7 Reasons to Get Your College Degree Online
By Leslie Acosta
With online education continuing to gain popularity, prospective
students are becoming well aware of the benefits of obtaining an
online degree. According to the Sloan Consortium report
Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States,
2006, 3.2 million students took online
courses in the fall of 2005, an increase from the 1.6 million
students reported in the fall of 2002. Need a little more
convincing? Here are the top seven reasons to pursue an online
degree.
1. Study Wherever
If you've got Internet access, the world is your classroom, and
your educational goals don't depend on your location. Online
education eliminates the common obstacles for potential students
of not having a campus located nearby or not having a specific
degree program available. No more relocating or commuting. Study
from home, the office, or while traveling--it's up to you.
2. Study Whenever
Another bonus of online education lies in the flexibility
students enjoy. With asynchronous learning, students can use
their computers at their own convenience to access course
materials such as videotaped lectures, course notes, research
materials, electronic discussion boards, chat rooms, class
assignments, and exams. Students can complete online associate's,
bachelor's
and master's
degrees (and even PhDs)
within a specific time frame or at their own pace, depending on
the program.
3. Adapt Your College Degree to Your Needs
Your education is important, but every student must juggle other
commitments as well. Traditional campus learning, with scheduled
class meeting times, can be difficult for students who are
working, caring for others, serving in the military, or traveling
frequently. Online education also appeals to students who prefer
to learn independently.
4. Get Someone Else to Pay for It
Many employers make online
degrees even more attractive to students by offering to pay
part or all of their tuition. In this win-win situation,
companies are gaining employees with increased skills and
knowledge, obtained on their own time. Employees are earning the
degree they want without having to reduce their work hours or
pay.
5. Get Your Degree Fast
Typically, many online degrees can be obtained more quickly than
their traditional campus counterparts. Online courses are usually
accelerated, so more classes can be finished in less time. If you
have transferable credits from another institution, your
completion time for an online college degree is even less. The
faster you earn your degree, the sooner you are on your way to
getting the job or salary you want.
6. Build New Skill Sets
Completing an online degree takes a great deal of motivation,
responsibility, and time management. Self-discipline and the
ability to learn independently are assets that definitely
transfer to the workplace. And with coursework submitted via
computer, students participating in online courses will also
polish their writing skills.
7. Apply What You're Learning
Online degrees are often very specialized, with coursework geared
toward specific career training. Students learn material that is
industry-current and relevant for their careers, studying under
professional instructors with education and experience in the
field. This makes it not only possible but highly beneficial for
students to apply their new knowledge in real time (especially
for employer-funded degrees). For students seeking a way up the
career ladder in their current job, an online degree program can
help them demonstrate immediate growth and improvement.
It's easier than ever to build the career you want. Join the
millions of students who have already selected online education
as the path to their career goals.
Sources
- "Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006," by I. Elaine Allen Ph.D. and Jeff Seaman Ph.D., The Sloan Consortium, November 2006.
- "Distance learning in postsecondary education: Learning whenever, wherever," by Matthew Mariani, Occupational Outlook Quarterly, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Summer 2001.
Leslie Acosta has a BA in modern European studies and an MA in art history. She has taught college courses and is currently a freelance writer.
