Angela Bostic will get her MBA in August from the University of Maryland University College, part of a dual master's degree she is pursuing. She has never met a professor, has never sat in a classroom and has checked out the Adelphi campus only once, long after she had enrolled. In fact, until recently, the 28-year-old graduate student had been studying from Brussels.
Bostic is among an extraordinarily fast-growing number of students nationwide and worldwide who are turning to online degree programs to complete or advance their educations while they work, decisions that are driven by economics as well as by a society that is increasingly mobile.
Paul J. Fekete teaches an online course for the University of Maryland.
Paul J. Fekete teaches an online course for the University of Maryland. (Rich Lipski - Rich Lipski-The Washington Post)
What Do Schools Think?
The overall percentage of schools identifying online education as a critical long-term strategy grew from 49% in 2003 to 56% in 2005.
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Congress passed a law in March that drops the requirement that colleges offer at least half their courses face to face to receive federal student aid. The new law will undoubtedly attract more students and schools into the fledgling online industry.
Online enrollment, including multiple courses taken by a single student, jumped from 1.98 million in 2003 to 2.35 million the following year, accounting for 7 percent of postsecondary education, according to Eduventures, a Boston firm that studies trends in education. Another study, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, reports that 65 percent of universities offering face-to-face graduate courses also offer graduate courses online. By early 2008, Eduventures predicts, about one in 10 college students will be enrolled in an online degree program.
"It's only going to grow," said Richard Garrett, an analyst with Eduventures. "The largest high school graduating class in U.S. history is expected to be 2009. There is going to be a lot of pressure on these students to get education in a competitive market."
Critics of e-learning have long said that learning alone through a computer does not provide the enriching intellectual exchange that in-person classes offer. In addition, they say that because the industry is so new, naive consumers may not know the difference between accredited institutions and fly-by-night operations that imply accreditation and charge steep prices. Most educators and industry executives acknowledge that e-learning may not be right for young learners who have not developed the discipline needed to work independently.
Some college administrators predicted that the online learning trend would explode a decade ago as the Internet became more popular, but some traditional schools over-committed before they understood the market. With much fanfare, Columbia University and New York University both launched online learning programs between 1998 and 2000, but they did not offer what some students wanted: a degree. Both programs closed.
Stanford University today offers online master's degrees in certain sciences, but most elite schools have looked down their noses at online degrees.
The University of Phoenix, the nation's largest for-profit online school, initially catered just to distance learning, and it is one of the few that has grown dramatically, by advertising heavily and targeting adult students. But it does not offer what some consumers want: a degree from a traditional brick-and-mortar institution.
At the University of Massachusetts, administrators knew from the beginning that there was an adult market that wanted and would pay for a brand name. "We really understand our audience," said Jack M. Wilson, the president of the university, who started the online venture in 1999. "Students are very different when they are older."
Wilson said his average online student is between 24 and 50, and working. The key for the school, he said, was to create an Internet entity that would blend seamlessly into the university -- admission standards are the same, degree requirements are the same, and the regular faculty is used and paid extra to teach online courses.
Massachusetts's online program offers 61 degree programs, having added 21 this year, and it has quadrupled its enrollment since 2002. In fiscal 2006, revenues for the online school grew 28 percent, and enrollment jumped 20 percent.
Schools that have taken on e-learning in a serious way say producing good, organized courses is labor intensive and expensive. For example, Massachusetts and Maryland's University College provide 24-hour library and technical support to students.
In 1999, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities launched JesuitNet, a collaborative effort in distance learning that allows 28 Jesuit schools to consolidate expenses and share coursework. They started with half a dozen degree offerings and now offer 45 degrees and 380 courses. One of the schools, Fairfield University, found that by offering summer classes online, it was able to keep revenues that students would otherwise have spent elsewhere. Within three years, the school went from 20 online summer courses to 40 -- all fully subscribed.
"We took a much more conservative approach initially, and it has just grown," said the Rev. Charles L. Currie, president of the association.
University of Maryland University College, which has also seen significant growth, is part of the Maryland state university system, although it operates as a separate entity. In 2005, the school had 51,405 online students, up from 9,696 in 1998. UMUC has a leg up on its competitors because it started out 60 years ago as a distance-learning facility serving troops worldwide. With the Internet the school was poised to capture the market.
