A college education is extremely important in terms of financial success and can be the key that unlocks the door to many opportunities (American). High school graduates earned an average of $26,695 in 2002, compared to $50,623 for those with a bachelor's degree, $63,592 for those with a master's degree, $85,675 with a Ph.D. degree and $101,375 for those with a professional degree in medicine, law, or business.
Despite the misgivings of many, there is no evidence that a college education is any better than a web-based and distance-learning education at collegiate level (Aber; Smith, Ferguson and Caris). In fact, Smith, Ferguson and Calis found that students participate more in web-based learning than they do in face-to-face college classes, partly because they are more anonymous in that they do not have to actually face the professor, and they become bolder. Students often attend college classes but do not participate and just sit inertly through lessons, In web-based education they have to actively do work, and their absence can clearly be seen, so they do participate more. The professor does not have to guess at their work level or assess them only at exam time. Professors are also kept on their toes by web-based education because they have to spend many hours inputting data, and checking student assignments and answering qtestions, even ddbating students over the internet. They cannot simply handout standard assignments and wait for the responses to come in. They have to respond to a much broader range of questions and comments.
While students who opt for web-based education certainly are missing out on the camaraderie of college life, they certainly are not missing out on an education, and may well be getting a better education than many of those who attend a bricks-and-mortar college.
Aber, James S. "Web-based instruction." 2002. 5 May 2005.
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