[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”font-bold”][hen-ui-text tag=”em” variant=”b4″]Online college is convenient, flexible, and accessible. These benefits are fairly well-known. But the continued surge in online college enrollment may be about a lot more than mere convenience. For some students, online college makes otherwise inaccessible degree programs available and affordable. For others, online college may allow a level of engagement and personal attention that wouldn’t be possible in a large, traditional university. For others still, online college may be the only option, a clear pathway when all others are blocked[/hen-ui-text].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]That’s how it was for Samantha Campbell. In 2014, disaster struck. Samantha became another casualty of America’s slow economic recovery. In the throes of budgetary crisis, Samantha’s company axed her positon.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Suddenly out of work, the Jacksonville, Florida, resident faced a tough choice. remembers Samantha.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]So when her husband suggested returning to school to broaden her career prospects, there were more than a few questions. Samantha wondered, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These questions grew only more complex when the Campbells learned that a third child was on the way. It was a blessing to be sure, but one with a huge price tag. Her ambitions aside, the cost of childcare alone gave Samantha pause. How could she pursue an education while managing her two young children and a newborn?[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″] says Samantha.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This, she remembers, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”heading-2″]Featured Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Samantha enrolled at [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.fscj.edu/”]Florida State College at Jacksonville[/hen-ui-link] and began her journey toward a bachelor’s in education. That was five years ago.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With the spring semester of 2019 just getting underway, we got a chance to catch up with Samantha. With more than 100 credits under her belt, and a few more children under her roof, Samantha tells us, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With six children, those responsiblities are considerable, to say the least. For Samantha, online college has made possible what might have been unthinkable for working mothers just a generation ago: the hope of something greater. As Samantha tells us, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Of course, everybody has different goals, needs, and educational objectives. Samantha’s experience is joined by countless other personal stories spotlighting the unexpected and inspiring ways that online education has created hope, opportunity, and achievement, particularly for those who might otherwise lack access to all three.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These stories tell the personal side of a growth trend with far-reaching implications in the educational sector.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ id=”growth”] More People Are Going to Online College Than Ever[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It’s no secret that online college has grown in availability, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. After all, it is spurred by a constantly evolving mode of technology. What you may not know, however, is that online college is significantly outperforming traditional college in enrollment growth.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While year to year enrollment in traditional campus programs has been stagnant — even declining in some years — the number of students in at least one online course has steadily grown. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/01/05/new-us-data-show-continued-growth-college-students-studying”]According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System[/hen-ui-link], which provides the proportion of eligible students enrolled in at least one online course rose from 27.1 percent in 2014 to 30 percent in 2016. In online grad school, the jump was from 32.5 percent to 36.6 percent.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]So why is online college doing so well even as other sectors of higher education suffer the blowback of crushing student debt and skyrocketing tuition?[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Well, there isn’t one single answer. But thanks to you, our faithful readers, there may be a lot of different answers that all amount to one single fact: Online college makes a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of students.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”heading-2″]Featured Online Master’s Degree Programs[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ id=”reasons”] Top Reasons People Go to Online College[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The reasons to choose online college are pretty extensive but we wanted to get a stronger sense of just exactly how you — real, actual online college students and online graduate students — feel. So thanks to the nearly 1,000 of you who responded to our TheBestSchools.org online scholarship contest, we’ve honed in on some of the very best reasons for choosing an online school. If you’re already kind of convinced, feel free to jump right to this year’s brand-spanking new ranking of [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/online-colleges/”]The Best Online Colleges[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Otherwise, prepare to be convinced by a big panel of your peers.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Among the top reasons cited in your testimonies were the familiar refrains of convenience, flexibility, and accessibility. Your testimonies suggest that online classes and online degree programs create new opportunities for people who can’t otherwise attend traditional colleges. This may be for reasons of mobility, geography, scheduling, health factors, and other personal responsibilities. Respondents also pointed out that online college can be more affordable because it provides a degree path that doesn’t include costs like room & board, meal plan, or campus fees — to say nothing of gas, tolls, and parking tickets.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]And like Samantha Campbell, a number of respondents pointed out that online college was really the only way to pursue an education that was compatible with the practical and financial demands of family.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If affordability is your top concern, we’d advise starting with [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/bachelors/affordable/four-year-college-in-each-state/”]The Affordable Colleges Source[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Otherwise, read on to find out what your peers are saying:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ id=”accessibility”] Online college is more accessible[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Accessibility is one of the strongest arguments in favor of online education. For so many students, it’s not enough to suggest that online college courses are a good option. It’s more accurate to say that they are the only option.