Distance Learning Education Degrees and Programs

Can I earn a full time degree online?

What is Distance Learning?

Is Distance learning right for me?

What are the advantages of getting an online degree?

What are the disadvantages of distance learning?

Should I go back to college. Do I really need a college degree?
Going back to college is a very good investment. Back2College.com makes the following three observations on how a college degree is a very good investment:

Fastest Growing Segment. "So many adults ranging in age from 25-80 years old are returning to college that they are no longer being considered "non-traditional" students, Recent statistics from the Census Bureau and the US. Department of Education show that adult students are the fastest growing educational demographic. Almost 40 percent are over 25, with an average age of 30, and these numbers are steadily increasing."

More education. More options. "In general the higher the education, the higher the salary, and the better the career options and security. According to the Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual income for employees with:

• a high school diploma was $23,000
• an associate's degree was $29,000
• a bachelor's degree was $39,000

Holders of bachelor's degrees earn 81% more than workers with a high school diploma. In addition, employees with only a high school diploma were twice as likely to be unemployed as those holding bachelor's degrees. Over a lifetime, the gap in earning potential between high school graduates and those holding a bachelor's degree or higher exceeds $1 million, according to the College Board."

Increased Certification. "Statistics project that 75 percent of future positions are expected to require at least some type of certification or licensure, and professions that require a bachelor's degree are projected to grow nearly twice as fast as the national average.

Read the article, "Is Distance Learning For Me?"

• Commitment. There will be periods when demands on your time from employer, family and friends make it difficult to find time to study.
• Time Management. You can't procrastinate. Work, family and social commitments must be constantly time-managed.
• Information Management. You have to be able to actively manage your course information. Online learners receive a lot of information at once.
• No Instructor Coaching. If your learning style is one where you like personalized attention from your teachers, forget about distance learning.
• Independence and Isolation. You should be prepared to work alone with limited access to lecturers, tutors and fellow students. You often are expected to find your own resources for completing assignments.
• Technology Savvy. You must be comfortable with constant change and using technologies because most online courses use technology for teaching and communication.
• Acceptability. While perceptions are changing, there is still a stigma attached to distance delivered degrees. For more information, read "Will Employers Accept My Online Degree?"