What is an Online College?

The concept of “distance learning” has been around for decades. From mail-in correspondence courses to two-way and FM radio instruction, distance has become less and less an obstacle for those who are pursuing an education. Now, with the advent of the Internet and associated technologies that make it easy to communicate with instructors and classmates who are miles away, distance learning has become a viable education option for the busy inhabitants of a fast moving, modern world.

The Early Years

Online education traces its roots to correspondence courses that were pioneered in England in the 19th century. A population that was hungry to learn combined with an increasingly efficient postal service made these courses a success. At the turn of the century, distance learning entered the technological era with the invention of the radio. Radio courses were utilized all over the world during the first half of the 20th century, and are still employed as the primary form of elementary and secondary education in remote locations, such as Eastern Australia.

As technology evolved, universities wanted to reach a wider audience, so they took advantage of the popularity of television. Television-based courses were never very numerous, however, due to the high cost of cable or satellite air time. Finally, in the 1990s, the Internet was invented. Appealing to a wide variety of otherwise difficult to reach, non-traditional students, and providing a new, efficient way to interact with instructors, online education was picked up by traditional colleges and universities. It has grown steadily since its introduction in the late 1990s, and continues to do so as more and more programs and opportunities are offered.

Online College Benefits

In 1973, only 47 percent of high school graduates went on to attain a bachelor's degree or higher. By 2008, that figure rose to 70 percent. The American emphasis on higher education has produced a surplus of college graduates and a job market in which not having at least a bachelor's degree results in tremendous difficulty finding gainful employment. For this reason, many people who either skipped going to college after high school, or who want to make themselves more attractive to employers in a competitive job market, are returning to school.

Most of these non-traditional students have other obligations, such as family or full-time jobs that preclude them from pursuing a degree in a traditional university setting. Therefore, they turn to online institutions for their educational needs. Some of the benefits include:

• Online universities don't require students to be physically present for every class session, eliminating tedious commutes and allowing them to do most of the work on their own time.
• Flexible schedules are invaluable for people with families, or people who work during the day and only have time to pursue an education during off-hours.
• Students don't have to deal with office hours. Professors are available online to give advice anytime during the day.
• Professors and experts from around the world are able to teach or participate in online lectures, adding a valuable dimension to the discussion that would be impractical in a campus-based setting.
• Online colleges are significantly easier to get into than traditional universities. Because they have not been around as long as traditional establishments, online schools often have smaller applicant pools and higher rates of acceptance.

Online College Drawbacks

Although there are many benefits to pursuing an online education, there are pitfalls that should not be overlooked.

• The lack of face time with professors is an oft-debated aspect of Internet courses that has yet to be settled in the academic community.
• Some say that in a highly competitive job market, a degree from an online institution may not be worth as much as a degree from a well-known, reputable university. A degree from an accredited online institution is far superior to no degree at all, however, and is only a small part of a complete package that includes work experience and other activities.

Online universities have revolutionized the way the world learns, and have made degrees of all levels more attainable for an increasingly busy population. As technology evolves and online institutions adapt, they will continue to grow and will provide valuable educational opportunities to students from all walks of life well into the future.

Article Resources:

Walden University: Online Learning
Kristi Oloffson, “The Job Market: Is a College Degree Worth Less?” Time.com, Dec. 8, 2009
NC State University: A History of Distance Learning
Google Distance Learning Timeline