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For instance, Jazlyne, working toward her master’s in education at Boston University, says, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For others, this access is a practical way to overcome challenging medical factors, disabilities, or other health-related issues. Serenity, working toward her BS in applied psychology at Walden University, says that online school [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For Serenity, this also means physical access to educational resources in spite of her medical challenges. She notes that online education has allowed her [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This accessibility also points to a surprising finding, one that popped up time and again in your testimonies. Many online students highlighted their heightened access to professors. Lukasz, a doctor of engineering candidate at George Washington University, confirms as much, noting, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If greater accessibility is one of your chief motivators, start your online college search with these resources:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/online-colleges/”]The Best Online Colleges[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/bachelors/affordable/”]The 50 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Bachelor’s Degrees[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/resources/college-finances/tuition-free-colleges/”]The Best Colleges Providing Free Tuition[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Or visit our Guide to Learning Accommodations to check out a ton of other valuable resources for students with disabilities as well as family members, educators, and advocates.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”heading-2″]Featured Online Bachelor’s Degrees[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ id=”flexibility”] Online college is more flexible[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Flexibility was another major recurrent theme. Online students prize the inherent flexibility of this format, and most say that it’s an absolute necessity for their respective educational needs.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For instance, Melissa, a master in health administration student from St. Joseph’s University, says, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Like Melissa, Whitney chose to pursue her master of science in nursing online at Grand Canyon University [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For so many online students, that flexibility is about more than convenience. For many, it represents the best way forward without putting your work, career, or a steady paycheck on hold.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ id=”geography”] Online college overcomes the limits of geography[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For many student, access and flexibility dovetailed with the sheer fact that online college defies the laws of time and space. Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration. The basic rules of physics still apply. But geography is no longer a factor.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Melissa from St. Joe’s noted that, in addition to being compatible with her work schedule, online education [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This is an especially important factor for students living in remote rural regions, or in parts of their state that may otherwise have limited access to higher education opportunity. For instance, Cornelia, a master of science in nursing student from Northern Kentucky University, says, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These factors are a powerful motivator for students living all over the United States and throughout the world. Check out the following to learn more about the remarkable ways that online college is bending and breaking the rules of geography:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/online-colleges/#bocbystate/”]The Best Online Colleges by State[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ id=”contact”] Online college creates a unique level of personal contact[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While flexibility and access are oft-noted benefits, many of you cited a far less-expected benefit. In the early days of online education, critics worried that this new medium would result in an isolated educational experience, one absent the dynamic human engagement that happens in a physical classroom. Not so, say some of our respondents.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Elise, for instance, a master’s in TESOL student from Regent University, said, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For Elise, this support was particularly meaningful as she worked to overcome a number of external challenges in her life. She noted that online college made it possible [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For Joshua, the personal engagement was one of the great and unforeseen benefits of online grad school. A master of business student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Joshua says, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Of course, online college can be an adjustment if this is your first time studying and learning outside of a traditional classroom. Be sure that you make the most of your opportunities for contact and engagement by checking out these tips and resources:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Adjusting to Online College: 10 Tips for First-Timers[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Best Online High School Programs of 2024[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Testing Tips: Crush Your Exams This Semester[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/resources/college-finances/tuition-free-colleges/”]Best Tuition-Free Colleges in the U.S.[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Scholarships for Student Athletes[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ id=”adult”] Online college is ideal for adult learners[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Adult learners are among the fastest growing populations in online college. Adult learners are sometimes referred to as nontraditional learners. However, adults returning to school, working professionals seeking new credentials, and students with children are all becoming more commonplace in colleges and universities. Perhaps is not such an accurate terminology. Indeed, many of you have told us that you don’t necessarily fit the mold of a fresh-out-of-high-school freshman, and that this is one of the reasons online college makes sense for you.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For instance, Lauren from Columbia State Community College, an associate in business candidate, says, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For Samuel, who is studying for a bachelor’s in business management at Brigham Young University while simultaneously managing the very adult responsibilities of job and family, online college was the only thing that made sense. He notes, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”font-bold” style=”text-align: center;”]⁂[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]So why go to online college? Well, if your testimonies are any indication, there are a lot of overlapping reasons. While everybody has their own reasons, most of your stories share a combination of circumstance, ambition, and opportunity. Certainly, this was true of Samantha when she first made the leap into her online education back in 2014.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Now, with the finish line on the close horizon, Samantha’s life has truly changed for the better. She tells us that [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Five years ago, Samantha’s family faced a crisis. Online education allowed the Campbells not just to overcome their crisis, but to build a better future. Today, she aspires to help others do the same. Samantha will use her degree to begin a new career in education. Speaking from personal experience, she explained, [/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]She’s well on her way, and she offers the wisdom of a budding educator to prove it:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With only three classes to go, Samantha has a lot to celebrate.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you are considering an online education but you aren’t sure where to start, begin your own path to success with a look at this year’s [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/online-colleges/”]Best Online Colleges[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”970,1271,1336″][/hen-ui-article-row] [hen-ui-section-header title=”Popular with our students.” /] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”2-col” ids=”970,1538,905″][/hen-ui-article-row]