Online vs. Traditional Education
Once upon a time the Internet was conceived as a tool for the military. Then, men like Al Gore saw it as a powerful educational tool. Little did anyone know that it would become such a powerful means of leveling the field of higher learning. Now, there are literally hundreds of for-profit online universities, colleges, and trade schools, as well as hundreds of traditional universities that offer degrees online. There has never been more choice in advancing your education. But with choice sometimes comes confusion, but also opportunity. This is especially true with education thanks to the Internet.
The Lower Cost of Higher Education
The biggest difference between online education and traditional universities is seen in one very important place: your bank account. This isn't necessarily true. Some online institutions of learning are just as costly as traditional. But that isn't the norm. And this financial advantage is felt not only with regard to direct costs, like tuition, but to all those ancillaries, like housing and travel, that are often the hidden costs of improving your education after high school or college.
The stats that follow are the estimated average yearly costs of tuition at various institutions, courtesy of the College Board for the '08-'09. Figures DO NOT include room and board:
- Community College - $4,552
- In-State University - $17,336
- Private University - $35,374
But what of online averages? The truth is that there is much disparity of cost among online education providers. But what is always true about the costs of online versus traditional colleges and universities is the hidden costs which are almost entirely absent from an online education:
- Travel Costs - Whether its the cost of gasoline and wear and tear on your car, train tickets or airfare, it is expensive to travel back and forth from your home to your school. Staying put saves hundreds if not thousands each year. Online education typically only requires tools you already have and use regularly: a PC and an Internet connection.
- Time Costs - For a busy professional seeking to improve their standing, time is most definitely money. Whether you're paid by the hour or on salary, if you miss a day for a class or a test, you mostly won't be getting paid for it. Lost income is a definite cost that some must count with a traditional education. This can be trimmed in many, many places with an online course of study because most coursework can be addressed after work and on weekends. Additionally, because of the flexibility of online study, most students can complete their degrees more quickly.
- Cost of Books & Materials - Traditional universities often utilize textbooks and other materials which are hidden costs, most of which will never be used again. In online education, it is much more likely that the source of information used will be electronic, and need not be purchased or stored.
- Cost of Room & Board - What many people don't know is that a major source of income for colleges and universities is the cost of setting up housing, additional rent, and food. The above statistics can easily be doubled by when room and board are added in. Online learning doesn’t require any type because you needed move a single box, book, or stick of furniture.
What About the Quality of Online Education?
It's a given that traditional college and universities offer varying degrees of education from adequate to excellent. So, for the sake of this article, we will take a look at the details of online education.
While online education is a fairly recent phenomenon, online education has improved in quality greatly over the term its been in existence. Many programs offered online are on par with those of traditional colleges and universities.
Students who take classes online retain information just as well as their in-class counterparts. Other than demand, that is one of the factors that have moved nearly all traditional universities to offer courses online. Employers have also sought to exploit the advantages of an online education: Without impacting hours available for work, employees can take advantage of expanding their skill set.
And of particular interest for those looking to online education to improve their resumes in a competitive job market, a 2006 study by Vault Inc. suggested that 81% of employers see degrees earned online as more credible than they had been five years earlier. Moreover, 86% said that they would hire someone who had earned a degree online. And that is where the rubber meets the road. Discover what you can learn online on the next page.
