Fact Sheet: Higher

Education Online
College Is More Important But More Expensive- Than Ever Before

College graduates with a bachelor's degree typically earn 66

percent more than those with only a high school diploma; and
are far less likely to face unemployment [1]

Over the course of a lifetime, the average worker with a

bachelor's degree will earn approximately 1 million more than
a worker without a post secondary education [2]

By 2020, an estimated two-thirds of job openings will require

post secondary education or training [3]

Over the past three decades, tuition at four-year colleges has

more than doubled, even after adjusting for inflation. [4]

We all recognize the need for higher education, how it is a key to opportunity and opens
more doors than it closes. Unfortunately, due to rising costs and the fact that too many
institutions of higher education are not delivering the quality education students need and
deserve, students are either not completing degrees, or are completing programs that are not
valued by employers.

Graph represents how those who complete a degree are more likely to pay off school debt

Where Can I Look For Good Online Education?

Oedb.org: This is the "Open Education Database". They try to sift out
the good online education websites from the bad, and even rate the
education from established universities. They also give you information
about financial aid and loans.

Edx.org: These are free online courses from some of the most accredited
universities, originally started by MIT and Harvard. You can earn college
credit from this website, as well as certificate of completion.

Khanacademy.org: This is considered the original of all the Open

Online Courses. They also focus on being a support for students and
parents. Their motto is "For free. For everyone. Forever."

Myths of Online Education

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Online Education is Easy: While the scheduling is more flexible, it

does come with it's own challenges. There are always due dates and
distractions.

The Quality is Lower: While academic standards differ from

institution to institution, there are ways to make sure you are getting a
quality education. Many are rated on databases and forums.

Online Courses are Not Accredited: Again, your experience will

change from school to school, but many have the ability to not give you
credit, but are able to transfer the credits to traditional educational
sources.

Cheating is More Common: While cheating does happen Online, it is

no more frequent than in traditional education. In some ways, Online
courses have a better defense against plagiarism than traditional
education, due to being more tech savvy.

What Traditional Education Can Offer That Online Can't

The Experience: While Online education is flexible, it doesn't help build faceto-face social interactions. Traditional education allows easier access to other
students, and helps create networks within the school atmosphere.
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Facilities: Labs that have all the equipment to conduct science experiments.
Hands on experiences that makes education more interactive. It is one thing to
read about what is happening, another thing to be there in real time.

Graduate School: While there are a few graduate programs Online, many
more are better equipped and better funded at a traditional institution. For
example, we would be hesitant to go to a surgeon who had never cut into a body
in real life, or have a tooth pulled by a dentist who had only done it by
simulation. While technology is changing every day, there is still the need for
real life experience.

Work Cited
[1] Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Digest for Education
Statistics.
https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d14/tables/dt14_502.30.asp;
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Population Survey.
http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat07.htm
[2] Carnevale, Anthony P. "The Economic Value of College Majors Executive Summary 2015."
Georgetown University Center on Education and
the Workforce, McCourt School of Public Policy (2015): 1-44.

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[3] Carnevale, Anthony P., Nicole Smith, and Jeff Strohl. "Recovery: Job Growth and
Education Requirements
Through 2020." Georgetown Public Policy Institute: Center on Education and the Workforce
(June, 2013): 1-14.
[4] "Tuition Costs of Colleges and Universities." National Center for Education Statistics.
Digest for Education Statistics.
https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76

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