There are a number of different challenges currently facing traditional colleges and universities, including budget cuts, increasing tuition fees, and course shortages, all of which have forced an increasing amount of students to search for alternatives. With nearly three million students enrolled in courses that are completed exclusively online, and six million students taking at least one online course as part of the degree program that they study, it’s easy to see that online study is an option which provides students with a number of different benefits. In this article we’ll look at the various benefits of completing an online degree course and that’s why more and more students are opting for it.
Financial Benefits
The fact that online degree courses tend to be much cheaper than traditional degree courses is a major deciding factor for many students who find themselves needing to decide between the two. Online courses are cheaper for a number of reasons, and the tuition fees are less than those of traditional colleges thanks to the fact that online colleges have many less costs to cover, such as the cost of maintaining campus buildings or paying a salary to professors and other staff members. In addition to that, the cost of living for many students is often cheaper when studying online, as there is no need to pay for travel expenses to get to and from classes, and students do not have to give up their jobs in order to make time to study.
Extra Flexibility
One of the main factors of online study which appeals to a large majority of students who opt for it is that it is far more flexible than studying at a traditional college. Whilst those who study at a traditional college will need to adjust their lives and commitments in order to fit around their classes, online study is flexible enough to allow students to tailor their studies to fit in with their other needs. Online courses are an excellent option for those who need to continue to work full time whilst studying, for example a student who is working as a home care specialist may choose to study a nursing degree online in order to further their career.
Another example is getting to keep your current job while you get your masters in hospitality management online. Online study has also become a popular choice of education for parents who need to fit their studies around a busy family life.
More Interaction
Another main benefit of online study is that there is more interaction involved. Whereas in a traditional classroom environment there is less chance of one to one interaction with the professor due to the large number of students, online learning offers much more personal interaction with teaching staff, usually over live web chat or on the phone. This is a huge benefit for students, especially those who like to have a lot of time to speak to their lecturers in order to ensure that they fully understand the teaching material.
Have you ever studied online? What did you find benefitted you? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
