The Tendencies for Enrolment in the College: Online vs. Traditional

History does not stand still: We're all living in history whether we realise it or not, and the times are always changing whether there are songs on the radio telling us so or not. The endless change in society can be worrying for the older generations, used to the old ways, and exciting to the younger generation always looking for new things, but in the end the only constant in the universe is, in fact, change.

One aspect of the world currently learning this lesson are old-fashioned brick-and-mortar private colleges, which are suffering through a lengthy and seemingly permanent decline in enrolment as online colleges rise in popularity and gain credence - and accreditation.

The Cheaper College Online

The numbers are staggering:

1. A recent study predicted that 30% of all private colleges will close by 2023.
2. Enrolment of freshman students declined more than 10% from 2010 through 2012.
3. The cost of traditional college is immense - and growing. Room, board, Costs have risen 42% in recent years.

In a world where $23,500 often represents a person's entire income, this is increasingly placing college out of reach for many prospective students. And increasingly they are turning to the more affordable college online strategy to attain the much-needed degree.

Online Colleges: More Affordable

College online is more affordable in many ways:

1. Lower tuition in general; most online colleges tuition stands below $10,000 - often significantly below.
2. No associated room and board costs.
3. No transportation costs.
4. Frequently lower or non-existent materials cost (free software and course materials)

Private colleges are fighting back, but the effectiveness of their efforts remains to be seen. Some colleges are expanding their graduate programs to bring in more revenue from older students who are more comfortable with a physical experience. Some are offering scholarships simply for considering the college; for example, Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama now offers a $1,000 scholarship simply for touring the campus; the cost of a 4-year program at Spring Hill is currently $170,000.

However, as the old equation pitting the cost of a degree against the higher earnings of college graduates returns smaller and smaller numbers, the expectation is that private colleges will have to drop tuition costs to compete with online colleges or simply fade away. How many are left after a few decades will depend greatly on how effectively they can recreate themselves.

The Challenge of Going Back to School

Many adults dream of going to college and getting that degree they didn't get when they were younger. They may have skipped college in favor of getting a job right out of high school or dropped out of college before graduating. They may even have gotten a degree but not the one they wanted. Whatever the reason, they still dream of going back to school to obtain their goal.

Challenge #1: A Busy Schedule

For many, their lives are much more hectic today than they were when they graduated high school.

• They have full-time jobs, sometimes more than one.
• They often have families, including kids who need their attention.
• It can be difficult to think about fitting homework and classes into that tight schedule.

This is why online classes become such a valuable resource. Many times, you can study when it fits into your schedule, even if that is in the middle of the night. Often, you can take longer than a traditional semester to complete a class or you can take one class at a time. You also don't have to worry about commuting, which is time that can be spent on other responsibilities.

Challenge #2: Paying for School

Another issue that faces adults who want to go back to school is the ability to pay for it.

• They often don't qualify for the scholarships they would have right out of high school.
• They also may not know about other scholarships and grants and often don't have the time to spend researching.

By choosing from the many online colleges available, they can usually find a program that is affordable and fits in their budget.

Studying online also reduces some of the other expenses associated with attending college. For instance, the cost of driving to class and parking fees can add up very quickly. With online classes, there isn't any room or board to pay since you'll be living at home and telecommuting. These are expenses that can add up over time. You are also not limited to attending a college in your area, but can shop around for one that fits in your price range.

Going back to school as an adult can be a challenge, but the benefits far outweigh the challenges for many. Looking at online colleges gives you more options to choose from and allows you to continue living the rest of your life while getting that important degree. So always check your possibilities with your education pal, 1wwwonlinecolleges.com.