8 Reasons Students are Choosing Online Schools Rather Than a Traditional Education

You’ve likely heard how online schools are increasing in enrollment by 40 percent, even as brick and mortar institutions see no growth at all in their student bodies. Want to know why? Here are the top reasons cited by online students for their decision to get an education via the Internet.

1. The Opportunity to Graduate Early

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Even a highly motivated student is hard pressed to graduate early at a traditional school. Only so many classes the student needs are offered each semester, and the class times often overlap. If you’re one of those driven students who’s ready to get an education and hit the job market, an online education doesn’t hamstring you because you can take as many classes as you can handle and manage the workload at your own leisure.

2. Flexible Scheduling

Students who also work or are raising families can’t always be in class promptly at 8 a.m. each morning or 6 p.m. each night. These students find liberty in online classes, where they can do their work when they’re able to. No more worrying about work changing your schedule or a baby’s illness to keep you out of class.

3. Go At Your Own Pace

Some people need more time to digest material than others. This has nothing to do with intelligence, and everything to do with the type of learner you are. If you need more time to study math, science, or literature to understand it, online classes are ideal for your learning pace.

4. Fewer Distractions

Fraternities, sororities, parties, the peer pressure… not everyone can learn in the modern campus environment. Students often find they’re able to concentrate better and learn more effectively away from these distractions.

5. Rising Costs to Commute

Not all students can afford a car, and some even struggle for the gas money to get to school and back each day. These students find online schools, or a combination of schools online and campus-based classes to be an ideal solution.

6. Budget Constraints

Online classes often cost less than their brick and mortar counterparts, especially if the textbooks are offered online. The average college student spends over $1,100 on textbooks per year. They can greatly reduce these costs by getting an education online.

7. More School Choices

Sometimes the deciding factor between schools online and campus-based is where you live. Many students have limited learning opportunities without moving away from their home and family, but an online degree is accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

8. Various Medical and Social Reasons

Disabilities, illnesses, learning difficulties, and other physical or psychological barriers often keep students away from class. Some students are simply unable to attend a traditional classroom, and others might fear social isolation or negative interactions. Either way, all of these students are welcomed with open arms into the online learning environment.

As you can see, their reasons for attending classes online is almost as varied as the students themselves. All of these learners thrive in online colleges, when a traditional brick and mortar classroom might be impossible for them to attend. Fortunately, there are more colleges, educational opportunities, and degree programs online than ever before to meet these needs.