Interest in online education is growing fast. In fact, according to a survey report by the Sloan Consortium, a group of institutions and organizations who follow online education trends, over twenty percent of all students who were enrolled in higher education in 2007 were taking at least one course online. The report also stated that the current economic recession is driving more people to turn to online education as they look for ways to increase their employability. So why is online education so appealing? Here are ten reasons why online education is on the rise.

1. Convenience: The one thing that people love about online education is that it is perfect for busy people. Online learning is provided in a format that allows you to work it around your schedule. If you have a full-time job and/or children, this type of flexibility is crucial.

2. Smaller Classes: Many traditional colleges have classes where the number of students can be over a hundred. With this many students, it is very difficult to receive any individual attention. Online classes, on the other hand, tend to have between 15 to 25 students.

3. Books Included: Unlike at traditional schools where book costs can be an expensive surprise every semester, online colleges often include the fees for books in their tuition. This way you know how much they are going to cost.

4. Learn at Your Own Pace: Online education creates an atmosphere where you can learn at your own pace. They often have accelerated programs if you would like to learn faster or, if your learning style is at a slower rate, then they cater to those needs as well.

5. Open Notes and Books: One of the great things about online education is the exams tend to be open note and open book. This increases your chances of succeeding.

6. Anonymity: Many people do not like to have the entire class’s eyes on them when they answer a question or contribute to a discussion. It is because of this that these people do not get involved in class. The online environment strips away that inhibition.

7. More Interaction with Students: Because of the structure of online classes, chat forums and online discussions are a major part of the online learning strategy. In a traditional classroom setting you may or may not interact with your fellow students. With online classes, it is a necessity, and there are many online students who claim that this is one of their favorite aspects of online learning.

8. More Interaction with Instructors: One of the issues with online learning is the isolation of the student. Online instructors are well aware of this and take every opportunity to reach out to their students to bridge that gap. At a traditional college, you may never speak one on one with your professors.

9. Free Tutoring: Online colleges often make tutoring available to their students at no extra cost. This is of great value since tutoring can cost anywhere from $20 to $100 per hour.

10. You Can Learn in Your Pajamas! And last but not least – you can learn from the comfort of your own home. This means you can go to class in sweats, boxers, even your pajamas. It also means that if you are hungry, you can get up, fix a snack and eat it – without having to worry about how loud that potato chip bag is.  More information along with free enrollment forms are available at Masters Degree Teacher, Masters Degree Salary or Masters Degree Science.

A doctorate is the highest educational achievement that you can earn and there is much respect associated with having those letters behind your name. Only one out of a hundred people have a doctorate, so that reverence is certainly due. Also, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, someone with a doctorate degree earns one to two million dollars in lifetime earnings more than someone with a master’s degree. With numbers like that, what are you waiting for?

Ph.D. or Doctorate?

It seems that there is some confusion when it comes to the difference between a doctorate and a Ph.D., or Doctor of Philosophy. Actually, a Ph.D. is one of several doctorate degrees that you can earn. Doctorate degrees can be broken down into two types: professional doctorates and research doctorates.

People who earn professional doctorates apply their degree to a specific profession, as opposed to an academic field of study. These include M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), J.D. (Juris Doctor), DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine), and PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) among many others.

Research doctorates include the Ph.D. and are often focused on a particular subject. Here is a breakdown of some of the more popular doctorates available in the United States:

• Ph.D. or Doctor of Philosophy: This degree is normally earned by those who want to go into research or Academia. There are many fields in which you can earn a Ph.D. including history, mathematics, and chemistry.

• Psy.D. or Doctor of Psychology: If you want to be a psychologist, than you can either earn a Ph.D. in psychology or this degree.

• DBA or Doctor of Business Administration: This degree is for people who are interested in the theory of management. Those who earn this degree normally go into research or teach on a college level.

• Ed.D. or Doctor of Education: If you are looking to become a school administrator than this degree is for you.

• D.A. or Doctorate of Arts: This degree emerged in the 1960s and is offered in many of the same subjects as a Ph.D, particularly arts and humanities. It is often labeled the “teaching doctorate.”

What does a doctorate entail?

Most doctorates require that you have a master’s degree in a related field of study. Once you are accepted you begin with a rigorous course of study, especially for the professional degrees such as M.D. or J.D. The professional degrees are normally followed by an exam, such as the bar examination, and/or an internship, such as a residency. With Ph.Ds and other research doctorates, courses are normally followed by an exam and then the writing of a thesis or dissertation. These dissertations can be anywhere from 50 to 450 pages in length and commonly focus on a particular area of expertise. For example, someone pursuing a doctorate in U.S. Economic History might write a dissertation on the effects of Soviet Union socialism on U.S. economic policies during the Great Depression. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average time it takes a student to earn their doctorate is seven years. However, there are some accelerated programs out there and a lot depends on how long it takes you to write your dissertation.

Online Study is a Great Option

If you are interested in a doctorate degree, do not rule out online colleges. Three of the five most popular doctorate degrees (according to the Department of Education) are available through online study; these are Doctor of Psychology, Doctor of Engineering and Doctor of Education. Online learning is an extremely convenient way to learn. The courses are offered in a format that works around your schedule. This is perfect for people who have a career that they do not want to take time off from, or if they have a family. In fact, online doctorates are so flexible that there really is no reason not to finally reach this highest level of achievement.  Find more free enrollment information via Earn College Degree, MBA and Online or Online College Degree Programs.

