Homeschooling and Education

With the advent of the Internet, many experts believed that the availability of a higher education would grow exponentially. It was thought that this new technology would provide the masses with the vehicle to access online courses and earn an online college degree. And with the need for a degree from a college or university to enjoy economic success in the workplace, the Internet was viewed as the answer to the growing demand for advanced education.

Embracing Online Education

However, many of the top schools resisted offering online classes in fear that their reputations would be somehow tarnished by allowing students to earn degrees online. Despite this resistance to change, a number of progressive schools started offering online courses and a variety of online degrees in a large number of areas — nursing, business, engineering, criminal law, etc.

Availability of Online College Degrees

As a matter of fact, the Internet has indeed revolutionized the educational process, turning online education into a multi-billion industry. With approximately 3.5 million students (20% of all college students) taking at least one online class, it is clear that the concept has been embraced by most educational institutions and students alike. Just recently, many of the elite universities have begun offering online courses to interested students and also are providing lectures by guest speakers online as a way of expanding their influence in the educational arena.

An online college degree is becoming more commonplace these days, with even the most “stodgy” of universities starting to offer classes online. This trend is certain to continue as schools begin to recognize the advantages of offering an online education to students on a global basis.