| Women make up a good portion of students enrolled | | | | The costs for online college classes and degree |
| in online college classes. In the next three to six | | | | programs are typically about the same as their |
| years women are expected to account for nearly 60 | | | | traditional counterparts, and many colleges with online |
| percent of the undergraduate population at colleges | | | | classes and degree programs are now accredited. In |
| and universities, as well as a good segment of | | | | addition to low interest federal loans and grants for |
| growth in the labor force. Many will complete their | | | | college, working women can look toward civic |
| courses via a university distance learning degree | | | | organizations, labor unions, large companies, non-profit |
| program. | | | | organizations and veterans organizations that offer |
| Many of the women enrolled in online degree | | | | scholarships, fellowships and grants for college. The |
| programs have community and family responsibilities | | | | Ford Foundation is among them, as is a major soft |
| and before online college classes and degree | | | | drink company. |
| programs had rigid campus class schedules and child | | | | The American Association of University Women alone |
| care to worry about. Into the 21st century, they | | | | for the 2009-2010 academic year plans to provide |
| said, online college alternatives allow them to "fit | | | | more than $3 million for more than 200 fellowships |
| education into their work and family schedules, rather | | | | and grants for college, according to its Web site. The |
| than trying to fit their lives into the schedules of | | | | association offers career development grants for |
| traditional education", according to an American | | | | college that are designed for women with bachelor |
| Association of University Women study. Scholarships, | | | | degrees to advance their careers; its fellowships are |
| fellowships and grants for college are also available to | | | | provided for research in the United States and |
| make higher education more affordable for working | | | | abroad. |
| women. | | | | Some women don't have to worry about tuition |
| Online college costs were a common point of | | | | costs or qualifying for fellowships, scholarships and |
| discussion for women interviewed for the 2001 | | | | grants for college. They might work for employers |
| study, "The Third Shift, Women Learning Online". | | | | who offer tuition reimbursement. The rising number |
| Many of the women were pursuing online degrees; | | | | of working women has, in fact, been credited as one |
| others were taking online college classes simply | | | | of the reasons for the growth of distance education |
| because they enjoy learning. "Internet learning is a | | | | itself. |
| dream come true for women like me with families | | | | Of 121 million women ages 16 and older, 68 million |
| and full-time jobs", a computer lab technician told | | | | were employed in 2008, according to the U.S. |
| "Third Shift" interviewers. | | | | Department of Labor. A 2001 U.S. Senate document |
| College classes and online degree programs, they | | | | cited in the American Association of University |
| noted, provide excellent opportunities for women | | | | women study described the average online college |
| who have children, heavy work responsibilities, | | | | student as female, 34 years old, employed part-time |
| disabilities or tight schedules, or who reside in | | | | and maintaining previously earned college credits. |
| geographically isolated areas. With online college | | | | Women are projected to account for 49 percent of |
| classes and online degree programs, many women | | | | the increase in the total labor force growth between |
| try to do their coursework while other family | | | | 2006 and 2016. And, by 2013, the number of women |
| members are sleeping, or they postpone taking | | | | enrolled in undergraduate classes is expected to climb |
| courses until their children are older and more | | | | to 8.9 million, accounting for 57 percent of the |
| independent, the study reports. Respondents cited | | | | undergraduate population, the U.S. Department of |
| positive online college aspects such as minimized | | | | Education reports. |
| commuting time and travel costs. | | | | |