Online
College Courses - Worth the Money?
It really depends on the program / field
you are looking to enter. The type of course
and which institution you are obtaining
the credential / certificate from is also
of importance. Certain professions, such
as teachers, law enforcement, fire suppression,
have work shifts / rotations that make attending
school very difficult. This leaves an online
study your only option.
Employers
are beginning to recognize distance education
via the internet more and more because a
great deal of personal self-discipline is
required to complete an internet course.
The
two primary reasons to go the online degree
route are financial and time management.
Classes are typically less expensive than
their brick and mortar counterpart because
of the reduced costs for building, security,
books, utilities, janitorial and maintenance,
etc. Some colleges offer both brick and
mortar and online as scholastic options.
These schools may run a bit higher with
their fees than a purely online college.
There are several fully accredited universities
offering BA, MA and PhD that are strictly
on-line, with increasing number of programs
every year. Time being as tight as it is
these days, and that we often have a decent
job while we are trying to get a degree,
online college courses are becoming more
and more attractive. But to ask the question
again, "Are they worth the money?"
I don't know that I can fully answer that
question due to the number of variable.
Is it worth giving up your job and take
on a student loan so that you can attend
a physical college or university? Is it
worth the difference in where your degree
comes from? Is it worth it to you to get
your degree in 4 years vs. 6 years? Do you
want to go more in debt than you already
are?
You
will have to weigh all of these questions.
Some degrees will just make sense to attend
a university for the opportunity to network
and for the hands on experience. With other
degrees, those issues just don't come in
to play. It can be a great stress releaver
to be earning money while earning your degree
even though it may be at a slower pace.
Below
are some of the better know online universities/schools.
Happy hunting, and do your homework BEFORE
you dive in.
by
R. Harson
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