Online Degree Programs Dropout

1064 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Positive and negative effects of online classes

Many benefits are associated with enrolling in an online degree program. Flexibility, convenience, overall lower cost due to the savings of travel expenses and parking passes, and a higher degree of anonymity, are the most common benefits of enrolling in an online program. Moore and Kearsely(2005) indicated that most online students are adults between the ages of 25 and 50.(resource number 7) In 2003, 34 percent of 1000 representative higher education institutions offered a complete online degree program (Allen & Seaman, 2004)(Resource number 7).
Many students are satisfied with the benefits associated with an online degree program. However, there are challenges, such as no face-to-face interaction with peers and teachers, and having a home environment not conducive for independent study. What factors are causing online learners to drop out of their online degree program?
With technology continuously dominating society, it is with no surprise that students are using technology to earn their degree online. An increasing number of colleges and universities are offering degrees that can be earned entirely online. One study (http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED541571.pdf)page 17 indicated a total enrollment of 16,611,710 students in the Fall of 2002 and increasing to 20,994,113 in Fall 2011, with the trend in online enrollment continuing to rise.
While the overall trend of online enrollment shows an increase, many students decide to drop-out of their degree programs. According to one study, the student drop-out rate of a sample of students at Kansas State University, reported the drop-out rate at 25%. (Resource number 6). In addition to this study, another studied found that 70% of students enrolled in an online degree program...

... middle of paper ...

...d could have a number of competing responsibilities that may compromise continuous enrollment (Howell et al., 2004). Mature adults with family and career obligations may not be able to continue to pursue an online degree given the432 / HAYDAROV, MOXLEY AND ANDERSON challenges and opportunities life presents. According to Diaz, one plausible explanation for allegedly higher online attrition rates is
. . . many online students who drop a class may do so because it is the right thing to do. In other words, because of the requirements of school, work, and/or family life, students can benefit more from a class if they take it when they have enough time to apply themselves to the class work. Thus, by dropping the class, they may be making a mature, well-informed decision that is consistent with a learner with significant academic and life experience.
(Diaz, 2002, para. 10)

Show More
Related

  • Online Failure Case Study

    1509 Words  | 4 Pages

    Online Failures Lauren Frida, a senior at Sumpter Unviersity, has been commuting for the past three years. She pays for herself to attend college and works part-time as an assistant at a physical therapy clinic. This spring semester, she registered for Mr. Mocels online Biomechanics 328 course so that she would not have to travel back and forth to campus as much and she figured she could put in more hours at her part-time job. Additionally, Lauren took Mr. Mocel’s class last semester and developed a close relationship with one another. Mr. Mocel respects how passionate and knowledgeable Lauren is in her major and appreciates her hard work and dedication with paying for herself in college.

    Read More

  • Distance Learning

    1092 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the Internet becomes increasingly popular, so do online classes. Last year alone, there was a 13% increase in registration for distance learning classes throughout the public university system. (Beverly Creamer, 2003) It is now possible for people to learn conveniently from home or office. People that want to go to school can do so now because scheduling and geographic location does not matter with online classes because the class course is brought to the student rather than the student to the course.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Free College

    580 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The rate at which enrollments for online classes and education programs is expanding much faster in both the developed and developing worlds than at traditional universities,” claims Reed Karaim. He also states that “Online courses offer the benefits of greater convenience and also a lower total cost. (Karaim, “Expanding Higher Education”). With more online courses being offered on sites such as Udemy and Lynda as well as top universities such as Harvard and MIT, there is less incentive for students to seek education from universities

    Read More

  • Technology Will Reduce Student Debt In Higher Education

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    But a new method of learning, brought by technology, might be – online learning. James Honan, a lecturer at Harvard, addresses the fact that student debt is a problem by stating, “The growth in […] student debt levels has been of great concern […] to the federal government” (Long 2013). Honan also states, “there is a gigantic push toward online resources […] to reduce the cost of traditional higher education” (Long 2013). The state and federal governments recognize the growing costs of higher education and now look towards technology to digitalize the education system to make its more affordable. The use of online learning is a great solution to put into play to reduce tuition costs.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Online School And Traditional School

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most of the time, a student cannot learn at their own pace of the subject because the teacher has a schedule and other students so that student can easily fall behind or not feel as if they are learning. Also, if a student misses a class due to an illness or some other sort of reason they will get behind in classes, while with online class the student can still work while sick or the class will not move on without them. Some schools do not offer some classes that students wish to take. For example, some schools may not present a language class that the pupil wishes to take but online they have a better chance of being able to take that

    Read More

  • Why We Should Not Force High School Students To Take Online Classes

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    Questions arose around the legitimacy of online classes. Are students challenged by online classes? Are students able to cheat easily? Are students trying on online classes? With so many variables of the legitimacy of online classes, it is hard to tell if students should take online classes.

