Vermont Online Education Opportunities
In recent years, the allure of online education has increased significantly, and with today's economic troubles, more and more people are turning to distance learning as a viable and convenient education option.
From working professionals to rural students, distance learning programs offer a doorway to a variety of educational opportunities that were once limited to traditional brick-and-mortar schools.
The Growth of Online Education
Following the advent of the Internet, online education soon followed. This alternative educational venue quickly established itself as a legitimate and beneficial scholastic option. Today, distance learning has grown into an invaluable tool utilized by busy professionals, working moms, typical college students and atypical high school students.
The National Center for Education Statistics determined that an estimated 12.2 million students were enrolled in credit-granting distance education courses at the college level during the 2006-07 academic year.
Additionally, the increasing demand for online education programs prompted many colleges and universities to begin adding these types of courses, either as part of a larger program of study or as programs designed to be completed through distance learning.
During the 2006-07 academic year, the National Center for Education Statistics also found that 66 percent of two-year and four-year Title IV degree-granting postsecondary institutions offered college-level distance education courses. Additionally, among these college-level programs, 11,200 were designed specifically to be completed through online study, with degree programs making up 66 percent and certificate programs making up 34 percent.
Vermont Online Education Initiatives
Not wanting to be left behind in the technological dust, there are several programs in place designed to assist Vermont students to take advantage of online education opportunities.
The Vermont Department of Education initiated its Educational Technology Program, which works in close partnership with online education organizations throughout the state to provide leadership in distance learning policy matters and to coordinate educational technology initiatives, including distance learning.
The University of Vermont offers more than 100 online courses in an effort to "extend its intellectual resources beyond the physical boundaries of the Burlington campus."
Finally, the Vermont MIDI Distance Learning Network was launched as part of an effort to further music composition by students at all grade levels. Supported by funds from the Vermont State Legislature and the Vermont Arts Council, the MIDI composition project enables students to create compositions and post them on the Internet.
The Push Behind Online Education's Growth
One of the primary catalysts for the recent growth in online education is the improved earning potential that comes with an advanced degree.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that one's earning potential increases as his or her degree level increases.
In 2008, an individual without a high school diploma earned an average of $426 per week. In contrast, an individual who graduated from high school but did not attend college earned an average of $591 per week.
That same year, those with some college education but no degree earned an average of $645 per week, while an individual with an associate's degree earned an average of $736 per week.
Earning a bachelor's degree came with average weekly earnings of $978, and a master's degree brought with it average weekly earnings of $1,228. Individuals with a professional degree earned an average of $1,522 per week, while those with a doctoral degree earned an average of $1,555 per week.
