Subscribe Feed (RSS)Online Education: Is It Worth It?
October 8th, 2008 by Matthew C. Keegan | Filed under College Planning.Over the past decade online educational opportunities have blossomed, thanks to the convenience and ease of taking classes at home instead of on campus. At first, schools dedicated almost exclusively to online study have dominated the market, but these days 
even long established brick and ivy institutions have gotten into the game.
For some students, taking classes online is the only way that they can pursue a degree. Busy schedules, faraway campuses, or unavailable courses are some of the reasons prospective students have stayed away, problems that can be remedied through online course work.
But, not every program is equal and the results aren’t always what students had expected. Before you enroll in an online course of study, there are some questions you need to ask yourself, some of which will need to be asked of the educational institution as well:
What are your career goals? If you are planning a certain career path, what course of study would help you meet that goal? Do you need an associates degree or will a bachelors or masters degree help you realize your goals?
What programs are available online? Can your coursework be taken online exclusively or will you be required to travel to campus or some other location to take a test or accomplish some of your educational goals?
How does the professional community view the school? In some circles, online education is frowned upon, particularly if it is from a school that has no campus. Some long established schools have online courses of study, classes which are equivalent to what is taught on campus.
Is the school accredited? The United States has no Federal Ministry of Education or other centralized authority that has national control over postsecondary educational institutions in America. Each state assumes varying degrees of control over education, but, in general, institutions of higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence and autonomy. As a consequence, American educational institutions can vary widely in the character and quality of their programs. Explore the accreditation given to that school and what weight the agency has in granting it.
Online study is convenient, financially comparable to on campus study, and perhaps the only way tens of thousands of students can further their academic pursuits. Explore your options, compare various programs, and acquaint yourself with the online school’s terms and conditions to make certain that this option is right for you.
Further Reading and Sources
Accreditation in the United States
College Planning Guides and Aid Tools
College Student Loan Guides and Tips
Tags: college accreditation, college tools, online college, online study
Given the option to attend classes online from a branch of a well-known or state university seems like the best way to go currently, if your degree is meant to help propel a career. Online only schools have a shakier track record when it comes to quality and, obviously, a state-funded university has more resources in creating distance learning programs. It’s a great option for people who even live in the same city as the actual institution. Commuting costs won’t go anywhere but up for the foreseeable future, making even in-city travel costs a big concern which can be remedied by attending classes online - in many cases even at the same school as you would have chosen to attend in person!
Elise, I agree with you. In my area, a number of students had difficulty getting to class last month due to gas shortages incurred from a pipeline shutdown relate to Hurricane Ike. Also, I learned that the University of North Carolina has an online study program for journalism (an area I am interested in) that allows for taking classes exclusively online. Of course, that leaves the option open for students to travel to campus to use the library and other facilities, but on their own time.
Online education has definitely opened doors of academic opportunities for individuals across the world. Even those living in the remotest of areas can now acquire education without having to worry about visiting a particular campus on regular basis. Those looking out for complete information regarding online education and online colleges & universities, please visit http://www.onlineedublog.com/
Tammy Greenes last blog post..The eLearning Era
I agree with you, Tammy. I don’t remember the number of countries represented when the University of Phoenix held a cyber graduation bash earlier this year. Tens of thousands of students graduated, but many hundreds likely would never had attended college in the first place without that option.