Is online education the miraculous solution to college cost and scheduling problems?! Is it the end of face-to-face discussions and scenic campuses that define the college experience?! Spoiler alert: it’s neither. Like most things in life, there are ups and downs, pros and cons, to getting an online college education, and the truth is somewhere in the middle—especially since online programs vary a lot.
Check out our list of pros and cons to earning a college degree online to see how it might work for you.
Pros of an online college education
You have tons of flexibility
Online learning has opened up educational opportunities for people who might not have had them before, whether due to where they live, work/family responsibilities, even being differently abled. With online education, no matter where you live, as long as you have a computer and Internet connection, you have options.
Not only that, but you have the convenience of deciding when and where you take your online classes. Though there will likely be deadlines for assignments and exams, and you may encounter some live lectures and group discussions, with online education, you can generally work through the course at your leisure. You can also log in and access course work and lectures basically any time, which is helpful for reviewing the material for exams.
You have tons of options too
You'll find practically any type of degree you’d want offered online: associate, bachelor’s, master’s, certificates, and even doctorates. Though there aren't as many online college choices as there are brick-and-mortar schools, you can still conduct a college search to find the online program that fits your needs, including whether you want a hybrid (online and in-person) or an entirely online program.
The cost is generally lower
No matter what online college program you attend, you will almost certainly save money on room, board, or commuting costs. (Just keep in mind that even some predominantly online programs have an in-person component, such as one weekend on campus a month, which may mean you need to pay for travel and lodging.)
Online programs tend to be cheaper than their in-person counterparts as well, since colleges can save money on overhead costs. However, this isn’t always the case. You may find little or no difference in tuition costs between a college’s online/hybrid and in-person programs, especially as online education becomes more mainstream (which is good for online ed’s reputation but potentially bad for cost savings).