Online Texas Colleges Rival Traditional Schools
If you think getting an online education isn't on par with attending one of the traditional Texas colleges, perhaps it's time to reconsider your position on the matter. Research shows not only is it on par, but in many cases an online education is actually superior to one obtained by attending a conventional school. An extensive study conducted by Bradley University in Illinois concluded students enrolled in online courses retain between 30 percent and 75 percent more of what they're taught than do students who learn in classrooms. The jaw-dropping difference lifts online education to a whole new level: an equal, or arguably better, alternative to the age-old methods employed by traditional schools.
Top Schools Climb Aboard
News of the higher retention rate hasn't gotten by the country's most respected universities or the top Texas colleges. Once generally opposed to this unconventional style of learning, many institutions of higher learning have since done an about-face on the matter and now offer Internet-based courses of their own. Texas Central College, the University of Texas, Yale, Stanford and Kent State are among countless accredited institutions that have joined the online revolution. Even Ivy Leaguer Harvard has adopted the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" mentality. The historic hall of higher learning now offers a whopping 100 online courses.
Employers React Favorably
Although they once favored graduates of conventional schools, employers have come to realize that job candidates with traditional degrees aren't necessarily any more educated than those with online degrees--and they've adjusted their hiring policies accordingly. One study, which polled some of Texas' Fortune 500 companies as well as employers from all over the country, concluded that 91 percent are just as willing to hire a candidate with an online degree as they would an applicant with a traditional degree. 85 percent of them added that they feel online degrees are more acceptable than they were five years ago.
As further proof of the newfound acceptance in the workplace, a poll of recent online graduates found they "encountered no bias from prospective employers resulting from their online educations." Even traditional academic leaders "do not believe that there is a lack of acceptance of online degrees by potential employers," a poll conducted by the Sloan Consortium determined.
Opportunities Abound
Knowing the economic crisis is only going to get darker before we see any sign of dawn. It would be wise to start stockpiling your candles now, so you're not caught off-guard. An online Texas colleges education can light up your future by giving you the edge you need to emerge from the recession in good financial shape.