Choosing an online college can be very overwhelming. How do you know which ones are worth going to with so many of them to choose from? The best way to find out is to choose several different schools that have programs that you are interested in, and then speak in depth to their admissions advisors. Below are eight must-haves for a good online college; you can base your talking points on this list.

1. Must be accredited. It is important that the online college that you choose be accredited because this is a way that you can ensure that the school meets established standards. This makes a difference if you want to transfer your credits or prove the worth of your degree to an employer. There are two types of accreditation: institutional and specialized. An institutional accreditation applies to the entire school and its programs, while a specialized accreditation generally applies to a specific degree program or school of study within the college or university. This is further broken down into national accreditation or regional accreditation. Regional accreditations are the most widely recognized.

2. Platform must be easy to use. The “platform” is where you will find your classes, chat rooms, even your virtual library. Every online college has a different online learning platform, and they all work a little differently. You should make sure that the school’s platform is intuitive and easy for you to use. Ask the admissions advisor if you can have a demonstration of their platform and if they offer online tutorials to students.

3. Must have tech support. Since all of your studies are done on your computer in an online environment, the chances that you will run into some sort of technical issue are pretty good. Make sure that the school you choose has 24/7 tech support. You can ask the admissions advisor how long the average wait time is to speak to tech support – chances are when you run into problems you won’t have that much time to figure them out.

4. Must provide student services. A good online college has student services to make sure that their students have the optimal chance at success. This includes offering tutoring services for a small fee or even for free.

5. Must accept CLEP credits. You may hear many online schools advertising credits for “life experience.” In general, the only legitimate way to offer this is through CLEP testing. These credits are accepted at many online colleges and traditional universities. They are a great way to test out of classes on subjects that you may already have mastered.

6. Must have small class sizes. A good online college will have a small number of students in each class. This is because online students need a lot of individual attention to ensure that they do not feel isolated. A smaller class size makes this more manageable for the instructor, which brings me to my next must have …

7. Instructors must be accessible. Make sure that the school that you choose requires instructors to allot a certain amount of time to give students the chance to speak with them on an individual basis.

8. Must have a variety of financial aid options. If you are in need of some type of help to pay for school, like most of us, make sure that the school you choose has plenty of financial aid options. These include federal grants, scholarships, and student loans. Ask the admission advisor specifically about this – for each school has different financial aid opportunities.  You can also see if you qualify directly at College Online Tuition.

All these discussion points will probably make for a long conversation, so make sure that you put aside some time to get to each of them. Don’t worry about asking the admissions advisors at your school choices too many questions – that is what they are there for! Also have a pen and paper ready (or your laptop) to write down notes, that way you can compare the different schools. Good luck with your decision!  For more information, please refer to College Students Online or Affordable Online College.

1. Versatility: A Masters in Business Administration is one of the most versatile degrees out there. It can help you get ahead in almost any industry. Every company, even doctor’s offices or restaurants, are businesses and therefore can benefit from an employee who has an MBA. Also most MBA programs allow you to specialize in subjects like finance, accounting, and marketing. Other emphasis areas include entrepreneurship, international business, and economics. If you are interested in technology or the internet, you can specialize in information systems or e-business. Want to manage clinics or hospitals? Then a specialization in health care management is for you. You can even join the green trend and get an MBA that focuses on sustainability issues and bringing eco-friendly practices to businesses.

1. Flexibility: MBAs have among the most varied degree programs available. You can choose from accelerated programs without electives that will take you one year to finish, or a two year program or a three. Many schools offer weekend executive MBA programs for people who are working full time. And probably the most convenient – online MBA programs allow you to get your degree online. Some schools require that you go to class a couple of times a semester, but there are plenty of other schools whose programs are completely online. These programs cater to the busy individual allowing you to work on your degree on your own schedule.

1. Make More Money: There have been many studies done that show that people with higher education make more money. The U.S. Census Bureau published a report in April of 2009 that showed that people with Master’s degrees make an average of $80,977, compared to $57,181 for those with a Bachelor’s and $31,286 for those with just a high school diploma. As for specific salary statistics for MBA graduates, the Graduate Management Admissions Council released a report in 2006 that stated that starting annual salaries for MBA graduates averaged above $80,000, which is $10,000 more per year than other Master’s degree graduates.

1. Get That Promotion: Are you ready to take your career to the next level? An MBA is a favorite requirement for upper management positions. This degree is perfect for giving you the training that you need to be a great manager who can consider the big picture. And with all the specialization areas, you can focus on your particular industry, be it a health care or an IT degree. Also the convenience of weekend and online MBA programs allow you to keep your job and go to school. Tip: Don’t forget to ask your company if they offer tuition assistance. Many companies will pay for at least some of your school costs as long as it is related to your job.

1. Confidence: And last but certainly not least, an online MBA (or standard MBA) or any degree does wonders to boost your confidence level. This alone can give you the inner strength to land that dream job, ask for that raise, or finally get that promotion. Plus a university education is a great way to beat the burn-out blues or treat that office boredom.