Online education is a relatively new field in the bureaucratic world of education. Twenty five years ago educators from every state attempted to address the issue of a nationwide accredition for schools in order to help distance learners in their quest for classroom free degree. Today, students and teachers are still feeling out the nuances of an online education because 50 state bodies cannot agree on a single set of standards.
The degrees you can earn online are still far fewer than the degrees offered from the traditional classroom environment. However, the number of students enrolled in online classes are increasing at a rapid pace every year. The report Online Nation: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning from the Sloan Foundation indicates that in the fall of 2006, nearly 3.5 million students or 19.8% of all post-secondary students took an online course. As enrollment increases, the quality and quantity of online courses offered have increased as well. Working professionals everywhere now have the opportunity to earn an advanced degree more easily than ever before. Undergraduate students from the traditional campus colleges are taking online courses in lieue of traditional classes due to easier access.
Of course the real advantage of an online course is that you can study at your own leisure. Study whenever, wherever........