Online Degrees: A New Learning Experience

By Edward Castro
Learning & Life Columnist

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Doubt that a college degree is valuable? Consider the following: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average weekly salary for 25-64 year old bachelor's degree holders was $834. In comparison, a high school diploma only brings home a little over $500.

Having a degree also translates into better opportunities. A job at the local fast food joint is a good way to earn a few dollars, but a terrible way to make a living. How can you ensure you're standing in front of the fast food counter at the age of 30, as opposed to behind it?

Education in the Information Age

There is no denying that a college education means higher pay, but how can an adult pursue a college education without sacrificing a job, family commitments, and social opportunities? Time has always been the obvious hurdle to an advanced education once we reach adulthood. Ten or twenty years ago, the options for adults who wanted to pursue a degree were limited-either you quit working to get a degree or you earned your degree by mail. Thanks to the Internet, education has taken a giant leap forward.

Old School is the New School

Distance education isn't new. Perhaps the first example of the power of distance education was the Apostle Paul who built the early Christian churches by writing letters to his students from his prison cell. Today, distance education uses a variety of cutting-edge technologies to connect teachers and students separated by time and distance. Thanks to the Internet a student in Alaska can earn a degree from a school based in Chicago completely online. How cool is that?

Online, In Control

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were an estimated 2,876,000 enrollments in college-level, credit-granting distance education courses in 2001, with 82 percent of these at the undergraduate level. Teachers have also embraced online programs and the technology used to deliver them, not only because it allows them to reach those who otherwise may not be able to take classes, but also because it offers another way to engage students. Online degrees are a hit with students and teachers, but it has taken employers a bit longer to warm to the idea.

Online Degrees: Hit and Myth

Thanks to a few shady institutions, otherwise known as "degree mills," that award diplomas for a fee, many employers are reluctant to consider candidates with an online only degree. A recent Vault.com study found that 77 percent of hiring managers say that online degrees from established universities are more acceptable than a degree earned through an Internet only university. As more traditional and quality institutions begin to offer these programs, they will become more common and widely accepted. The same NCES report mentioned earlier estimated that 2- and 4-year institutions accounted for more than 3,000,000 enrollments in distance education programs.

Online Education: A Virtual Reality

Wired schools, such as the University of Phoenix and Walden University, consistently produce highly skilled professionals with as much if not more relevant education as their brick-and-mortar counterparts. The time is approaching when employers will undoubtedly re-evaluate their perception of online degrees.

Choose Your Own Path

Today, there are few traditional educational paths that can't be pursued completely online. Credentialed degree programs in criminal justice, nursing, psychology, education, history, and business can all be found online. With online degree programs you can choose what you want to study, when you want to study it, but it's by no means easier than pursuing a degree from a traditional institution. The courses and expectations are the same, but the motivation, focus, and discipline to succeed must come from within the individual student.

A Study in Success

No matter where or how you choose to pursue your degree, there is little doubt that you'll increase your opportunities. While there is a certain allure to going away for college, there is no place like home. Thanks to online degree programs, home is a great place to get an education.

About the Author
Edward Castro is a freelance writer specializing in new technology, entertainment, and the World Wide Web. He currently assists entrepreneurs in using the Web.

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