| For many students, enrolling in a full-time college | | | | the bachelors and masters levels. The University of |
| degree program immediately after high school | | | | Florida has recently teamed up with Santa Fe College, |
| graduation is not the most desirable option. Some of | | | | both of them in Gainesville, Fla., to offer joint online |
| these students might choose to travel or volunteer | | | | degree programs, according to the Gainesville Sun. |
| while taking some time off from school. Others might | | | | Online college and university students can schedule |
| want to, or have to, begin their careers immediately. | | | | studies for times when they aren't working, sightseeing |
| Taking a year off between high school and college is | | | | or tending to family responsibilities. By participating in |
| a common practice in Europe, and students who take | | | | online college and university programs, students often |
| time off might be more mature and ready for college | | | | receive instruction via multimedia formats. Online |
| and university studies when they arrive on campus, a | | | | courses these days include podcasts, webcasts and |
| recent article in Better Homes & Gardens suggested. | | | | video lectures, as well as opportunities to interact with |
| By working immediately after college, students might | | | | classmates and instructors through message boards |
| get a feel for what a field that interests them is like, | | | | and the like. |
| according to the College Board. However, the College | | | | There are online degree and certificate programs in a |
| Board notes, more and more jobs are requiring an | | | | variety of subject areas from which to choose, |
| education beyond high school. | | | | including many that can lead to careers where |
| High school graduates who don't immediately head off | | | | employment growth is anticipated. In addition to laptops |
| to college might consider taking an online college or | | | | and PCs, students in many online college and university |
| university course or two. Online college and university | | | | programs might put mobile phones, iPads and |
| courses can be taken from wherever students have | | | | e-readers such as the Kindle, Nook and Sony Reader |
| Internet access, allowing students during their travels to | | | | to use. Students who enhance their knowledge of |
| keep their minds active and get some academic | | | | devices such as these might in their careers find the |
| credits behind them. Working students who participate | | | | experience proves as much of an investment as an |
| in online college and university studies might be inspired | | | | online college or university education itself. |
| to move on to earn a certificate or degree. They might | | | | Many families and students rely on scholarships, grants |
| even do so while "test driving" a field in which they're | | | | and other forms of financial aid to help pay for college |
| interested, the College Board suggests. | | | | and university tuition. Scholarships and grants |
| The online college and university education model is | | | | particularly don't have to be repaid, and they're often |
| growing, Frank Mulgrew recently told an NBC News | | | | as available for online college and university pursuits as |
| reporter in Connecticut. Mulgrew is President of Online | | | | they are campus studies. In many instances, |
| Education at Post University, a Waterbury, Conn., | | | | scholarships and grants require that institutions online or |
| institution that offers online courses and online degree | | | | otherwise be accredited by a nationally recognized |
| program options. Aspen University in Denver, Colo., | | | | agency, which is important in terms of having the ability |
| recently announced new online degree programs at | | | | to transfer credits as well. |