Online colleges and traditional ones have the same goals in mind: to provide students with an education and award degrees. Although their purposes are the same, they have significant differences. A key distinction between online and traditional colleges is the Internet-based curriculum. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, an online class is defined as "a formal education process in which the students and instructor are not in the same place." This means that all exams, lectures and much of the reading in online classes are done on the Web. This is the biggest change when transitioning from traditional classroom learning. Many students have overcome the challenge of online instruction and have adapted well to the system.

As in traditional courses, online ones are taught by instructors and include multiple classmates. However, your correspondence with these individuals will most likely be via email, telephone or live chat. Unless you are in a certain course or program that requires on-campus visits or clinical work—such as nursing or occupational therapy—you will never meet your instructors or classmates face to face. Traditional college classes require your physical presence as you listen and take notes during professors' lectures. Many traditional college classes make attendance mandatory and your grade suffers if you miss class. 

Exchanging information with your professors is very different in online classes from how it's done in traditional ones. In order to ensure that material has been presented clearly, instructors in a virtual environment have to provide more detailed feedback than do their colleagues at bricks and mortar campuses. According to the Sloan Consortium, there are additional types of feedback that are important to online classes, such as interaction in discussions that goes beyond posting words such as "good job," instead highlighting key ideas and creating follow-up questions. Feedback can also come in the form of audio clips and voice-supported chats. The best online instructors work hard to provide valuable assistance and interaction with their students.

Online classes provide more flexibility than do traditional ones, making them more convenient for many students. Online classes allow you to attend school but also work, so you can fulfill all your important obligations. This has been the answer to many people's quest to further their education while still meeting their family and work responsibilities.

In most cases, you can attend class when it's a good time for you and learn at your own pace. Not many traditional college students can say that about their schedules.

Whether you're working a full-time job, unemployed, a high school graduate or a stay-at-home parent, online college can fit your lifestyle. Distance education has changed the face of learning over the last few years as people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds find themselves taking courses online. The enrollment numbers demonstrate the increasing popularity of online education. It has reached thousands of people around the world because of its accessibility, convenience and improving quality. The accommodations and flexibility it offers are helping to meet the needs of many people looking to further their education and career.

If you're not sure whether online college is for you, ask yourself these questions: 

• Do you enjoy working on computers and being on the Internet? Many people spend hours a day on the computer or Internet working, checking email, networking or researching information. With all of that daily Web exposure, it seems fitting that those people should go to class online as well. In distance education, you can expect to spend a lot of time on the computer working on projects, taking quizzes, emailing your instructor and listening to lectures. This is the format in which all work is done. Therefore, if you do not enjoy working on the computer or using the Internet, this may not be the best educational track for you. However, if you do like working that way, online education may be a good alternative for you.
• Are you able to learn outside of a classroom setting? None of the work in online education is completed in a traditional school venue. Instead, it's done at home, in a library, at a coffee shop or wherever you can take your computer. Some students can focus on lectures, take notes and absorb important information only when they are sitting in a classroom. That's where they are at their fullest attention and alertness. If that describes you, then Web learning may not be the best fit for you. One of the biggest reasons some students fail Internet-based courses is that they are not realistic about how much time they can devote each week to learning online. In addition, they struggle to remain disciplined while learning in nontraditional course structures. Online education is not for everyone, but thousands of students have been able to overcome the challenges of distance learning. To succeed, you have to remain focused so that you get your work done and turn assignments in on time. 
• Are you self-motivated and enjoy working alone? If you struggle to get work done on your own, then online education could be a big challenge for you. In distance learning, you may have group projects or collaborate with classmates on the Web, but you will be doing the majority of work on your own and studying the course material by yourself. As in traditional colleges, you have to be able to push yourself to finish assignments, prepare for tests and turn in work on time. Although this is a common struggle for students, there are ways to improve production and stay focused. Check out these college study tips to help boost your academic performance.

Enrolling in online college offers significant advantages over attending traditional campuses. The convenience of learning at home has been a major selling point for studying online. You can roll out of bed and go to class in your pajamas without any funny looks. You can attend class anywhere a computer can go—at home, a library or while traveling internationally. Online college classes are designed to fit your needs, while allowing you to continue working and tending to your other obligations. The idea is to easily blend education into your life, no matter your circumstances. In fact, the majority of students at online colleges are working professionals, young and old, looking for a way to switch fields, advance their careers or broaden their education. Online schools also give you the option of part-time or full-time learning, as well as a flexible schedule and reasonable demands. Although there are still deadlines and you must submit work online, you can attend class and do your schoolwork anytime, anywhere.

