Cost of Online Education

Can you Afford Not to Pursue it?

I have assisted hundreds of students in the process of enrolling into online education programs and one of the most common objections that candidates present is the tuition in comparison to community colleges or the resident tuition rates at local universities. They have a legitimate concern due to the extreme probability that tuition rates are generally higher at educational institutions that offer online degree programs and many students do move forward with schools that appear to make more “economic sense.” However, valid points exist that challenges the notion that the lower tuition rates are in any way helpful in a student’s pursuit to achieve higher education. Several factors other than finances can prohibit a person from completing a program and many professionals in the field may argue have more influence on academic success. Access to a campus, work/life balance and one’s perception of education can be major obstacles in the pathway to a degree or certificate that may lead to an individual’s career advancement and personal growth.

Access to Online Education

What’s the purpose of a free education if a future student can’t get to a campus between 5-7pm in the evening? Many people can’t just quit their jobs and negate their financial commitments to become full-time students. Take a look at your local college’s class schedules and ask yourself if it’s possible to take 15 credit hours for two semesters in an academic year and complete an Associate’s degree in two years or a Bachelor’s degree in four years. For the single young man or woman who may lean on their parents financially it can be done, but ask the single mother with three school-age children and a full-time job how attainable that goal is. Also, ask the factory worker that has an hour and a half commute to work in rush hour traffic how possible it is for them to commit to being at school on specific days and times. It’s true that most schools have increased the number of classes that can be taken online, but many don’t allow an entire degree to be competed with flexibility.

Work/Life Balance

When an adult learner goes back to school, they don’t stop being a spouse, parent, co-worker/ employee, community leader and etc. It would be reasonable to imply that many of us have responsibilities that many times take priority over our personal goals. Special projects at work may require over-time and in this economy with the slow pace of job growth, many employees want to avoid workplace tension. Taking online education courses would allow a person avoid scheduling preferences and allow the worker to demonstrate leadership in the areas of time management, professional growth and conflict resolution. Many parents have to share childcare responsibilities and just because one spouse/partner can make it to school on time doesn’t mean they can go to school. Some local colleges have childcare for students, but they can be limited or expensive. Attending an online program can help families achieve the balance necessary to ensure both parents can work and/or get the education necessary for success. Many online schools have no mandatory login times, so students can do coursework while their children are in school or asleep.

Perception of Education

While working for an online university, I always asked students, “Why Online?” Many prospective students would say, “because it will be easy.” I always tell students to eliminate the word “easy” from their vocabulary. If you ask any student that completed an online degree program, they will most likely tell you that it takes as much or more commitment than if you attended a class “in person.” Online education is for people that are focused on completion and willing to sacrifice the time necessary for their study. Online colleges and universities offer students the flexibility they need to allow students the ability to choose what time of day will be their school time. This empowers students to “take the wheel’ because online education is just the vehicle to their own career aspirations. In order to be successful in education, a student has to have an unwavering dedication to completion of a program whether online or at a physical campus.

The most important point that people looking to advance themselves with education must take into account is to review all options that are available. It’s never wise to pre-judge because one can miss out on several opportunities only due to a lack of sufficient information. Online programs are options that a future student can use to accomplish their goals and the factors that can contribute to whether or not it’s the best option is solely based upon the individual student. After reading this article, the audience should notice that cost wasn’t mentioned much because there are several other issues to think about.