We are now in the internet age. The ways we communicate, take in information and even purchase things have changed radically in order to take advantage of this medium. In recent years, the way we receive our education has also adapted to harness the convenience of the internet. Universities now offer online-based courses for students wishing to obtain a degree without attending a college in the traditional way. Hectic work schedules, childcare considerations and the rising cost of a university education are all factors that used to limit students. Attending a university by computer can be a solution to many of the challenges facing students pursuing a higher degree.

The benefits of an online education are many. Attending a lecture and taking an exam without ever leaving the living room might appeal to students living in rural areas, or those who find travel time in a big city prohibitive. Gone are the fees for parking, textbooks and on-campus housing. Students may also save money by lowering childcare costs and wear-and-tear on cars. They might even find their employers offer part or total tuition reimbursement as an incentive to pursuing a degree. The flexibility of scheduling might also greatly appeal to those who are organized, self-motivated and prefer to personalize a course to their unique learning style.

There are considerations that some students might find prohibitive as well. Primary among them is the worry they may have that future employers will not accept the credentials of an online degree. A student may also at times feel isolated from classmates and instructor, since communication is almost entirely electronic. Others may prefer a hands-on experience and dislike spending a great deal of time on the computer, or may have a low degree of computer familiarity. Also, some students may find an auditory-based learning style simply suits them better.

As more and more students choose to participate in online courses and pursue online degrees, employers are steadily coming to accept them as viable and legitimate forms of education. In addition, many established universities are now expanding their curriculum to offer online choices for continuing education. The most important factor is the accreditation that a particular school or degree program receives. There are purely internet-based colleges that have the same level of accreditation as top schools across the country. There are, of course, some that do not. Students must therefore do their homework before ever attending their first online class and fully investigate whether their school or degree program of choice is reputable and accredited.

The numbers of online colleges and traditional universities that offer online degrees have nearly doubled in the last year alone. As more and more students find the benefits of online learning compelling, its popularity will continue to rise. This will in turn influence more universities to offer online courses as an alternative to traditional study. As the number of graduates of online programs grows, employers will lose any reservations they might have regarding online education. The convenience, affordability and quality of education offered by online programs now enable students to receive a degree that might simply have been unattainable before.