Why Are More Students Opting for Online Programs: 10 Key Reasons
Online education is becoming increasingly more popular. Once seen as reserved only for those who couldn’t commit to attending physical classes and deemed as ‘less than’ a degree earned from a traditional campus-based institution, online degree qualifications are booming these days and they’re just as respected as their counterparts.
Online education might not be the right choice for everybody, but for many students today, it’s the key to providing them with the opportunity to study the subject of their choice, save money, fit studying around other commitments and thrive.
So, why is online education becoming more popular? There are many reasons why a student might decide to learn online instead. It’s still a popular option for students who want to fit studying for a degree around working full-time, running a business, raising a family or more – but these days, financially conscious students are choosing online learning thanks to lower tuition fees, and students who want to be as green as possible with their studies opt for learning online due to its ability to help them lower their carbon footprint.
The fact is that online learning is a far less rigid study option that gives students a degree of freedom and flexibility that may not have been available to them in the past. Studying online allows students to fit their studies in around their lives rather than vice versa, which is usually the case when it comes to campus-based programs. If you’re considering learning online, but want to first learn more about how it could be beneficial for you, read on to discover some of the main ways why students these days are ditching the classroom and taking their learning online instead.
#1. Choice:
When it comes to going to college, a lack of available options can be a big problem for many aspiring students. Perhaps you’re a student who is unable to relocate due to financial constraints or family commitments, but the options nearby for schools aren’t all too great. Maybe you have a specific program of study in mind, but can’t get onto a campus-based program at a school that offers it. While there’s a lot of choice available, not all of it is accessible for some students.
On the other hand, studying online makes all the choice accessible. Students can now study at colleges and universities located hundreds of miles away in another state, while some students even study online at colleges located abroad. Others prefer to study for an online program offered by a nearby institution so that they can take advantage of campus facilities. The fact is that no matter what you want to study, the choice is yours when you study online and you don’t need upheaval in your life to get it.
#2. Flexibility:
Students who need more flexibility than most are increasingly choosing to study online. This is because unlike traditional classroom settings, online study gives students the option to choose when they want to learn and from where – there’s no need to remember lecture or class times, as these can be chosen by the student themselves. Yes, there will probably be assignment dates and deadlines to adhere to but compared to the timetables on campus, studying online is still extremely flexible.
As a result, online study is growing in popularity amongst people who would not usually be able to get to school otherwise. Busy parents, for example, are taking advantage of online learning programs that they can study when the kids are in bed, and full-time workers are boosting their careers by getting qualifications such as these online FNP programs since they are able to easily fit their studies around their work. Unlike learning on campus, there’s no need for them to cut down their working hours or change their shifts to fit studying in.
#3. Finances:
Another reason why more and more students are opting to study online is that it’s often cheaper. Not only are tuition fees usually less when studying online, you can also save money on associated costs like commuting to class, paying for parking and even buying textbooks.
In terms of tuition fees, it’s no surprise that many students are opting for online degree programs as with the student debt level in the US currently at an all-time high, many students are worried about graduating and starting their career in hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt. Since many online programs have less overheads compared to their campus-based counterparts, it’s not uncommon to find prices around one-third less, or even more. Depending on what you want to achieve in terms of qualifications, you can even find completely free of charge online programs, which may not result in a degree, but are often ideal for anybody who is looking to improve their knowledge, build new skills and learn something new.
#4. The Environment:
Leading a greener lifestyle might not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to getting your college degree, but for many eco-conscious students, studying online is a no-brainer, simply because it can be so much better for the environment compared to attending classes on campus. Think about it – when you study online, you’re already reducing your carbon footprint as there’s no need to drive to classes every day. And, by not being on campus, you’re not contributing to high energy usage – you can instead make extra efforts to conserve energy and be greener in your own home.
And, there are even further small ways in which studying online can result in you being more environmentally friendly as a whole. Since you’re studying at home most of the time, you won’t be making packed lunches or buying plastic bottles of water as often, which can help you to significantly reduce the amount of waste that you produce.