The quality of education at online colleges has continued to improve, and they have become an increasingly popular option. In the current economic recession, an increasing number of students are turning to online education. Higher fuel costs and rising unemployment have spurred more people to seek online education. Stronger demand for online education has resulted in better quality offerings. In a 2008 study by the National Survey of Student Engagement, freshmen and senior online students were more likely than classroom-based students to:

• Participate in course activities that challenged them intellectually
• Participate in discussions about different cultures
• Discuss important topics within their major
• Have deeper approaches to learning in their course work

Another benefit of online education is affordability. In some cases, you can get the same quality education for a lot less money. Online students save thousands of dollars every semester in housing fees, commuting costs and other campus expenses that people enrolled in traditional colleges have to pay. Online courses have competitive tuition rates, and numerous scholarships, grants and student loans are available to help meet the cost. According to an article in U.S. News & World Report, increased competition among online colleges has prompted a rise in the quality of programs offered and a drop in tuition prices. 

You may have heard the term "accreditation" before and wondered what it means and how it applies to you. If you are planning on attending college—online or on campus—accreditation is important because it signifies that a particular school has meet the standards of quality education set by a board or government agency. Accreditation can affect your education immensely. From the quality of instructors to eligibility for financial assistance, accreditation plays an important role in an institution's functions.

When looking for an online college to attend, the most important thing to verify is whether the school is accredited. To do so, you can search the U.S. Department of Education's database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. There, you can also find in-depth information on regional and national accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. secretary of education as reliable authorities on the quality of education. Not all online colleges are accredited, and many legitimate schools are either too new to be granted accreditation or they choose not to pursue it. If you find out that the online college you are interested in is not accredited, then you should investigate further to verify that it is a legitimate school and offers a quality education. According to a Peterson's article, called Colleges' and Universities' Accreditation Credentials, you should start your research with the regional accrediting agency that covers the state in which the school is located. They can tell you whether the school has a legitimate charter. Next, check to see whether there are specialized accrediting agencies that handle the particular program you're interested in.

Accreditation is not only important for the quality and reputation of online colleges, but receiving a degree from an unaccredited college could affect the transfer of your credits to other schools and whether employers recognize your degree or certificate. 

In the United States, online colleges that are fully accredited have been recognized by one of six regional accreditation boards that also evaluate traditional campuses. These include:

• The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

In addition, the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize the Distance Education and Training Council as a reputable evaluator of education programs that offer online degrees. Once an online program becomes accredited, it’s more likely that a traditional school will accept its transfer credits and that employers will recognize its value.

Although distance learning has a reputation for being more affordable than traditional college, many online students still need help paying for their schooling. Fortunately, there are many financial aid options available to help with tuition and other expenses. Online colleges typically participate in the same grant and loan programs that traditional schools do.

The U.S. Department of Education's federal student aid programs are the largest provider of financial aid in the country. To receive financial aid for college, students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. This application determines a student's eligibility for financial aid and the level of need. After three to five days of evaluation, you will receive a Student Aid Report, which determines your eligibility for loans and grants from the federal government. The department has also added a financial aid estimator tool called FAFSA4caster, which provides an early estimate of your eligibility for financial aid. This tool not only calculates your expected eligibility for financial aid and grants, but it also reduces the time it will take to complete the FAFSA paperwork. Depending on your eligibility, you can apply for a variety of federal aid programs, including grants and loans. Some aid does not have to be repaid, such as Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Academic Competitiveness Grants and Federal Work-Study. Federal student loans are long-term with low interest rates and must be repaid. Some federal loans, such as Stafford and PLUS, have relaxed credit requirements, longer repayment terms, fixed cap interest rates and deferment options. If you are a federal loan recipient, it is important that you understand your responsibilities as a borrower and the guidelines for repayment. Check out The Guide to Federal Student Aid for in-depth information on federal aid, terms and agreements, as well as eligibility information and scholarship details.

Some students may find that they need more money than they receive from federal loan and grant programs to pay for other college necessities, such as tuition, textbooks, housing and computers. For those expenses, they can take out a private loan. These loans are not subsidized and are not guaranteed by the federal government. During the current economic crisis, private lenders are scrutinizing loan candidates particularly closely. These loans are available through banks, education loan organizations and from some campuses. Most online schools recommend that students apply for federal loans before private ones, which can be riskier with fluctuating interest rates and fewer deferment options. There are also opportunities for help through state financial aid, employer tuition reimbursement and scholarships.