Everybody knows online education means you can learn anytime, anywhere – a major motivation for students on the go. But flexibility is not the only reason to pursue an eDegree. Consider nine more:
1. Famous people are doing it.
Just look at the NBA – Shaq earned a degree online, as did Jalen Rose. Lisa Leslie of WNBA fame scored an online degree as well. Celebs aren’t always famous for making good choices, but in the case of online education, their decisions are right on the money.
2. You can study crazy cool stuff.
Traditional colleges don’t have the corner on wacky electives. When you study online, a whole new realm of wild classes emerges, like mushroom growing, theme park engineering, and hip hop. Why be content with your local school’s offerings when you could sample fun courses from around the world?
3. Distance education has been around for, like, ever.
Students started taking correspondence courses in the 1840s, radio courses in the 1920s, TV courses in the 1970s, and online courses in the 1990s. So when you complete a course from the comfort of your living room, you can say you’re following in the footsteps of your forefathers.
4. You can get career education for any field.
Even if your collar skews more blue than white, online education’s got something to offer. The first accredited degree-granting online institution devoted to educating union members is opening this fall, with courses designed to meet the training needs of the nation’s labor force. No matter where you work, online ed’s got your back.
5. Earning a degree online is a major accomplishment.
It’s one thing to get a project done when your professor is breathing down your neck; it’s quite another to finish your work at 3 a.m. when your house is sleeping and the only one keeping you awake is you. If you can complete an online degree, you’re showing the world that self-discipline, time management, and perseverance are skills you’ve got in spades.
6. There are eDegrees you never knew existed.
You would expect to find online degree programs in computer science or Web design. But did you know you can also earn degrees in subjects like agricultural sciences, counseling, and veterinary technology? Even if your program requires clinical experience, you can still take your theoretical courses online.
7. You can save your change.
Sure, online degrees don’t come cheap (or easy). But distance education does yield some major cost savings, like transportation, parking, tolls, eating out, and other expenses you might incur on the go. And let’s not forget about the high price of room and board, nonexistent for online learners.
8. Your program might naturally lend itself to online learning.
For programs like business, technology, health care management, and criminal justice technology, online degrees can be just as good as – if not better than – traditional degrees. What better way to learn about international business and computer programming than through the World Wide Web?
9. It doesn’t matter how old (or young) you are.
Lest you think online education is just for Generation X, Y, and Z, researchers at the University of Kansas report that adults over age 50 are increasingly pursuing higher ed online – and loving it! Looks like online learning is for the young and the young at heart.
Photo: Mayskyphoto
-Robyn Tellefsen
One of the aspects to an online education is that you may never see your classmates or professor face to face. The introvert in you may absolutely love that idea. That privacy, and the flexibility, also may be what was so attractive to Charice, the 18-year-old Filipino singer who has a guest role on “Glee” as an exchange student.
