Well before the rise of the Internet, distance learning was an option for some students. Those days, courses were by correspondence — students would complete assignments and send them off by mail to be reviewed by an instructor. The instructor would go over the assignment, mark it up, assign a grade and return the assignment to the student. This would go on until the student fulfilled the requirements of the course when a final grade was assigned.

Compared to online learning, this method was slow as molasses. But it worked well for some people.

Today, online education has essentially replaced correspondence driven education, enabling students from all over the world to enjoy distance learning. Millions of people are now learning online, opening up windows of opportunity that hadn’t existed previously. Some schools, such as the University of Phoenix, are largely online education providers. Other schools such as Stanford University, the University of Texas and Seton Hall University, offer online programs in addition to on-campus classes.

If you’re considering online education, there are some things you should consider. Our “reality check” will help you decide whether distance education is right for you:

You crave independent study — For students who like to learn on their own and at a pace that works with their schedule, independent study can be ideal. You set your schedule and study when you want — morning, noon, night or on weekends. Flexibility is the key for you as you learn while handling work, family and other responsibilites.

You don’t mind not interacting with your peers — Peer interaction is part of on-campus life. Not so with distant learning. Some programs and schools have attempted to resolve this deficiency through chat rooms and “go to meeting” type arrangements where everyone logs on at once and interacts. Barring that, you’ll have little if any connection with your classmates.

You are fine with limited instructor feedback — Certainly, you’ll hear from your professor. She will also be available to respond to your e-mails and may take your calls. Don’t count on face-to-face meetings, however, unless your instructor works nearby and there is an in-class option available.

You are technologically capable — Online learning means access to a computer, one that you generally own and have in your home or can carry about as in a laptop. As with any online work, certain programs can be challenging to learn as well as to access remotely. If you’re computer savvy, then whatever bumps in the road occur won’t be a problem for you. You also have broadband or some other quick and reliable connection, not dial-up which is so 1990s.

The above points don’t completely tell you how you would respond to online learning, but they do go a long way in helping you to review what distance education is all about. For a more thorough review of what online learning is all about, please visit the University of Illinois Online topic — Is Online Learning for You?

But, obtaining that elusive degree is a must for many working professionals. After all, if you want to move up at work you may need to demonstrate that you’ve made an investment in advancing your education. One way to do that is to take classes online and on your own schedule.

Online learning has been around for many years and has gotten a lot of attention due mostly to the influence of one school – the University of Phoenix. This school, which has been offering online classes since the 1980s, has hundreds of thousands of students enrolled. Hundreds of other schools also provide distant learning instruction, creating a valuable option for students.

Before you sign up for classes you’ll want to keep some things in mind. Not every school should be on your short list of possible places to study and we’ll give you some reasons why if you read on.

Accreditation – This is a biggie when considering any online school. Yes, virtually every school claims accreditation, but not all accrediting agencies are on par with those recognized by academia. For example, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) sounds legitimate and it is, but does it carry the same weight as regionally accreditation awarded to colleges and universities who meet certain academic criteria?

Among the regional entities are the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, among others. Oh, by the way, the U.S. Department of Education does recognize the ACCSC in addition to several national and regional accrediting bodies.

Courses – Lots of schools offer a wide variety of courses, but do these courses meet your personal requirements? Take the time to evaluate each class – that information should be available online. Compare classes offered at College A with College B (and so on) to see how each one stacks up. Similar names may mean entirely different courses.

Contact – Colleges and universities offering online education options should also be readily accessible to prospective students. But be careful – the so-called “adviser” may be getting paid to steer you to their school and to specific classes. Ask your contact if they are receiving a commission. If possible, meet face-to-face with a school representative. You’ll also want access to a faculty adviser after you enroll – what sort of help does the school promise?

References – Knowing someone already enrolled in a particular school is helpful. If you don’t know someone, ask for references. Visit message boards, forums and blogs visited or managed by students already enrolled. It isn’t hard to uncover information online by googling for help. Read student comments carefully, but also be prepared to separate the whiny complaints from the legitimate gripes.

Enroll – Now, for the tricky part. Enrolling should be fairly easy, but you may need to submit references, test scores, an essay and other materials just as you would if you were attending college for the first time as a young freshmen. Follow the college’s enrollment layout precisely. And, ask if your credits can be transferred to another institution. Be mindful of application fees, tuition costs, semester fees and graduation and other fees. Some of those costs may not be reimburseable from your employer while others may be waived if you ask.

Lastly, apply for scholarships to defray some of your costs. Online learners are eligible to apply for most scholarships; visit our scholarship page to begin your search.

Resources

U.S. Department of Education: Regional and National Institutional Accrediting Agencies

See Also — 6 Signs of a Scam School

Online education has created possibilities that previous generations couldn’t even fathom.

