by T. Jay Kane

Created on: November 30, 2009

Distance education has changed the way people learn. Universities and colleges now exist completely on line, serving students all over the world. These on line schools are held to many of the same standards as traditional places of higher education, but students must carefully weigh the pros and cons of distance education before committing their time and money to an on line program.

Pros:

Independence: Isn't that what we all want? Just a little bit of freedom? On line classes offer students the chance to still live their 9 to 5 lives by taking classes where and when it is convenient for them. No need to put personal commitments on hold, just schedule your personal study time around what is already going on in your life.

No More Gridlock: These days, people are squeezing every dime out of their gas tank as possible. With distance education, students can avoid the highways, avoid the grid lock, and avoid the traffic jams just by transforming their living rooms into study halls.

Cost: Due to the fact that on line colleges and universities don't have to pay the same overhead costs as traditional schools, those savings can be passed on to the students.

Diverse Faculty: No longer are experienced instructors limited to where they can teach by geographical boundaries. On line schools allow instructors from all over the world to be able to teach students in virtual settings. A diverse teaching faculty exposes students to different points of views, experiences, and philosophies.

Rotating Enrollment: Most on line schools offer rotating enrollment with most classes starting every month. This means that students can begin their studies immediately and they don't have to wait for seasons and semesters to be over before starting a program of study.

Cons:

Do Your Homework: Just because a school represents itself on line as an institute of higher learning, make sure that they're telling the truth. Don't get stuck with a diploma mill degree that will be as worthless as the paper it's printed on. Make sure that the school is accredited by an agency authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit institutes of higher learning (if attending a U.S. based school, that is). If not attending a U.S. based school, proceed with caution. International laws may make it easier for you to be duped and harder to recoup losses.

You're On Your Own: While greater Independence when it comes to a college level education can be a good thing for many, there are those who find it difficult

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