An online education is a great way to learn and to advance your career. But, like any other decision you make, there are pros and cons you should consider before deciding to pursue your education in this manner.

One of the main advantages of online education is the fact that your classes take place at a time of your own choosing rather than a set time. You can log on to take class in the comfort of your own home, at a local library, or from your laptop anywhere in the world. If you have a job with a heavy schedule or frequent travel, or if you are home as the primary caretaker of young children, this can be the factor that allows you to still earn an advanced degree.

If you opt for an online education, another advantage for you will be the cost. Learning online means that you will not have to pay for housing, meal plans, or commuter costs, such as gasoline or bus/train fare. This provides a significant savings over a traditional degree program. In addition, the tuition for online courses is often less expensive than classes you attend at brick and mortar institutions.

An online education provides another hidden financial benefit. Unlike the traditional school setting, you will not have to interrupt your career while you attend classes online. Since you will be able to complete your studies during your free time, you can continue to support yourself and to receive raises and promotions while you complete your education.

Despite all of its advantages, an online education does have a few disadvantages as well. When you study online, you don’t get the experience of meaningful discussion about the material with professors and other students in the classroom. Also, when learning online, you miss out on personal attention from your instructors.

Many students find the social life of being on a campus to be one of the most memorable parts of their college education. If you choose an online education, you will not experience the extra-curricular clubs, parties, and simple games of Frisbee on the lawn that so many students enjoy.

A final disadvantage of online education occurs only if you are not self-motivated. For some people who tend to procrastinate, the absence of a regular class makes it difficult to find the time to log on and take classes at all.

Derek Harrison is a Salt Lake City, Utah based freelance writer who specializes in writing about online career colleges and has written for Top Career Colleges and Career College Degree Source.
http://www.top-colleges-online.com/