"There will always be a need and a demand for face-to-face learning," said UMUC's president, Susan C. Aldridge. "But people need more opportunities and avenues to continue their educations."
While traditional schools have for the most part used their staff professors to teach online, UMUC contracts with a wide array of people to teach their expertise. Paul J. Fekete, an international economic consultant, for example, has taught for 11 years. He said he finds the caliber of student quite good. "They have motivation because they are forced to put their views in writing, which can be much more difficult than just a quick answer in class," he said. "They might have to work with someone across the globe" on collaborative projects.
And Fekete, 48, finds the class as convenient for him as for his students. He notes that he has been able to continue teaching while traveling in places such as Laos and Afghanistan.
"I actually feel like I am learning more," said Angela Bostic, the student. "The dynamic is such that you have to learn how to effectively communicate in the written form. That is actually more of a task than speaking in class."
Bostic lives in North Carolina now, but her education remains constant. After she receives her MBA, she will be able to finish her course work for a master's in international management -- from wherever she ends up.
In some cases, however, the opportunity has moved faster than the acceptance. In 1998, Kaplan Inc. (which is owned by The Washington Post Co.) started Concord Law School, the first JD program that is completely online, with 33 students. So far, it has awarded degrees to 229 students in 38 states, and 1,800 students are currently enrolled. But the American Bar Association does not recognize the degree, effectively prohibiting students from taking the bar exam in most states.
Barry A. Currier, the dean, said the school is undeterred. "I think things will change. We just have to take baby steps," he said. "We don't want to bully or scream our way into legitimacy, but once people see what we do over time, the degrees will be accepted."
Kamis, 07 Mei 2009
The Student Loan Shuffle
How tight will it be when you look for student loans this year? On paper, loans should be cheaper, thanks to the interest-rate cuts driven by the Federal Reserve. But as America's giant credit bubble bursts, students are getting splattered, too. The lender you borrowed from last year may have shuttered its loan window for 2008.
Federal loans—Staffords for students, PLUS loans for parents—will still be widely available, but from fewer players. To make these loans, some lenders relied on an obscure financing source called auction-rate notes, which recently ran off the tracks. Others got hit with high borrowing costs when municipal bond insurance tottered. Pennsylvania's higher-education agency suspended student lending last month. At least 15 private sources have exited, too, due to a profit squeeze, says Mark Kantrowitz of Finaid.org.
Then there's the market for "alternative" loans where students can borrow more than the federal program provides. So far, three state agencies—in Michigan, Missouri and New Hampshire—have dropped out, as have at least five private lenders.
Others are tightening up. Last year students or their cosigners (usually a parent) could qualify for an alternative loan with credit scores as low as 620 (out of a maximum of 850). This year that might rise to 650 or more, Kantrowitz says. Sallie Mae, the nation's largest lender, might turn you down if your debt load is high or if your school has a high dropout rate.
The message to families? Call your school, right now, to see if your usual lender is providing funds. If not, start the hunt for other sources. You don't want to be scrounging during the week before tuition is due.
There's another message. Look beyond the student-aid office. You might find a better loan than the ones on your school's list. Take federal Stafford loans, list-priced at a maximum 6.8 percent with a 2.5 percent fee. Most major lenders eliminate the fee. Some cut the interest rate, too. MyRichUncle.com charges 5.8 percent when the loan enters repayment, with a 1.5 percent fee. By law, rates for subsidized Staffords will drop to 6 percent on July 1. MyRichUncle says it will cut its prices, too.
Federal loans—Staffords for students, PLUS loans for parents—will still be widely available, but from fewer players. To make these loans, some lenders relied on an obscure financing source called auction-rate notes, which recently ran off the tracks. Others got hit with high borrowing costs when municipal bond insurance tottered. Pennsylvania's higher-education agency suspended student lending last month. At least 15 private sources have exited, too, due to a profit squeeze, says Mark Kantrowitz of Finaid.org.
Then there's the market for "alternative" loans where students can borrow more than the federal program provides. So far, three state agencies—in Michigan, Missouri and New Hampshire—have dropped out, as have at least five private lenders.
