Is Online Education Just as Credible?

Absolutely! Online education classes use the same course content and materials, test to the same exams, and even require the same papers and coursework. In fact, many online education courses use the same instructors as their in-class sessions.

As long as you choose an accredited college or university for your distance education, there is virtually no difference in the content, tests, or instructors, as compared to in-class learning. The quality of each course is the same.

Research into the effectiveness of online education programs has shown that the way education is delivered, whether from video, computer, or correspondence courses, has little effect on a student's achievement. California State University at Northridge completed a study on students in online education programs and found the following insights:

• Students enrolled in online learning programs tested 20% better than their counterparts in a traditional classrooms.



• Distance learners tend to be high achievers with more self-motivation and discipline.



• Those who are succeeding in distance learning education are employed in careers where advancement can be readily achieved through academic achievement. Examples include management and health care.



• Distance learners spend 50% more time collaborating with each other than students in a traditional classroom.

There is no difference in distance education results versus in-class accomplishments. Research from California State University at Northridge points to students' attitude and motivation being more important to student achievement than the methods of delivery regarding the course materials.

Study after study has proven that educational quality is linked to the age of the institution, how much money it has at its disposal for instructional technology advancements, how difficult it is to be admitted, how small the classes are, and what combination of instructional technologies the college employs.

If you are interested in pursuing distance education programs, see our list of top accredited distance learning colleges and universities. In addition, you can request free information about each school by simply filling out their online request forms. Soon you'll be on your way to securing a credible future through online education programs.