Five Reasons Online Education Make Sense
Higher Education Articles November 2, 2012Students who are considering returning to school and accomplishing your goals in obtaining a degree online should have plenty of company. In 2009, there were as many as 5.6 million online students (source: Sloan Consortium). That year, about one out of three students of the 19 million students studying at the United States’ universities did at least one course online. In this article, I have listed five reasons why online learning make sense to many students. Consider them to determine whether online education is the right path.
Helps Busy Adults Manage Their Time Optimally
Adults are so busy making a living; they do not have time to attend classes. Thanks to the flexibility offered by online education, they can now plan their time optimally and educate themselves further despite their busy schedules. For instance, more than 24,000 online students ranging from ages 20 – 60 attended Western Governors University. The university’s student average age is thirty-six years old and works (part-time or full-time) for a living. Missouri’s Ozarks Technical Community College (OTCC) is another college with several online students with an average age of twenty-nine years old.
Online Education Offers Myriad Options
There is a plethora of options offered by online education that makes it an ideal attraction. For instance, there are 107 online certificate and degree programs offered by the University of Illinois. Similarly, undergraduate degree programs offered at University of Maryland University College exceeded twenty five while certificate programs offered at the college exceeded thirty.
Certificates can be Earned Online
Students who want to gain a specialized skill and have remarkably little time to spare, do not want to attend community colleges or universities to earn their degree. Under certain circumstances, online education is your best choice in receiving your certificate via online programs.
Employers demand qualifications and students can earn a certificate online in a short timeframe thereby satisfying their requirement. To understand the popularity of certificates; students should note that in 2007-08, US colleges and universities awarded about 750,000 certificates. Students typically targeted these degree programs: healthcare, business and technology.
Career Change Catalyzed by Online Education
In a dynamic job market, the need for immediate career changes cannot be overemphasized and an online program makes it possible. It will provide students options to pursue other career opportunities, but during the degree program it allows students to maintain their current job.
Contrary to the popular notion, it is never too late to change your career, as borne out by a study done on baby boomers sixty-three percent of whom are contemplating on a career change in the near future.
Motivated Students Can Excel in Online Education
Students studying online outperform their peers who attended classes via campus, a research conducted by the government in 2009. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities professors who have over ten years of experience in online education conducted a study to determine the type of students who are likely to excel online; they revealed determination as one of the most valued traits for a student to excel online. A successful student will have to manage their time well while being able to work independently and willing to seek help when it is needed.
