As major news sources report that the economy is slowing down, speeding up, flip-flopping or turning inside out, at least one thing remains clear: despite whatever the state of the economy is in, the cost of college tuition is holding steady to its uphill climb, leaving more and more prospective students unable to afford an education. Tuition costs for public universities have increased by more than 15 percent in the last five years, according to U.S. News. The spike in tuition costs are due to schools scrambling to provide extra security and counseling, and to make up for the reduction in state taxpayer subsidies. Public schools are not the only culprit; private universities have increased costs as well to cover bidding wars for top faculty. The sticker shock of traditional university costs, especially when factoring in the cost of living on campus, may be a driving factor in the boom of online education. But what are the real differences between an online and brick-and-mortar degree?

Quality of Instruction
Many distance education programs are taught by professionals in the field. Most campus universities that offer online courses have regular classroom professors instruct the online classes as well, ensuring that online students get the same quality of education as those on campus.

Studying
Campus universities require students to be physically present in its classrooms for several hours a week. Class hours are relatively limited, which can be troublesome for those juggling other time-consuming responsibilities. Online classes, on the other hand, offer more flexibility when it comes to class attendance times. In addition, busy students can save themselves a commute to school with online classes. However, taking an online course is still time-consuming, as students must be self-motivated to complete readings and assignments in a timely manner. A lack of immediate interaction with fellow classmates and professors can also affect the ability to learn, as human interaction makes up much of the learning experience. However, new advances in online education technology, such as the use of video lectures, can help students overcome this barrier.

Degrees
When you receive a diploma from an online university, it will look like any other degree that you would receive from a traditional campus university. There will not be a “awarded through online courses” or any other indicator printed on the diploma. In fact, many students who successfully complete an online degree program from a university that also has a brick and mortar campus are invited to participate in the same graduation ceremony as students who completed their education on campus.

Cost
Unlike most traditional universities, the cost of online education varies with different courses of studies, ranging anywhere between $150 to $600 per semester hour. On the other hand, public university costs can be about $600 per credit, not including the cost of housing and meal plans, which can easily add another $2,000 to each year’s tuition bill. Textbooks costs are also relatively cheaper for distance education students as most of their reading materials are provided online.