Comparing Online and Campus Degree Programs

Introduction

Education, over the years, has transformed into a widespread industry that is growing in competition. One of highlights of this transformation has been the emergence of the concept of online education. Education through schools, colleges or universities has been the primary method of imparting knowledge and preparing students for their future careers. Of late though, providing education through the internet is slowly starting to find its place as a strong alternative. Both forms of education have their own merits and drawbacks and these prove to be factors that must be considered before taking a call.

Cost Factor

It is first important to understand and compare how much you will have to pay for the two types of courses. Most of the time, online courses will be the cheaper option for you but this may not always hold true. There are online courses that may be more expensive than a regular college course. Therefore, you need assess the situation and make a decision.

Difficulty Level

It is easy to think that studying online is not at all difficult, but the truth is that online education is not ideal for everyone. Since you are not into a college or university where there is bound to be some amount of discipline and dedicated time for learning, it is your responsibility to maintain that discipline and give time to your education. For those who fail to do so, it may be difficult to make progress. On the other hand, students in on-campus courses may find it difficult to concentrate beyond college hours and suffer as a result.

Accessibility of Learning Resources

Online programs try to offer their students as much support as possible, but they may still be lacking when compared with on-campus programs. Most online programs claim to provide 24 x 7 online supports to students but the effectiveness of this claim may be doubtful. Also, the reference material available in online libraries may be limited compared to that in on-campus libraries.

Quality of The Faculty

If you have taken an online course with an established college or university offering both types of courses, there is every possibility that the tutors or instructors will be different from those teaching the on-campus students. They may be individuals from outside the academic institution teaching courses in specialized subjects based on their experience as a professional. Many students may prefer learning from such people as it allows them to stay up-to-date with the current workplace scenario in their prospective career and provide them more practical knowledge.

Networking

For obvious reasons, networking is comparatively easier while doing on-campus courses as you meet students and faculty members on a daily basis and get opportunity to build strong relationships that help you grow. The options may be limited in online courses due to minimal face-to-face contact. However, many online courses do have separate forums for interacting with both fellow students and tutors that can help in connecting with people. To add to it, online students can use social networking websites to bond with their on-campus counterparts.

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