| If there's one thing that the Great Recession has | | | | many. These courses are often self-paced and |
| taught us, it's the fact that a good education is | | | | provide students the flexibility to devise their own |
| valued even during the toughest of times. While | | | | schedules, which works well for those who have jobs |
| some may question the wisdom in investing in a | | | | or families to care for. Since the students can access |
| college education in these recessionary times, | | | | the learning resources from home, they are not |
| statistics reveal that the jobless rate for people with | | | | bound by geographic limitations. Online degree |
| a Bachelor's degree stands at half of the overall | | | | programs are naturally much cheaper than their |
| jobless rate in the country. If that's not a reason | | | | traditional, on-campus versions and the courses |
| enough to open your eyes to the growing reality | | | | available range from diplomas and certificates to |
| that education is your most potent weapon against | | | | higher degrees such as Bachelor's, Master's, and even |
| economic downturn, then nothing will. | | | | a Ph.D. Moreover, many universities offer financial aid |
| Unfortunately, many of us may find it difficult to get | | | | to deserving students. |
| a college degree due to a variety of reasons. Financial | | | | However, one niggling question that remains in the |
| responsibilities, domestic circumstances or lack of | | | | hearts and mind of those armed with an online |
| funds could pose barriers to a college education. For | | | | degree program is their market value. Perception |
| such people, online degree programs are a huge | | | | about online degrees has definitely changed for the |
| bonus. | | | | better over time. According to a report released by |
| Online degree programs are gaining popularity not just | | | | Sloan Consortium, the percentage of academic |
| with working professionals, at-home mothers, and | | | | leaders who rated learning outcomes in online |
| single parents, but it's fast becoming the chosen | | | | education as the same or superior to those in |
| mode of higher education for many full time students | | | | face-to-face increased from 57 percent in 2003 to 62 |
| as well. Sloan Consortium, an organization focused on | | | | percent in 2006. A survey by Distance Education and |
| improving the standards of distance education in the | | | | Training Council revealed that 70 percent of |
| country, released a report claiming that 3.2 million | | | | corporate supervisors rated online or distance |
| students took at least one online course during 2005. | | | | degrees just as valuable or more valuable than |
| Keeping pace with the times and to meet the | | | | traditional degrees in the same field. However, one |
| growing demand, many international universities are | | | | must consider the fact that some online degrees are |
| now offering online degree programs. In fact, | | | | more readily embraced by employers than others. |
| according to the National Center for Education | | | | Among these are degrees in healthcare, business, and |
| Statistics, 66 percent of the Title IV (eligible for | | | | technology. |
| Federal Student Aid) degree-granting postsecondary | | | | With changing perception and growing acceptance of |
| institutions offered distance education courses in the | | | | online degrees, the world is yours to conquer. All you |
| academic year 2006-07. | | | | need to do is make sure you earn the degree from a |
| So, why have more and more students started to | | | | university of repute and avoid dubious institutes or |
| prefer online degree programs? The reasons are | | | | "diploma mills" that offer fake degrees at a cost. |