrees for their money. In tough economic times like these it is more important than ever for students (and their parents) to figure out where they can get the most bang for their college buck. In this special report we highlight colleges and universities that offer the best education at the best value.

Top 50 Colleges and Universities in America of 2011-2012

Leading off the report is the inaugural edition of our Top 50 Colleges and Universities in America. We set out to create a college ranking that does a better job of measuring the things that prospective students and their parents actually care about than other major ranking systems like U.S. News & World Report. In addition to measuring the standard indicators of academic quality and student satisfaction used by other major ranking systems, we also considered indicators of a school’s overall economic value and the quality of life offered by its location. By emphasizing economic value and quality of life, the ranking offers students a fresh angle from which to evaluate their college options that is particularly relevant to the current economic and educational situation in America. Students and their parents are watching their dollars more closely than ever and can’t afford to throw money away on a high-priced college degree with little promise of a future economic return. And given the importance of social networking for future career success and the fact that students are taking longer than ever to graduate, a college town’s quality of life in terms of affordability and the opportunity for relationships with other young, successful and highly educated people is more important than ever.

Best College and University Bargains of 2011-2012

Students mainly interested in where they can get a college education for the least amount of money should start by checking out The 10 Best Colleges With Free Tuition, which highlights several remarkable American college and universities that don’t cost students a dime. If none of the schools on that list seem like a good fit, bargain hunting students should check out our articles on The Best Public School Bargains for 2011-2012 and The Best Private School Bargains for 2011-2012, which discusses colleges and universities with some of the lowest average total costs according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Highest Paying Majors for 2011-2012

Almost as important as selecting the right school is selecting the right major, at least according to the numbers. Certain majors lead to higher paying careers than others. Once you’ve decided which college or university is best for you, find out which majors tend to pay of the most with our report on The Highest Paying College Majors for 2011-2012.

As always, students can find our ever-expanding list of traditional and online college and degree rankings on our rankings page.

You might think that going to a private college will cost you and arm and a leg, and in many cases you’d be right, but there are private colleges out there that will not cost you much in the way of cash (or appendages). Here is our list of 10 private colleges in the United States with some of the lowest costs of attendance based on the latest data from the U.S. Department of Education.

1. Colorado Technical University – Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Like a few other colleges on this list, Colorado Technical University has several campuses in different locations. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota campus makes an appearance on this private college bargain list with a total average cost of attendance of only $12,500 per year (including tuition, room and board, and other fees) once the average financial aid package is factored into the equation.

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