Literally, students can earn their entire degree at home, by working when it’s convenient for them, while wearing their pajamas. This amazing innovation has allowed for greater access to universities and targeted specializations that may not be locally available. It has also been especially beneficial for working adults or stay at home parents who are eager to earn a degree.

So, how did online education programs get started? Here is a brief history of online education.

The history of online education extends back further than you may think, with the very first virtual classroom environments being created in the 1960s. University of Illinois scientists created a classroom system based in linked computer terminals. There, students were able to access informational resources while listening to a professor whose lectures were brought in remotely, via some form of television or audio device.

Certainly not a form of “online learning” that stands up to the web learning of today, but it was the beginning of enhanced distance learning and the utilization of computer resources for educational purposes.

Universities quickly began to take advantage of these new resources by offering distance learning courses, using computer networking for information and resource sharing, and more. By the mid 1980s, college resources frequently included online access to course information and student networking tools.

Online only courses began emerging in the late 1980s, with some moderate success. The concept was further popularized as major corporations began using similar utilities to trim their training budgets. While businesses began with software training programs, the largest corporations started utilizing online tools to minimize software distribution costs.

Another phenomenon that contributed to online learning was the correspondence school. The original correspondence schools worked in a very straightforward way: You registered by mail, received materials by mail, then mailed the course work back for grading upon completion.

As the digital age swept across the nation, the correspondence school became more grounded in the virtual world, and the first online correspondence school, the University of Phoenix, made its way onto the scene in 1989. It was not a fully accredited institution at that time, however, and it wasn’t until 1993 that the first accredited university, the Jones International University, really opened the floodgates.

It was at this same time that a new innovation in the online world made more universities of this kind possible: the Mosaic web interface. This was the first graphic interface that reached out to more common users, allowing for unprecedented access and support. Since that time, hundreds of standard universities have started offering a variety of online courses.

Many institutions, as well as a number of digital correspondence schools, offer full degrees online. As the web continued to open doors, these universities expanded their degree selection. These days, it’s literally possible to graduate with the degree of your choice without ever having to set foot in a classroom.

Online Education

Online Education Choice: University of Phoenix

No matter, online education is here to stay and many of the top schools now offer classes on the internet. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rutgers University, University of Texas at Austin and the University of Notre Dame are just some of the schools actively participating in online learning.

But it isn’t Phoenix’s study methods that are coming into question of late, rather it is the way that it performs its revenue accounting practices. The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) is taking its second look at Phoenix this year with an eye toward the school’s sales particularly since 90% of the school’s funding comes from federal guaranteed student loans.

Revenue Recognition

Forbes magazine says that the “revenue recognition” matter takes issue with how Apollo determines when a student drops out of a class and how much income Apollo can leave on its balance sheet, and for how long. Apollo says it stops recognizing revenue when a refund is processed for a student that has dropped a class, according to attendance records.

Phoenix is also the subject of a whistleblower case where two former enrollment counselors took issue with the school’s recruitment practices. It is illegal for for-profit schools to pay recruiters and counselors based on the number of students they enroll in classes. The result of that action is that unqualified students gain admittance, with their college costs paid by federal student loan funds.

Big Settlement

As a result of whistleblower action, Apollo said on Tuesday it took a charge of $80.5 million in the fourth quarter for litigation settlement relating to the suit which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Though the settlement seems high, the original request was for $1.5 billion.

Shares of Apollo Group stock fell by 15% with the news of its pending settlement.

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Headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, the publicly-held for-profit university offers both online and on location courses leading to associates, bachelors and masters degrees in a wide variety of disciplines and is regionally accredited through The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. DeVry, in fact, operates several other colleges and universities which have gone through their own accreditation processes including the following schools:

Ross University – Founded in 1978 with administrative offices in North Brunswick, New Jersey, Ross is a provider of veterinary and medical education with campuses in Dominica (medical), St. Kitts (veterinary) and the Grand Bahamas (clinical education center). Ross U. was acquired by DeVry in 2003.

Western Career College – With eight campuses located in Northern California, WCC offers training programs in medical assisting, respiratory therapy, dental hygiene, design drafting, pharmacy technology and more.

Apollo College – With nine campuses scattered across the western states, Apollo College offers degrees in medical, veterinary, dental, health & fitness/massage. Apollo College and Western Career College are part of the U.S. Education Corp., a DeVry company. Apollo College is not related to the Apollo Group which operates the University of Phoenix.

Becker Professional Education – Formerly called Becker Professional Review, Becker offers professional education serving the accounting, finance and project management professions. Becker courses help students with the CPA Exam Review, Review for the CFA(R) Exams, PMP(R) Exam Review and Continuing Professional Education programs.