Others are tightening up. Last year students or their cosigners (usually a parent) could qualify for an alternative loan with credit scores as low as 620 (out of a maximum of 850). This year that might rise to 650 or more, Kantrowitz says. Sallie Mae, the nation's largest lender, might turn you down if your debt load is high or if your school has a high dropout rate.
The message to families? Call your school, right now, to see if your usual lender is providing funds. If not, start the hunt for other sources. You don't want to be scrounging during the week before tuition is due.
There's another message. Look beyond the student-aid office. You might find a better loan than the ones on your school's list. Take federal Stafford loans, list-priced at a maximum 6.8 percent with a 2.5 percent fee. Most major lenders eliminate the fee. Some cut the interest rate, too. MyRichUncle.com charges 5.8 percent when the loan enters repayment, with a 1.5 percent fee. By law, rates for subsidized Staffords will drop to 6 percent on July 1. MyRichUncle says it will cut its prices, too.
Minggu, 03 Mei 2009
Online Degree
The Internet evolution has drastically changed the education landscape. What was once considered “Distance Education” is now deemed “Online Education” where the method of teaching and learning has become virtual for students across the world.
Online Degrees are available from a wide variety of internet sources to include accredited Universities to fake Diploma Mills that churn out diplomas without any requirements other than payment.
Receiving an Online Degree provides numerous advantages to education seekers who are restricted by time, resources or transportation but can still advance their career through education.
Advancing Your Career Through Online Education
Online universities and colleges and campus Universities have begun to aggressively pursue students pursuing an education. It is important to take the time to identify which of these institutions are a good fit for you. Some factors to consider include cost, degrees provided, pass/fail requirements (ie, number of exams, theses required to get your degree), attendance, book purchases, and personal attention you may need in order to maximize your education experience. If you are simply “degree shopping” for the quickest and easiest way to get an online degree to put on your resume’, you will probably look for a school that has minimal attendance requirements and is cost effective. However, if learning a skill or trait is critical, then it’s important to look deeper in to the professors, books, itinerary and other online resources that will be available so that you can effectively advance your career after you receive your online diplomas. Regardless of which school you choose, be sure to select a school that is accredited to provide an online degree, such as University of Phoenix or Capella University, as any qualified employer will do research on your internet degree to determine if it’s worth the paper it’s written on.
After you conduct your research on the various online degree colleges and universities, and choose the website that is the best fit for you, prepare yourself to buckle down, read, study and write just as you would for any school. The qualifications to be accepted are generally not as stringent as a campus college such as Penn State University, or University of Florida, but the education is certainly valuable.
There is some debate, however, about how these degrees are viewed by employers. Certainly, having internet or online degrees is better than having no degree at all, but some employers may look down upon them or confuse them with the fake diploma mills that currently exist on the internet. Be prepared in an interview to discuss what you learned in your online education, the challenges you faced and the online coursework you completed that will make you more qualified for your new career.
Vault.com, a career information website, reports that “77 percent of hiring managers say that an online degree received through an established university such as Duke or Stanford is more acceptable than a degree earned through an Internet only university like Capella or Jones International." This is a reality in the online degree landscape, but with aggressive pursuit of the fake diploma industry, online educations will soon become widely accepted and seen as a great way to move you career forward.
How to identify legitimate Internet Degree Colleges and Universities?
* Check accreditation of the online degree at US Department of Education
* Check legitimacy of the Internet University at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
* Write to the Diploma Mill Police that authenticates Internet Institutes of Education.
Online Degrees are available from a wide variety of internet sources to include accredited Universities to fake Diploma Mills that churn out diplomas without any requirements other than payment.
Receiving an Online Degree provides numerous advantages to education seekers who are restricted by time, resources or transportation but can still advance their career through education.
