| Over the past several years, oline education has | | | | individual lifestyle. Busy families and single parents |
| continued to grow at an impressive rate. Nearly four | | | | especially appreciate this flexibility. |
| million students are discovering the benefits of | | | | Privacy and anonymity: Students not desiring an |
| obtaining an education online. Colleges and academic | | | | on-campus college experience can learn without |
| institutions across the country are actively working to | | | | having to meet face to face with anyone. Students |
| keep up with the growth in enrollment in accredited | | | | who may be intimidated by on-campus involvement |
| online colleges. | | | | enjoy the freedom and privacy of learning online. |
| Online Nation | | | | Student-centered learning: Online students can tailor |
| "Online Nation: Five Years of Growth in Online | | | | their learning to their own learning style and usually |
| Learning" is the fifth annual report on the state of | | | | work at their own pace. There is greater one-to-one |
| online learning in the U.S., supported by the Alfred P. | | | | interaction between instructor and individual students, |
| Sloan Foundation. The report, published early 2008, | | | | as online programs are designed for frequent |
| summarizes a survey conducted with 2,500 colleges | | | | exchange of information and feedback. |
| and universities. Some interesting statistics: | | | | Collaboration and teamwork: Most online degree |
| · Nearly 20 percent of all students enrolled in | | | | programs are designed around a collaborative model |
| higher education programs are studying online. | | | | of processing and problem-solving. Students often |
| · The 9.7 percent yearly growth for online | | | | experience a greater sense of community and |
| enrollment far exceeds the1.5 percent growth of the | | | | camaraderie as they work and learn together. |
| overall higher education population. | | | | Quality education: Instructors and students surveyed |
| · Two-year associate's degree institutions | | | | in the "Online Nation" study mentioned above believe |
| have the highest growth rates and account for over | | | | online programs are just as rigorous and valuable as |
| half of all online enrollments for the last 4 years. | | | | traditional coursework. Quality of online course |
| It is clear that online degree programs are impacting | | | | offerings and instruction was rated at least as high as |
| the academic world in a big way, but what impact | | | | traditional programs. |
| does enrolling in an online college or university have | | | | Ready for the future: Pioneers in online education will |
| on the learner? Why are students, especially | | | | be well-equipped for life in the 21st Century. Not only |
| non-traditional students, enrolling and sticking with it | | | | will online students be technologically savvy, they will |
| until graduation? | | | | have gained a more global perspective by interacting |
| The Benefits | | | | with others from a distance. |
| It appears many factors work together to make | | | | Online degrees are valuable: Early doubt over the |
| online learning a positive experience for the student. | | | | marketability of an online degree has faded as |
| Some of the main factors: | | | | graduates are proving the worth of their online |
| Greater access and availability: Students are able to | | | | education in the workplace. Those advancing their |
| signup for courses and programs not available in their | | | | careers by going back to school are proof that |
| geographic area. Those who live in rural areas where | | | | getting an online degree pays off. |
| transportation is a problem can log-on and attend a | | | | Join the millions who have already reaped the |
| cyber class at a top accredited school - without | | | | benefits |
| having to leave home! | | | | Millions have already received online degrees. They |
| Diversity of course offerings: Where you live on the | | | | are living proof that it can be done and that there |
| planet doesn't matter. You can still avail yourself of a | | | | are many benefits from selecting an accredited online |
| wide variety of professional and specialized training | | | | degree program. There will always be traditional |
| programs from accredited schools. Nearly every field | | | | institutions of higher learning. But online learning has |
| is now represented in online offerings, as is every | | | | become firmly established as a practical and |
| type of degree - from diploma and certificate | | | | worthwhile route to getting that degree and moving |
| programs, to associate's, bachelor's, master's and | | | | forward in life. |
| Ph.D. level degrees. | | | | Is online education for you? |
| Convenience and flexibility: Being able to log-on | | | | If you need more information on accredited online |
| twenty-four hours, seven days a week makes online | | | | degrees, programs or information on online colleges |
| learning very attractive to the adult learner. | | | | & universities, please call our friendly advisors toll |
| Controlling when and where coursework is done | | | | free at: |
| allows students to keep working and caring for their | | | | 1.888.281.2822 |
| families. Although online programs have workloads | | | | Nationwide directory of accredited online colleges, |
| equivalent to traditional "face-to face" programs, the | | | | universities and campus-based schools. |
| work can be done according to a schedule that fits | | | | |