Great Online Degrees Are a Great Value

Online education has never been more respected than it is today. One study has concluded that over 80% of employers consider online degrees on par with more traditional sources of diplomas. And most online educational providers are less expensive than traditional colleges and universities, often lower than in-state tuitions for residents.

Higher Education at a Lower Cost

Today, the biggest difference between great online degrees and those from traditional universities is not the quality, but rather the price for tuition. That isn't always the case, but it is generally true (Some online schools like Phoenix University which has a high prestige factor and hundreds of thousands of students are actually quite expensive.) But most online schools boast lower cost than traditional colleges, some through lower tuition, but because of the non-commuting/no room and board nature of online education, those expenses are all but eliminated.

The figures which follow are the average annual costs of tuition from each type of school (rounded to the nearest hundred). They were put together by the College Board and are regarding the actual '08-'09 school year numbers. These tallies do not even include room and board:

• Community College - $4,600
• In-State University - $17,400
• Private University - $35,400

For a great online degree, you can expect to pay in the range of cost for a traditional state school (resident rate). Ah, but the greatest benefit is in what that figure doesn't include:

1. Cost of travel - Whether airline or train tickets, wear and tear on your car, or the cost of gasoline to, travel costs can quickly mount when earning a traditional degree - but are all but eliminated by earning great online degrees. Earning a great degree from home can save hundreds, maybe thousands, each year. Online degrees usually only require things most high school grads in North America already have: a PC with an Internet connection!
2. Lost wages - For working people who aim to get more education, traditional education often requires that they miss work to attend classes, maybe a couple of afternoons each week. This is avoided with when gaining a great online degree! And most online programs offer a flexibility allowing most students to complete their degrees much more quickly than is traditionally possible, so the benefits of advancing their educations is realized much more quickly.
3. Books & materials - With online education, many books and materials required by traditional education are not necessary - and that translates to less expense.
4. Room & board - Room and board is no small expense. Sometimes more than half of the true cost of a traditional college is housing and food! Getting a great online degree doesn't require additional furniture, rents, or moving costs.

Equal Quality at a Discount

Whether a traditional school or an online resource, not all colleges are created equal. Of course, some are better than others, but this has always been true, even before the coming of the Internet Age. But the reputation of online education on the whole is improving greatly.

A recent study suggests that students attending classes online retain information just as well as students in a traditional setting. Even companies have started to take advantage of the benefits of a great online education. They weighed the costs and now consider online education a great return on investment to improve the abilities of their workforce. And it should make anyone who needs an online education happy to learn that some 86% of employers would hire those with a degree earned online!