| A college degree can open doors to better | | | | throughout the United States and abroad. The result |
| employment opportunities and great earning potential. | | | | is interaction with faculty and students from diverse |
| In times past, getting a college education meant | | | | backgrounds who can share their unique experiences |
| spending months or years in a classroom. Additionally, | | | | and perspectives. Group projects offer opportunities |
| commuting to a school or living on campus was a | | | | to get to know fellow students better. |
| must for a person working toward a degree. | | | | Studying online can help one who has already earned |
| However with computers in a large percentage of | | | | college credits complete their course of study in a |
| households, a college education is literally at the | | | | shorter period of time. In the case of an individual |
| fingertips of anyone who wishes to earn one. | | | | who has completed a two-year program, half of the |
| Whether the choice is an associate, bachelor's, a | | | | work needed for bachelor's degree would already be |
| master's degree or other professional credential, in | | | | completed. Due to the self-paced nature of such |
| most cases the work can be completed entirely | | | | programs, learners can complete coursework months |
| online. | | | | to years earlier than may be done in traditional |
| Reasons to consider an online learning program include | | | | classroom settings. |
| convenience and more college choices. In many | | | | There are numerous colleges and universities that |
| cases, students who study via online colleges and | | | | offer educational opportunities via the internet and |
| universities have the option of working at their own | | | | options are growing everyday. By doing some careful |
| pace. Materials and lectures on video can be | | | | research, a prospective student can find colleges that |
| accessed at a student's convenience. Study can be | | | | offer degrees in many fields. In the United States, |
| accomplished during lunch breaks at work, late at | | | | many institutions are accredited by one of the |
| night, or while on vacation. Students can maintain | | | | regional accrediting organizations. Accredited schools |
| full-time jobs and family responsibilities while studying. | | | | must comply with standards which assure that quality |
| Many online education opportunities are offered by | | | | programs and services are provided to students and |
| private and proprietary institutions, but a growing | | | | the community. In most professions that require a |
| number of public institutions are offering such | | | | college education, employers expect the diploma to |
| programs. The numerous choices of institutions allow | | | | be earned from an accredited institution so be careful |
| students to study at colleges or universities | | | | when choosing an institution to study in. |