There have always been some doubts and myths about getting a degree online. Students worry if others will frown upon their online degree or consider it less worthy than a degree earned through the traditional college system. The truth is that online degrees are equally beneficial and worthy as traditional college degrees.
The days of stigmatizing online education are long gone. There is a constant rise in demand for online degrees, which is itself proof of its benefits. 86% of online learners say that their online degree was worth the cost they paid for it. Out of those learners who took both online and on-campus courses, 85% said that online learning is equal to or even better than on-campus learning courses.
If you are asking yourself if it is really a good choice to get an online degree, here are the five benefits you should know.
- Learn and Earn
If you are already a part of the working force and want to advance in your career, you will need to move up your academic hierarchy. And it’s quite difficult to manage a job while also going to college for education. Online learning solves this problem as it comes with a lot of flexibility. You study at your own pace and can set your schedule. You are not bound to attend a class on campus, etc. You don’t have to forgo one thing for another, and you can learn and earn at the same time.
Many working adults pursue online education so that they can get advanced degrees and improve their employment prospects. For example, many practicing nurses who only have a bachelor’s in nursing earn a master of science in nursing online to get better employment opportunities. It also becomes easier to pay for your education when you are also working along with it. Thus, it doesn’t become a financial burden. Not only for career development, but online degrees are also helpful in case you want a career change.
- Affordable
Online education is more affordable than in-person education. Most institutions offer the same programs they offer on campus for somewhat lower tuition rates in the form of online programs. Similarly, the books needed for preparation also cost less in the form of digital downloads as compared to a hard copy of a book.
Apart from these apparent rates and costs, there are many indirect costs you can avoid with online learning. With an online degree, you don’t have to pay for on-campus amenities like maintenance, management staff, land and property, housing options, meals, etc.
Additionally, you don’t need to commute for online degrees, which greatly reduces costs. It can be very costly to commute daily to the college campus and pay for gas, tolls, parking, etc. According to a survey, 34% of the respondents say that the most prominent factor for choosing an online degree, in their case, is lower fees.
- Enhanced Learning Quality and Accessibility
Online education makes it easy to access your course material, improving the quality of education. There is no peer pressure; you learn at your own pace. You can set your schedule, and hence you study when you know you have the peace of mind and enough energy to understand and absorb the things you are studying. The online learning system is very flexible, which adds to its increased quality.
You get recorded lectures that you can access all the time. You can watch the lecture whenever it’s easy for you. Moreover, you can watch a lecture repeatedly if you don’t understand a complex concept. You can pause or rewind the lecture when you are making notes, slow down its playback speed, etc. Thus, you will have 24/7 access to your course material. All this ensures a better quality of learning. You can watch a lecture while commuting home from work or vice versa.
- Improved Technical Skills
The pillar of online education is technology. You need to have a laptop or computer to attend online lectures, access course material, make and submit an assignment, etc. Online education will make you a tech-savvy person. You will make use of technology much more as compared to on-campus learning.
During online education, students become aware of several software tools, such as grammar checkers, Microsoft Office applications, Google suite products, adobe workshops, storage applications, etc. You search for online resources to help you study better. Thus, you become familiar with many educational applications.
Not to forget, digital communication is a major part of online education. You become familiar with different communication platforms, like discussion boards and teleconferencing. You use different software to share your documents or assignments with teachers and your peers on all types of media platforms.
- Strong Time Management Skills
The flexibility that comes with online learning can become a hindrance real quick if you don’t proficiently manage your time. Having the freedom to study anytime you want makes you realize you need a schedule to utilize your time. Otherwise, you will start procrastinating and waste your precious time. Online learners can manage their time better as they have to manage work, family, social life, study, and other responsibilities.
Make a schedule and dedicate a specific portion of your day to studying only. Without proper time management, you can never achieve your goals. An on-campus learner follows the schedule provided by the college, but an online learner has to do it themselves.
Moreover, as an online learner, you might even have some free time on your hands as you won’t have to commute to college daily. You can relax and regain your energy in this extra free time or spend it on studying, according to your preference. You can also use this time to prepare in advance for your exams, etc.
If you are wondering whether you should get your degree online, you have come to the right place for advice. Online degrees are equally beneficial as, if not more than, on-campus degrees. Here are five benefits of getting an online degree that make it a good choice.