How Distance Learning Colleges Stack up Against Traditional Colleges

Published on Wednesday 9th 2006f August, 2006

In recent years, there has been much debate about the effectiveness of distance learning colleges in comparison to traditional colleges. Since many people who want to go back to college are trying online programs, more and more employers are accepting these programs as legitimate learning programs. But there are still those who believe that the education received does not match the quality of the traditional college environment.

There are many pros and cons to online learning. In the end, it is up to each individual to figure out how much time he/she will have to devote to earning a degree, what type of degree program he/she is interested in, and how much he/she can spend on education. For some, online programs are a perfect fit. Those that need a more structured learning environment should try a traditional college degree program. Below is a comparison of distance learning and traditional colleges degree programs.

Distance Learning

• Students can arrange their study time around their work schedule. This will ease some of the stress associated with the return to college.
• The cost of attending an online program may be less than traditional college tuition.
• Students will not have to travel to class, which will save them even more time.
• Most programs will not require textbooks, which will save students money.
• Students complete tasks at their own pace. They can wait to complete assignments until they feel confident that they understand the information.

Traditional College Learning

• Many students need structure in order to complete tasks on time. Some students may not be able to regulate themselves to a regular study schedule in a distance learning program. A more traditional structure is required.
• The tuition cost may be higher.
• Living in a dorm or close to campus can cause students to mature faster because they will be responsible for food costs, housing costs, and other costs associated with living away from home. Students will also be able to socialize with classmates.
• Textbooks are required for most classes. They can be very expensive.
• Some students may feel overwhelmed by assignments that are due at a certain time. This may cause them not to score well in classes.

In many ways, distance learning is not that much different from traditional colleges. Each has pros and cons. For those who are returning to college, distance learning programs seem to work out much better than traditional college programs.

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