Over 1 million students, among those being mothers, professors, caregivers, professional students or even crossing guards, earn their degree each year. Increasingly, over the past 2 decades and even more rapidly in the last 10 years, the avenue in which these students secure that degree has become more diverse. Brick-and-mortar institutions were once the only fundamental way to a college education. Indeed, previous to the 1980s it was almost entirely the only option open to the prospective student. Increasingly popular, the online option is becoming a more prevalent and principal player in the college education game. Therefore, two very distinct, diverse, and different paths are available for one to secure that degree, presently. With …show more content…
The student can choose a university that is accredited and therefore recognized and legitimized. The process of accreditation ascertains that a university’s classes, credits, and degrees meet minimum regional or national standards. Accreditation can be sought by any university including both online and traditional campus universities. Although the geographical university may have enjoyed or boasted an accredited status for longer, accreditation assures that the playing field is leveled for his or her comparison for choosing a university. Professors from either online or campus universities have similar educations, degrees, and educations. In recent years, employers are embracing the reputation and legitimacy of the online degree. In a 2007 study, it is cited that 45% of employers would select a candidate with a degree earned online (Carnevale’s work, as cited in Columbaro, 2008). There will always be individual prejudices either for or against either method of earning one’s degree, however, the quality of an online and traditional education and degree are mostly seen as similar in their legitimacy and quality but employers, students, and professors. In direct opposition to the similarities of quality and legitimacy of the online and traditional degree, the differences in the social interactions between the two avenues for earning a degree are