Chamberlain College of Nursing – Formerly best-known as the Deaconess College of Nursing until 2006 when DeVry changed the school’s name and expanded its program, Chamberlain is known for offering online Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) degree completion programs for Registered Nurses. The school also offers an LPN to RN bridge program, Associate Level in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing program among other coursework.

As a leader in online education, DeVry is also involved in educating high school students through its Advanced Academics, Inc. business. AA reaches out to schools to partner with students in grades 7-12, by offering coursework to help them succeed. On the college level, DeVry claims some 65,000 enrolled students which makes DeVry one of the largest programs of higher education in the United States.

More Information: DeVry University

Adv. –  Prospective students considering enrolling in online courses, should perform due diligence to make sure that the program of study is everything they need it to be. Schools should be accredited, courses relevant to the degree program and financial aid options should be available. To help you succeed, please visit our online education page to help you build a better future!

I must confess that when I first began to delve into the various online education programs out there, I wasn’t all that impressed. As someone who spent days, nights and even some weekends taking college classes at brick and mortar institutions of higher learning, I had my doubts that the online variety of education had much to offer. I wondered to myself how students could learn as well from their personal computers as they could from a classroom, whether instructors were certified or knowledgeable enough about their courses and how online degrees would be received by companies who would be hiring these grads.

Industry Pioneer: University of Phoenix

For its part, the University of Phoenix (UoP) has done an admirable job of bringing online education to the masses. In fact, the for-profit university’s program is so successful that it is by far the largest private university in the United States. Approximately 400,000 students are currently enrolled with a significant number being educated overseas.

Owned by the Apollo Group, UoP got started in 1976, many years before the online learning revolution. From the outset, UoP focused on returning college students in a bid to serve what they felt was an under served group of students. Once the internet became a force in the mid-1990s, UoP expanded to reach students who wanted an option to attending classes located at campuses in more than forty states, allowing students to enroll and take classes on their schedule.

Nationally Accredited With Program Specific Accreditation Too

Of the many different online programs out there, I would have to say that UoP offers the most degree programs of any. Last I checked, that number topped one hundred, awarding degrees on the associate, bachelor, graduate and even on the doctorate level. UoP is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

Various other UoP programs including Nursing, Business, Teaching and Counseling are accredited by the proper, nationally recognized accrediting agency. No matter what school you plan to attend, you want to make sure that course curricula is fully accredited by the appropriate agency. Visit the U.S. Department of Education website to learn which schools on your list are accredited and by which agency.

Older Students, More Females Enrolled

According to UoP, 63% of its students are female, in many cases are women who are attempting to balance work, home responsibilities and education. The average student is in their mid-30s with just over half describing themselves as white (Caucasian) with significant representation by blacks and Latinos.

All UoP faculty members have Masters or Doctorate degrees with some 1500 core faculty members and as many as 20,000 associate or adjunct faculty. According to Wikipedia, “Students spend 20 to 24 hours with an instructor during each course, compared with about 40 hours at a traditional university. The university also requires students to work on projects for four or five hours per week in what it calls learning teams, wherein students engage classmates in course material discussions.”

Many UoP students receive compensation from their employers to take their classes. Generally, UoP’s tuition costs are higher than the typical university, something prospective students should weigh if considering enrolling.

More Information: University of Phoenix

Adv. –  Prospective students considering enrolling in online courses, should perform due diligence to make sure that the program of study is everything they need it to be. Schools should be accredited, courses relevant to degree program and financial aid options should be available. To help you succeed, please visit our online education page to help you build a better future!

Photo Credit: Jay

Your Time Is Limited

To keep up with these changes, we’ll be expanding our review of online education options by taking a look at specific programs available and the schools offering these programs. One commodity that many college students don’t have much of is time, but online education (distance learning) allows you to enroll and in many cases complete your studies at your own pace.

To that end, beginning this June we’ll take a look at specific online schools and what they have to offer to you. We’ll give you information to help you learn a lot more about that school, its programs, history, costs and related information. Moreover, we’ll be digging deep to pull up related sources to help you connect with other students, share with you what other people are saying about the school and include details you may not easily be able to uncover yourself. In other words, we’ll be tapping our resources and going well beyond them to present to you a concise and precise package of information.

First School To Be Featured

The first school we’ll be taking a look at is a household name — the University of Phoenix.  U of P happens to be the largest private college in the United States based on the number of enrolled students, a true pioneer in internet based studies.  Please check in the first week of June to find our review of the university and its programs.

Adv. — Are you heading off to college this fall for the first time? Plan now to help take the edge off of everything later! We offer excellent college moving tips to help you get ready as well as private student loan information useful to help meet costs beyond your college savings plan account.

Excellent Opportunities To Learn Online

Thanks to the rise of online learning, educational opportunities for students has never been better. For the most part, you can take classes when you want and at the speed that works best for you.  Best of all, unlike attending a brick and mortar institution, if a new job does come up, you won’t be forced to make a choice between it and your continued schooling. By taking online classes you can juggle your schedule accordingly and do both!

