Online Degrees Quiz

Overview of Online Degrees

• Online degrees can be earned entirely through the use of an internet-connected computer.
• The United States Department of Education aims to ensure that programs provided by institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality.
• In the United States, online colleges that are fully accredited have earned a widely recognized form of university accreditation from either one of the six regional accreditation boards, one of the six national accreditation boards, or one of the four national faith-based accreditation boards.
• Online education enables individuals living with physical disabilities, full-time employees, military personnel, those living abroad, and stay-at-home parents to have access to accredited higher education.
• The perception of the quality of online degrees compared to on-campus degrees varies, but has been increasing in recent years.
• A national survey of hiring representatives showed that a preference toward on-campus degrees exists.
• The Sloan Consortium, an organization funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to maintain and improve the quality of distance education, publishes regular reports on the state of United States distance education.
• In many cases, an online degree earned through an accredited public or private university may be effectively indistinguishable from a degree earned in a campus-based program.
• Many top universities have been actively expanding their extension and online learning programs in an effort to legitimize the online education arena.
• The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) conducted a distance education study based on the 2001-2002 academic year at United States 2-year and 4-year degree-granting institutions that were eligible for U.S. federal student aid.
• According to the Sloan Consortium, nearly 3.2 million students took at least one online course during 2005.
• Until 2006, United States students enrolled in online degree programs were not eligible for federal student aid unless at least half of their programs were campus-based.