Let's cut right to the chase: there is at least one major advantage and disadvantage of distance learning. The biggest advantage is simply convenience. If you never finished college, for example, and it's holding your prospects back at work for a salary increase, but you can't quit your job to devote the time to finish your degree, or because you have family commitments, then being able to enroll at an online school and complete course work from the comfort of your home in the evenings is ideal.

Of course, there are other advantages too. Distance learning saves time and gas because there is no commute to the local campus. People who could not otherwise pursue a degree because of time or geographic contraints can attend classes from their computer at home.

Advantage and Disadvantage of Distance Learning

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of online education have to do with cost. One potential disadvantage is cost: some online learning degree programs can cost a pretty penny, but luckily financing is available. On the other hand, if you pick the right schools -- which we discuss at our website below -- you can get a quality degree at a very reasonable tuition price.

Another cost consideration has to do with employer reimbursement. Some employers will actually provide reimbursement for distance learning degrees since they want their employees to become more educated, develop skills, and stay with their company for the long haul.

However, some companies will limit the amount they will cover for your continuing education. It will depend on the company you work for if you are currently employed and it's definitely worth checking out to see how much they will cover and how much they won't.

Another of the advantage and disadvantage of distance learning to the student has to do with courses that are offered. If a student is interested in academic subjects -- such as philosophy -- then an online education may not be completely satisfactory to him.

This is because online learning providers tend to be very pragmatic in what they offer; in short, they basically tailor their programs to fit the job market. So, some interesting areas of study will not be offered because they are not seen as relevant to immediate employment prospects.

Another of the advantages and disadvantages of online education has to do with the individual's learning style. Some students benefit from a traditional classroom environment -- where in person interaction contributes to the experience -- while others do not. You'll need to do an honest assessment of which kind of person you are.

There are a few other things to look at when comparing the advantages and disadvantages of online learning. One example is that online education providers typically offer a lower student to instructor ratio than traditional schools. Many have successful job placement programs, too.

On the other hand, traditional colleges have research labs and tenured professors, whereas online education is generally (but not always) comprised of part-time instructors and there are no research labs.

Just as with any university or college, some online education providers are better than others. Prospective students can check for accreditation with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or our website for a list of the best ones.

Just a few short years ago, distance learning was seen as unorthodox and inferior but has come a long way in that time. Indeed, nowadays even traditional colleges and universities have caught on to the importance of convenience to students and often offer distance learning courses.

Although the debate over the advantage and disadvantage of distance learning still continues to this day, for the most part, it is accepted as a viable way to earn that advanced degree and improve one's life.