With more and more colleges and universities offering degrees online, people wanting to complete higher education have more options than ever. While these options do open up greater opportunities for some people, they can leave others feeling overwhelmed by their choices. If you are having trouble deciding between obtaining a degree at a traditional school and getting a degree online, consider these pros and cons for an online education.
Pros
1. Flexible Schedule
With classes online, you are not required to attend classes at a certain time or complete assignments by a certain day. Online classes allow you the flexibility to complete your schooling on your own schedule, whether that is mid-afternoon or 3 a.m. This is very beneficial to people who need to work around work and family schedules.
2. Flexible Location
With traditional college classes, you have to be on campus to attend classes. With an online degree, however, you can work from absolutely anywhere. If you are living in Nebraska but want to attend an online school based in Washington, that is no problem. There is no need to uproot your family or leave your friends. You are not limited by your geographic area.
3. Flexible Pace
Traditional college classes require students to complete assignments and have them turned in to be graded by a certain day and time. Many online classes, however, allow you to work at your own pace. While you do have to have everything done by the end of the semester, you can easily take a month off in the middle of the semester to complete other obligations.
Cons
1. Limited Classes
While more and more classes are being offered online, there are still many classes that are only available in a traditional classroom setting. If you are seeking a more hands-on degree that would warrant a lot of actual class time, you may not find all the classes you need offered online.
2. Limited Teacher Interaction
Some students do well teaching themselves from a book and some notes; others need to have an instructor readily available for questioning. If you are the type of student who does better learning from an actual person, you may become frustrated by the limited teacher interaction that often comes with an online education. While you will likely receive some feedback on your work, the response may be slow and not as in-depth as you need.
3. Stigma Associated with Online Degrees
Even though online degrees are becoming more popular, they still carry some stigma. Some people are under the impression than online degrees are easier or not as legitimate as traditional degrees. In fact, a shocking 40 percent of employees would not value an online degree. While this obviously varies depending on the field of study, it is something to take into consideration.
Whether an online degree or a traditional degree is best is a choice that only you can make. Evaluate your learning style and consider what goals you hope to achieve by earning your degree. Then pick the right degree and put in the hard work and before you know it you will have a quality degree you can be proud of.
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