The Online Degree

The Online Degree
The term “online degree” usually refers to an academic degree earned in large part or completely through successful completion of courses by use of the internet rather than attending classes at a school on campus. Most often the degree is for college (associate, bachelors, masters or doctoral) but can be a high school diploma or certificate program.
To be generally recognized by businesses, government and other educational institutions, a school awarding an online degree must have educational accreditation.  In the United States there are six regional accreditation boards. These boards are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education but are not government agencies. The Department of Education also  recognizes the Distance and Education Training Council (DETC) as an accrediting agency for online degree programs. However, some schools may not accept transfer credit for online courses  from DETC accredited schools. Transfer credit for online courses accredited by regional agencies is almost always accepted by other colleges and universities throughout the United States and Europe.
The popularity of online degrees has increased dramatically. Thirty years ago online education was only a concept. The rapid rise of the internet and the availability of personal computers set the stage for an idea to become a reality. The 1990s saw the development of online schools as well as established colleges and universities adding online courses to their curriculum. By 2005 it was estimated that over three million students were taking at least one of their courses online. Most colleges now offer some type of online program.
financial aid for students taking online courses was available only if at least half of the students program was on campus but that changed in 2006. Now  federal loans, grants and work study are available for students enrolled in an eligible online degree program at an accredited institution.
Online courses and degrees have provided an opportunity for millions of people who otherwise would not been able to achieve their educational goals. It has also allowed colleges and universities to extend their reach beyond their campus and touch the lives of many students around the world. The future for online education is bright.