Reasons to Attend an Online College
Online Degree Programs Offer Flexibility and Savings
Aug 19, 2008
In today's society, many people who want to earn a degree don't have the time or patience for the schedule of a traditional college campus. This is one of the many reasons online degree programs have become an increasingly popular way for busy people to earn their degree.
According to national surveys taken from The Sloan Consortium's Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States 2006, "nearly 3.2 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2005 term, a substantial 35 percent increase over the 2.3 million reported the previous year."
Online Degree Options
Gone are the days when traditional universities offered the only path for learners to gain a degree and advance in their career. Online degree programs are emerging as a reasonable way to continue one's education for a reasonable price. An online college or university will never gleam like an Ivy-league school on a résumé, but it does give people the chance to succeed in many ways traditional colleges and universities just cannot.
Routine and Flexibility of an Online College
Some people view going back to college as a daunting task. Professionals may find returning to school to be taking a step backward. These same people may not be able financially and mentally afford to return to school. An online college can be a sound solution for them. Online schools do not change that.
A full-time college student usually completes 15-22 credits, full-time, in a semester. A working professional may struggle to finish 9 credits in a semester. That is nearly less than half of a full-time student. That’s only 18 credits per year, and it makes for long and tiring days. The University of Phoenix Online, synonymous with the term "online degree program" in many circles, designs courses specifically for the working professional. According to the University of Phoenix, one can finish his or her degree in two years, minimum, and amass 27 credits in a year. That is nearly double that of a traditional university.
One can also move to a new location without the hassle of applying to a new school and spending countless dollars and time organizing all the pertinent materials to send to a new school. After all, one is in the comfort of his or her own home.
Online Degree Savings
The University of Phoenix and another online degree program, Kaplan University, tout that tuition for an online degree goes strictly into the education that one is receiving. There is no need to pay for external factors such as learning areas or living space. This is a major reason why these schools are much more affordable than their traditional competitors. If you are considering an online degree, do research. There are plenty of so-called online degree programs ready to pounce on your credit card for a limited product. Make sure you understand what you are getting for your money. Ask, ask, ask.
Attending a traditional university is a wonderful luxury that many do not have the means or time to experience. Online schools offer realistic options and goals to those people.