Advancing Your Career Through Online Education
Online universities and colleges and campus Universities have begun to aggressively pursue students pursuing an education. It is important to take the time to identify which of these institutions are a good fit for you. Some factors to consider include cost, degrees provided, pass/fail requirements (ie, number of exams, theses required to get your degree), attendance, book purchases, and personal attention you may need in order to maximize your education experience. If you are simply “degree shopping” for the quickest and easiest way to get an online degree to put on your resume’, you will probably look for a school that has minimal attendance requirements and is cost effective. However, if learning a skill or trait is critical, then it’s important to look deeper in to the professors, books, itinerary and other online resources that will be available so that you can effectively advance your career after you receive your online diplomas. Regardless of which school you choose, be sure to select a school that is accredited to provide an online degree, such as University of Phoenix or Capella University, as any qualified employer will do research on your internet degree to determine if it’s worth the paper it’s written on.
After you conduct your research on the various online degree colleges and universities, and choose the website that is the best fit for you, prepare yourself to buckle down, read, study and write just as you would for any school. The qualifications to be accepted are generally not as stringent as a campus college such as Penn State University, or University of Florida, but the education is certainly valuable.
There is some debate, however, about how these degrees are viewed by employers. Certainly, having internet or online degrees is better than having no degree at all, but some employers may look down upon them or confuse them with the fake diploma mills that currently exist on the internet. Be prepared in an interview to discuss what you learned in your online education, the challenges you faced and the online coursework you completed that will make you more qualified for your new career.
Vault.com, a career information website, reports that “77 percent of hiring managers say that an online degree received through an established university such as Duke or Stanford is more acceptable than a degree earned through an Internet only university like Capella or Jones International." This is a reality in the online degree landscape, but with aggressive pursuit of the fake diploma industry, online educations will soon become widely accepted and seen as a great way to move you career forward.
How to identify legitimate Internet Degree Colleges and Universities?
* Check accreditation of the online degree at US Department of Education
* Check legitimacy of the Internet University at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
* Write to the Diploma Mill Police that authenticates Internet Institutes of Education.
Jumat, 01 Mei 2009
Online Degree Programs: Questions and Answers
Online degree programs are growing faster than ever before. According to the Sloan Consortium, a group that studies online education, approximately 3.2 million students took online courses in the 2005 school year--a big increase over the 2.3 million students studying online just one year earlier. As more students seek out online education programs for their ease and convenience, several non-legitimate online universities have sprung up, making some potential students leery of online school in general.
Not surprisingly, there is a great deal of confusion about online education. Is an online degree program right for you? How do you pick a good one? Do online degree programs qualify for financial aid? Here is what you need to know to make a smart online education decision.
Diploma Mills vs. High Quality Online Degree Programs
Q: What is a "diploma mill" and how can I spot one?
A: Online "diploma mills" are websites that offer degrees without requiring you to complete any coursework. They often advertise degrees earned based on your past life experiences. According to USA Today, diploma mills are a $500 million-a-year industry. For a fee of $50 to $5,000, you can purchase a diploma and transcript from a non-accredited college. Often the colleges exist in name only, and their names are designed to sound like familiar colleges and universities. Penalties for using one of these phony diplomas are mounting. Two states, Oregon and New Jersey, have made it illegal to apply for jobs using bogus degrees. Even those people who are able to snag a job based on false credentials have no guarantee that they can keep it because they have none of the training they would have acquired in a legitimate online degree program.
Q: How do I know that online degree programs I am considering are high quality?
A: First of all, you should check the online school's accreditation status with regional and national accrediting bodies. Accredited programs are carefully examined to make sure that they meet applicable academic standards. The U.S. Department of Education keeps a comprehensive list of accredited schools on their website. Second, find out as much as you can about typical programs of study in your degree area. What courses generally are required to earn a degree? What degree level is necessary for an entry-level job in your chosen field? Ask yourself if the programs you are considering offer the degree and coursework you need.
Online Options
Q: What degree levels are offered by online schools?
A: You can earn an online degree at any educational level, including certificates, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees.
Q: What can I study online?
A: Nearly any subject area you can imagine can be studied online. Popular options include business, technology, healthcare, and education.
The Online Student Body
Q: Who is taking courses online?
A: People from all walks of life are choosing to take online courses for many different reasons. Retirees pick subjects that have always interested them but they never had the chance to study. Soldiers overseas and at home take advantage of military financial aid benefits provided by the U.S. government to pursue online degrees. Businesspeople work toward their degrees in their free time to gain skills that can earn them promotions. Students at brick and mortar universities increasingly take online courses as part of their degree programs.