Our partner site, SayLearning.com has a wealth of information pertaining to online learning, including career specific occupations. Did you know that all degree levels can be earned online? Not just a certificate or diploma, mind you but associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees can had through schools who offer these programs via the internet.

Types of Online Course Study

The areas of discipline are wide and varied too and include, but aren’t limited to the following subjects: business, government, nursing, education, law, management, nonprofit, architecture, masonry, technology, digital media, psychology, fashion, culinary and more. Some coursework can be completed 100% online while others may require the occasional onsite class or third party testing.

Schools Promoting Online Learning

From the onset, schools dedicated to providing online learning helped to bolster online learning including the University of Phoenix, DeVry Institute, The Art Institutes, Kaplan University, ITT Technical Institute, Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America, Westwood College, Lincoln Tech, ECPI College of Technology, CDI College and many, many more.

Traditional colleges, those with large campuses scattered across the country, are also offering online coursework, some of which can be completed entirely without ever having to set foot on campus. These schools include the University of North Carolina, Brigham Young University, University of Michigan, Princeton University, Stanford University, Arizona State University, Rutgers University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Caldwell College, College of Charleston, University of Chicago, University of Alaska at Anchorage, Pepperdine University, Tulsa University, Boston College and many, many more schools.

Yes, You Have Options

Of course, taking classes is one thing but affording it is something else. With many people having lost their jobs recently and with others worrying about their finances, taking a class could be the last thing on their mind. Fortunately, grant programs, college scholarships, student loans and other options can remove that barrier, allowing unemployed or career changing students to advance themselves at this time. Check out these online tools to help you weigh your options.

In addition, actress Sally Struthers (All In The Family) was a spokesperson for the International Correspondence School (ICS) for a number of years, a home study course offered by the Pennsylvania Colliery Engineer School of Mines. Founded in 1890, the ICS was a pioneer in distant learning.

Degrees Conferred To Students Globally

Today, students can take courses from all over the world and receive bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees by doing the bulk of their work away from campus. Mail order schools still exist, but the majority of the distant learning today is provided by accredited schools, colleges and universities through online computer access.

The University of Phoenix is a leader in contemporary distant learning, having gotten its start before the rise of the internet in the middle 1990s. Today, the university boasts of hundreds of thousands of students taking their courses from every state in the union and from scores of countries spanning the globe. Their business model has been emulated by tens of other colleges and universities while also forcing “brick and mortar” schools to offer the same educational options.

What You Should Personally Consider

Before choosing an online degree program, you’ll want to know if the school is accredited, how their entrance requirements compare to traditional schools, whether you’ll be required to set foot on campus to take a course or a test, and whether an online degree is considered to be different from a degree earned by taking on campus classes. With the latter, you’ll want to be certain that no distinction is made on the diploma or in the college’s promotional material.

For online learning, your education costs should be the same minus room, board, travel expenses and perhaps some fees. You won’t be able to connect with your professor or classmates face to face, but many schools now bring people together through internet groups and Facebook access.

Distant Learning And You

Is distant learning right for you? It could be, especially if learning from afar is the only way you can obtain a degree. Balancing work, family, personal responsibilities and learning is challenging enough, but at least with distant learning you can set your own schedule and study at a pace that suits your lifestyle.

Have you ever wondered how students who take online classes celebrate their graduation from college or university? If you’re thinking that everyone logs on to a website at a prescribed time to view a cyber event, you’d probably be correct. Yet, the University of Phoenix (UP) has taken a broader approach — they invited all of their grads to Phoenix to attend graduation ceremonies in person.

Although most students have never met each other, the thousands of newly conferred UP grads and their families traveled to Phoenix, Arizona last weekend to attend ceremonies that were held on Friday and Saturday at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Graduates of  UP and two affiliated schools, Axia College and Western International University, were in attendance at one of four ceremonies with 3651 students taking part. This number is only a small portion of the 59,566 students who were awarded degrees, but is an amazing feat considering the disconnect to a physical campus that most students have (some students take classes locally at various learning centers established by UP).

At the ceremonies, the university conferred 753 associate’s degrees, 1,266 bachelor’s degrees, 1,451 master’s degrees and 180 doctoral degrees. For those students unable to attend the Arizona ceremonies, the university set up a live link to each event. Students from all fifty states were represented in this year’s graduating class with 32 countries in all included.

As of May 31, 2008, 345,300 students were enrolled at UP, making the school the largest private university in North America. UP serves a diverse student population, offering associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.

The university has set up a special page on their website to allow friends and family members to send cyber congratulations to the grads they know.

(Source: University of Phoenix)