Best Method to Learn: Campus versus Online Education
There are several different approaches to acquiring a college degree; the varieties stem from different schedule restraints, locations, and ways in which people learn. For some students, only one option is feasible. For others, all the options are viable choices and it’s just a matter of finding out which one is the most appropriate for the student’s way of learning.
So which one is right for you? To help this decision, consider the U.S. Department of Education’s recently conducted study, which spanned over the course of twelve years. They observed students that acquired degrees from the following three methods:
- Traditional or campus-based learning, where the student attends classes in-person over a regimented curriculum
- Online or distance learning, where the student attends class virtually in an online classroom
- Hybrid learning, where the student learns in both a traditional and online environment
The study showed that not only is online education considered of equal quality to traditional education, but that it is considered, in many ways, superior to the campus-based method. Online education produced students that succeeded better in their first year of employment and achieved higher academic success, despite the fact that campus and online schools are upheld to the same standards from accreditation agencies; no one method is “easier” than the other.
Hybrid education took it one step further. Students that had an education comprised of traditional and online learning methods achieved the most academic and professional success throughout their participation in the study, leading to an abundance of knowledge and fruitful careers. This supports campuses like Saint Leo University and Hawai’i Pacific University that offer very reputable online and campus-based degree options.
Want to learn more about the different methods of learning? Check out the following resources on the differences between campus, online, and hybrid degree options:
- Facts About Distance Learning
- Online Learning Considered Superior to Distance Learning
- The Similarities Between a Classroom and Distance Learning