#5. Networking:
You would be forgiven for thinking that studying online is lonely and isolating – it’s a common misconception but most of the time, it’s the opposite that is true. In fact, studying online has come on so far in recent years that many students find that they actually have more opportunities to socialize than those who study on campus. Online degree programs will often give you access to online student forums and social media groups where you get to meet new people, chat about a wide range of topics and take advantage of networking opportunities.
And, unlike campus-based programs, online degree programs often have a much higher percentage of diverse students, with people from all backgrounds and situations choosing to study online. In your program, you might have people who are single parents, business owners, school leavers and much more, giving you a bigger chance of getting to know a wide range of different people and build a diverse professional and social network. Plus, it’s not all lonely – there are probably more online students in your area than you might realize and there will be plenty of chances for you to meet up.
#6. Pacing:
For many students who choose to study online, one of the biggest benefits of making this choice is that their online program allows them to study at their own pace, rather than having to keep up with a class. And for many students, this can be much easier for them, especially if they are already struggling to keep up with juggling a range of other commitments.
When you study online, you are often provided with a schedule that you are free to work through at your own pace, as long as you’re able to meet assignment deadlines and attend exams on certain dates if they are a part of your program. As a result, online students are usually able to focus more heavily on topics that they feel they need to work on more, rather than spending a set amount of time on each topic, as would be expected from a traditional campus-based program.
#7. Employer Support:
If you’ve ever spoken to your employer about the prospect of you going back to school in the past, then you may already be aware that it’s not often easy to get the support of your employer if you’re planning to take a degree program that’s going to take you away from your work. When you’re working full-time, studying on campus can be time-consuming and when you have set classes to attend, it may be necessary for your employer to adjust your working hours, all of which can be demanding for the both of you. Some employers may wish they could support you through continuing your education, but simply do not have the means to allow you the flexibility that you need.
However, on the other hand, many employers are far more supportive of employees who decide to take an online degree – many may even go so far as to agree to fund all or part of the degree for you, if getting it means that you will be a better employee for them in the future and will benefit them as much as it benefits you. This is because when you study online, your employer won’t have to worry about changing your regular working hours to suit your studies – you can fit your studies around work instead.
#8. Inspiring Instructors:
Some of the instructors, professors and tutors that you will come into contact with when you study online will be some of the most inspiring people that you’ll ever meet. Many are former online students themselves and along with being able to teach you about the subject you have chosen to learn, can also provide you with valuable advice and information about improving your success as an online student.
Some online education programs are able to connect students with some of the best professors and tutors around the world – for students, this can be the perfect opportunity to learn from some of the brightest and best people in your chosen field.
#9. Various Learning Options:
The wide variety of online education options that are available today means that it is easier than ever for students to learn in a way that suits them best. Compared to studying on campus, taking an online degree program often means that you will be able to choose the learning and evaluation formats that work best for you – whether you prefer to take tests to prove your learning progress, complete coursework, or sit exams.
In addition, the added flexibility that comes with studying online means that students are able to better focus on learning in a way that suits them best. Rather than sitting in lectures, online students may be presented with a wide variety of options for digesting their course information, such as reading books and articles, listening to recordings, or writing things down. The self-led nature of online study means that it’s more important than ever for educational institutions to provide students with a range of options for learning in the best way that they can.
#10. Effectiveness:
Finally, a big reason that students choose to go forward with online learning is quite simple – it’s proven to be effective! Studying online has a wide range of benefits and the sheer number of students enrolled on fully or partly online programs today, just goes to show how effective it is when it comes to reaching your academic goals. And, online education has come on even further from back in 2009 when a study conducted by the Department of Education found that students taking online programs outperformed their campus-based peers on several different levels.
Studying online doesn’t just prepare you for working in your chosen field; it’s also a great way to boost your transferable skills. In order to be successful when you study for an online degree, you need to be motivated, disciplined, and determined to do well – all of which will benefit you in your future career. And, along the way you will improve important skills in research, time management, communication and much more.
Statistics show that online learning is on the rise – and it’s only expected to become even more popular over time.
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