What are Online Degree Programs?

An online degree program involves earning a college credential over the internet. Students who are enrolled in these programs can find coursework, submit assignments, listen to lectures and take exams online. Using cyber education, students can take either a few web-based classes as a part of their campus-based degree program, or decide to complete their course of study entirely online.

There are many different types of online learning, which tend to vary between institutions. For example, while some programs do not require students to log in or go online at any particular time, other classes demand that pupils follow a schedule. Additionally, some individuals participate in blended learning, which involves completing classwork online, but meeting the professor and other students in a chatroom or a classroom every so often.
 
Are Online Degrees popular?

According to the 2010 Sloan Survey of Online Learning, web-based classes are becoming increasingly popular among college students. In the fall 2009 semester, approximately 5.6 million people, or 31 percent of all higher education students, were enrolled in at least one online course.

Additionally, the number of students who are completing a degree online, as opposed to taking a few web-based classes, is also high. Eduventures reports that in 2009, about 2.1 million students were earning an online college diploma

What types of web-based degrees can students earn?

As online degrees become increasingly popular, students will find that programs are available in a wide range of topics. From a certificate program to a PhD, most courses of study are now available through web-based classes.

Where can students earn Online Degrees?

Most institutions of higher education currently have online degree programs. Students will be able to find a wide variety of courses at two-year and four-year universities, as well as graduate schools. There are also many exclusively online institutions.

However, when picking a school, individuals should make sure that it is accredited by a regional or national agency. A list of accredited institutions can be found on the U.S. Department of Education website.

How do web-based courses compare with classroom-based classes?

According to the 2010 Sloan Survey, most academic officials believe that online learning is comparable to face-to-face studying. In 2010, approximately 66 percent of academic officials said that web-based education is as good as or better than classroom-based learning.

What are the benefits of taking classes online?

Students decide to take online classes for many reasons. Some prefer the flexibility that web-based classes can give them. As many programs do not require students to go online at any particular time to complete coursework, it can be easier for employed students and parents to earn degrees on their schedules. Most of these studies involve a great deal of independence, so people do not need to compromise their professional and family responsibilities to enroll.

Similarly, web-based classes can allow individuals to study at an institution of their choice without actually having to move to that area. People who want to earn a degree from the University of Washington, for example, can do so from Maine without ever having to set foot on the West Coast.

Other students report that online classes are less expensive than traditional campus-based courses.

*Source Reference: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov