- A 2007 study by Dr. I. Elaine Allen and Dr. Jeff Seaman, entitled "Online Nation: 5 Years of Growth in Online Learning," found a 10% increase in online class participation from 2002 to 2006. That statistic puts this type of coursework at almost one-fifth of college enrollment. This study only included degree-granting schools. Institutions offering classes for personal or career enrichment were not counted.
- Most people have seen Internet ads for online college courses, or even online universities. While some of the schools being advertised are obscure, most big-name institutions offer at least some online classes, including Harvard University. Since community colleges are popular with adults seeking to boost their careers, many have several online classes for most majors.
- Many traditional college-aged students enroll in online courses to help them manage their schedules, which might include jobs as well as classes. Working adults and homemakers often take online classes for the same reason. However, their schedules are often exclusively comprised of online classes, because they work or care for children during the day.
- While two-year degree programs made up the bulk of online classes early in the decade, the number of bachelor's degrees obtained at least partially online has grown rapidly in the last few years. Master's degrees can now be acquired via the Internet, and while less common, it is now even possible to obtain a doctorate online.
- The biggest benefit is convenience. Online classes mean less time spent in a classroom, and some classes require no scheduled time when students must meet online. Some students find that online discussions are more meaningful, because typing a response requires more thought than spontaneous conversation. Common classroom distractions are avoided, allowing students to focus fully on the class.
- Those who lack self-discipline may find it difficult to succeed in online classes. Some find that they feel less accountable if they are not face-to-face with a professor. Efficient time management can help with this potential downfall, especially if same-time class attendance is optional. Others may have difficulty with online classes because they feel disconnected socially from their classmates and the professor. Often, though, forums unrelated to the class subject are available so that people can get to know each other.
- It's crucial that schools, whether completely virtual or not, are nationally accredited. This means that an outside institution has deemed the school to be credible as a post-secondary educational institution. This is important for the sake of education, but also because employers may reject potential workers if their degrees were received from non-accredited schools. Although the government has nothing to do with this validation process, accredited schools can be found in the Department of Education's: database at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
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