    Read More

  • Funding For Online Schools

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    Opponents of the programs argue that because of their lack of interaction with other students in a traditional classroom, the students who attend this online school will not develop the social skills that should be a component of their education. It is believed that students in online schools are continuing

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Online Education

    1030 Words  | 3 Pages

    Some students within society need to have online learning to complete college degrees due to their lifestyles. While it

    Read More

  • The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online And Online Learning

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    “In 2016 it is estimated that 5.8 million people are enrolled in at least one online academic course. That’s more than one in four students (Consortium).” There are several advantages to taking online courses, yet there are many disadvantages as well. What governs the individual’s direction remains founded on the circumstances surrounding the person along with weighing the advantages and disadvantages of said styles of education, such as costs, convenience, and flexibility so you can take the time to work and to go to school, and student/teacher relationships. Consequently, it is up to the individual to choose whether they want to invest in online learning or the traditional classroom learning when it comes to furthering their education.

    Read More

  • Distance Learning vs. the Traditional Classroom

    1564 Words  | 4 Pages

    Non-traditional students are finding it easier and easier to maintain a job, a family, and pursuing a college career at the same time. This is possible because more and more non-traditional students are receiving an education using distance learning, as opposed to traditional, in-the-classroom teaching. Distance learning is basically taking college level, credit-bearing courses via the Internet. One of the most obvious advantages of distance learning is that it puts the classroom in your home, office, or wherever you can find a computer and log on to the Internet. However, there is much controversy regarding the quality of the courses being offered on the Internet versus the quality of courses taught in the traditional classroom.

    Read More

  • Comparison of Online Classes to Traditional Classes

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    When students are deciding on where to go to college, they have the option of choosing between online classes and the traditional classroom classes. Today, some students are finding it much easier to maintain a job, family and start a college career, all by taking online classes. Although some students still prefer to stick with the traditional classroom classes, they still have the option to take online classes. Both online and the traditional classes will provide the educational requirements needed to obtain a college degree and opportunities in the work field. Although the online classes offer just as much as the traditional classes, they are completely different when it comes to teaching methods, course material and time.

    Read More

  • Online Education Vs Traditional Education Essay

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today’s world, nothing is more confusing that choosing the right school for your education. Considering, there are different ways to access a higher education, it is clear to see that understanding your options of the traditional school setting and online programs can certainly help in deciding which method is best suitable for each individual situation. In fact, looking at the benefits each option offers, can guide you in making a responsible, educated decision on which program is the “right one.” Even though obtaining an online education can be beneficial and similar to the traditional classroom education, the environment, face-to-face contact with professors and other peers, and the in-class discussions makes the traditional education

    Read More

  • The Cost Effectiveness of Online Education

    1542 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people think online education can be more expensive than a traditional school setting. Previous generations did not have the option for online learning experience, so why should we start now? An interesting point about online education is that LeBaron (2010) states, “The largest school in the U.S. is the University of Phoenix Online, with a whopping 380,232 students. That’s over 5x more than the largest public school, Arizona State University, which has 68,064 students” (para. 7). Despite the cost effectiveness, distance education is becoming the educational model of the future.

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Cross Border Education

    1453 Words  | 3 Pages

    This number has clearly multiplied since the school year 1997-1998 in which only 1.6 million students were enrolled in distance education courses (Eaton, 2001). Online education has reached and continues to reach to those students that cannot attend a traditional university setting due to constant mobility that Bauman refers to as liquid modernity. Technology has created accessibility for higher education, however it also formed a barrier. The main purpose of this paper is to take a look at the barrier technology has played for students, faculty, and quality assurance agencies while participating in the use, delivery, and evaluation of online

    Read More

  • How Effective is Online Education?

    2438 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the undergraduate educational setting, student proficiency and comfort with technology are stressed, but the essential mission of most undergraduate institutions (especially, liberal arts institutions such as Dartmouth) is on the development of the individual. The nurturing and supportive environment of most undergraduate institutions helps students mature and develop. The rave and fad of online undergraduate learning causes students to miss out on too many intangibles of an on-campus education. Our current theory on education hasn’t adequately dealt with the intricacies of a web-based education, and therefore the effectiveness of such is highly questionable.

    Read More

More about Online Degree Programs Dropout

Open Document