Before the Internet was fully developed, earning a higher degree or even taking a college class or two meant traveling to a local college. If you lived in a remote area, this could be difficult. Although many younger students were able to live on campus in a dorm room, this was nearly impossible for anyone with family or job obligations.

With online courses, anyone can take a class or pursue a degree from home, the local library, or during their lunch hour at work. Without the need to travel, the student usually finds that they can spend more time on their studies while still fully participating in every other facet of their day-to-day life. With this option, a college degree is now possible for almost anyone who really wants one.

Some critics of online education claim that it places the student far from the college experience. While most people think this is fine when the student is simply trying to improve his life or advance his career, many feel it is not a good thing for the recent high-school graduate. In most cases, this type of student takes a few classes online and a few in a traditional classroom. However, many students find that they are even more involved with their classmates in an online format. Most online classes include online participation and a chat feature. Because the students are talking at their leisure without pressure to get to the next class, get to work, or get back home, friendships quickly develop and often transition into real life.