Q: Why are so many people choosing to take online courses?
A: People choose online degree programs over traditional programs for three main reasons: flexibility, convenience, and financial sense. In most online programs, your work can be completed whenever it is convenient for you, from any location. The programs can be tailored to your own changing timetable, and you are not tied down to a rigid class schedule. Online courses may be fiscally smart because students save on the cost of commuting to college campuses several times a week. Those with families may save on child care as well. Also, it is much easier for students to continue working full-time jobs as they pursue their education.
Financial Aid for an Online Education
Q: What are my financial aid options for online education?
A: Thanks to a recent change in federal law, accredited online education programs now offer you many of the same financial aid options as traditional colleges, such as grants, work-study programs, and low-interest Perkins Loans. Even if you are not a full-time student you may be able to take advantage of some aid money.
Online degree programs are a great boon to many busy people. The key to ensuring that you have a good online education experience is to thoroughly research your options before committing to a program. Whether you enroll for personal enrichment, job growth, or a mid-career change, the key to finding the best program is to do your homework.
Not surprisingly, there is a great deal of confusion about online education. Is an online degree program right for you? How do you pick a good one? Do online degree programs qualify for financial aid? Here is what you need to know to make a smart online education decision.
Diploma Mills vs. High Quality Online Degree Programs
Q: What is a "diploma mill" and how can I spot one?
A: Online "diploma mills" are websites that offer degrees without requiring you to complete any coursework. They often advertise degrees earned based on your past life experiences. According to USA Today, diploma mills are a $500 million-a-year industry. For a fee of $50 to $5,000, you can purchase a diploma and transcript from a non-accredited college. Often the colleges exist in name only, and their names are designed to sound like familiar colleges and universities. Penalties for using one of these phony diplomas are mounting. Two states, Oregon and New Jersey, have made it illegal to apply for jobs using bogus degrees. Even those people who are able to snag a job based on false credentials have no guarantee that they can keep it because they have none of the training they would have acquired in a legitimate online degree program.
Q: How do I know that online degree programs I am considering are high quality?
A: First of all, you should check the online school's accreditation status with regional and national accrediting bodies. Accredited programs are carefully examined to make sure that they meet applicable academic standards. The U.S. Department of Education keeps a comprehensive list of accredited schools on their website. Second, find out as much as you can about typical programs of study in your degree area. What courses generally are required to earn a degree? What degree level is necessary for an entry-level job in your chosen field? Ask yourself if the programs you are considering offer the degree and coursework you need.
Online Options
Q: What degree levels are offered by online schools?
A: You can earn an online degree at any educational level, including certificates, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees.
Q: What can I study online?
A: Nearly any subject area you can imagine can be studied online. Popular options include business, technology, healthcare, and education.
The Online Student Body
Q: Who is taking courses online?
A: People from all walks of life are choosing to take online courses for many different reasons. Retirees pick subjects that have always interested them but they never had the chance to study. Soldiers overseas and at home take advantage of military financial aid benefits provided by the U.S. government to pursue online degrees. Businesspeople work toward their degrees in their free time to gain skills that can earn them promotions. Students at brick and mortar universities increasingly take online courses as part of their degree programs.
Q: Why are so many people choosing to take online courses?
A: People choose online degree programs over traditional programs for three main reasons: flexibility, convenience, and financial sense. In most online programs, your work can be completed whenever it is convenient for you, from any location. The programs can be tailored to your own changing timetable, and you are not tied down to a rigid class schedule. Online courses may be fiscally smart because students save on the cost of commuting to college campuses several times a week. Those with families may save on child care as well. Also, it is much easier for students to continue working full-time jobs as they pursue their education.
Financial Aid for an Online Education
Q: What are my financial aid options for online education?
A: Thanks to a recent change in federal law, accredited online education programs now offer you many of the same financial aid options as traditional colleges, such as grants, work-study programs, and low-interest Perkins Loans. Even if you are not a full-time student you may be able to take advantage of some aid money.
Online degree programs are a great boon to many busy people. The key to ensuring that you have a good online education experience is to thoroughly research your options before committing to a program. Whether you enroll for personal enrichment, job growth, or a mid-career change, the key to finding the best program is to do your homework.
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