For many people, getting a degree is one of their top priorities in life. A degree can allow you to get a good paying job and can provide opportunities to advance in the workplace. But a major drawback to getting a degree is that it can be extremely expensive and time consuming. Getting a degree the traditional way is not an option for some people who already work full time jobs, yet want to go back to school to get a degree. Fortunately, there has been a recent surge in online degree programs that one can take advantage of. Online colleges provide opportunities not only for working people, but also for students right out of high school that are looking to finish school faster and spend less money.
Expense Differences
Today, going to a traditional college will likely cost you more than $100,000 by the time you are done. This number increases dramatically when you consider attending college outside of your home state. The reason that it is so expensive is because colleges and universities have many facilities and staff to maintain. This costs money, and one of the main ways that they obtain the funds for these costs are tuition and fees. This means that you can pay thousands of dollars in fees for resources that you will never use. Furthermore, living on campus and spending four years or more to finish your degree adds up to some major cash. As people began doing a little research into online colleges, they realized that many of these expenses are non-existent, and a degree can be finished at one’s own pace.
Schedule Differences
Because online degrees are self-paced, it is certainly possible for someone to finish their degree faster than if they had gone to a traditional college. At a traditional college, you have the usual fall and spring semesters, and limited class offerings over the summer. At online colleges, you can take courses year round. Also, because you do not have to pay for room and board in another city, you save a lot of money that can be used to pay for more classes. As soon as you are done with one set of classes, you can immediately enroll in the next set according to your degree plan. If you take a full course load year round, then it is almost certain that you will finish your degree in less time than it would have taken you at a traditional college.
Online colleges are quickly becoming viable alternatives to the traditional college experience due to their lower cost and possible accelerated time of completion. Furthermore, schedules are more flexible, and you can take as many or few classes as you wish. With enough dedication and hard work, it is certainly possible for you to finish your degree in less time than it would at a traditional college.
Additional Resource: Comparing Classrooms: Traditional and Online College