Today’s college-bound students have more opportunities than ever to continue their education online. As more universities and four-year colleges are offering full degree programs online, students are starting to see the value in taking advantage of these reduced cost learning options.
Keep reading to learn what’s contributing to the shift in students pursuing high learning online.
Students are Seeking Flexibility
Today’s students often have a lot more going on in their everyday lives than attending college classes. Many students are full-time employees, business owners, and some already have families with children to support.
One of the most important aspects in students choosing to go to school online is the flexibility factor.
Attending classes online allows for today’s learners to keep up with the pace of their lives outside of class by attending classes online when it meets their needs.
Gone are the days of rushing from building to building trying to make it to class on time. Students are able to attend classes from the comfort of their home or in some cases by simply switching on their mobile devices and logging in.
Another direct benefit is that classwork can be done on the student’s schedule allows them to have more free time to pursue income-generating activities and to participate in internships which generate additional income for students and families.
Institutional Operating Costs Savings Are Passed To Students
The costs of operating degree programs online are drastically different than operating costs for a brick and mortar college or university.
Schools that are choosing to offer their programs online are able to realize cost savings in the areas of maintaining student learning facilities and classrooms, student housing facilities, parking structures, technology labs and more.
Universities saving money can result in improved educational program options for students online as the funds for the reduced expenses can be directly used for improving the online learning experience for students.
As online schools are working on improving their programs to meet the needs of new online students the savings from delivering coursework online passes directly on to virtual students.
Students save on housing, transportation, childcare, parking fees, gas, and other related costs by attending classes online and eliminating the need for these costs altogether.
Students can add the income saved from the costs mentioned above to additional income earned in the time that they save by attending classes online and working a full-time job or side gig. Not only does going to school online save both students and institutions money, it can also lead to an income increase for students by allowing them more free time to generate outside income.
Benefits of Online Learning vs. Traditional Classroom Learning
The argument can be made that going to school online improves the overall quality of your life by reducing stress in important areas. As our world is now completely digitally connected the concept of going to school just makes sense.
Learning in a classroom environment versus learning in the environment of choice, can have a direct impact on the quality of learning and the amount of material absorbed.
Imagine learning in an auditorium with 400 students versus learning from the comfort and familiarity of your home or local coffee shop. Learning in an environment where things are comfortable and familiar can reduce distractions, anxiety. These reductions can lead directly improved focus and attention to detail for students.
The most important benefit online learning for students is having the ability to learn at your own pace. Taking classes online provides students with the opportunity to stay on pace or go faster or slower than your classmates based on their individual learning style and needs.
Online coursework can be revisited or replayed at a convenient time for students giving them additional opportunities to absorb new material.
All of these are considerations and potential bonuses for students who are serious about continuing their education online.
Rapid Advancement for High School Students
High School students can benefit from online degree programs by choosing dual enrollment programs offered at high schools and already have college credits before even being officially admitted.
Downsides
While there are many upsides to attending classes online there are a few downsides for students to consider as well. Some of the downsides for students attending classes online are less social interaction with classmates and less hands-on engagement.
However, it appears that today’s students are willing to make a few social trade off’s in order to take viable steps towards improving the condition of their futures while learning and saving money at the same time.
The Real Deal Behind the Choice
The overall driving factors for students choosing to attend school online are having a greater sense of control over their learning experiences, reduced costs for attending classes online, and improved online learning options and availability of programs.
When it comes to saving time and money, going to school online is rapidly becoming the best option for today’s digitally connected students to achieve their personal and educational goals while not breaking the bank.
