Online Universities for the Busy, the Disadvantaged--and You?

by Joe Cooper
Online Degrees Columnist

Full-time jobs, kids, even Hurricane Katrina--nothing prevented last year's students at online universities from earning their degrees.

Though not all students getting their education online are college-age, they are all working hard. Many students in online degree programs have full-time jobs, not to mention families.

Finding a Port in a Storm
Jeena Seals just graduated from an online university last summer, and she used to tell her 12-year old daughter that the girl had no idea what homework really was. Distance learning was essential to Ms. Seals, whose family survived Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans while she was working on her online degree.

Education Online Provides Strong Finish
Karina Vega is another graduate of an online university. The California native began her education over 10 years ago. Thanks to an online degree program, she spent two years in distance learning and now has her degree. Ms. Vega said distance learning worked well for her, and she enjoyed working with classmates online and not having to attend classes in person.

Distance Learning For a Busy Mom
For one mom, education online was the only way to advance her career. Alamelu Arvind has a full-time job in addition to three children. Her husband often got more sleep than she did over the past two years; she was up late for 18 months getting her master's degree online.

Now, at the end of that time, her career prospects have since blossomed. Thanks to her online degree, she now teaches at a higher position (with more pay).

Whether the challenges are kids, work, or the weather, an online university is always open.

Sources
Arizona Republic, "Online grads' hard work rewarded"

About the Author
Joe Cooper is a freelance education and technology writer and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.

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