Massachusetts Online Education

Distance learning, otherwise known as online education, is growing in popularity throughout the country, and to meet this increasing demand for education via the Internet, Massachusetts has taken several steps to assist individuals in their pursuit of higher education.

Recognizing the need to provide reliable information on online education, the Massachusetts Colleges Online, or MCO, was created. This consortium, consisting of 15 community colleges and nine state colleges in Massachusetts, came together in order to share their online courses and programs with students throughout the state.

The state of Massachusetts also participates in Project IDEAL, a national program consisting of several states working together in the development of effective distance learning programs designed for adult students. Project IDEAL's ultimate object is to improve the quality of online education through the United States. The association works with member states to provide the latest information and research on distance learning as more and more states begin to establish their own online education resources.

Online education growing in popularity

With the advent of the Internet, online education quickly grew in popularity, and today is considered to be an invaluable learning tool for busy professionals, working moms and even typical college students alike.

During the 2006-07 academic year, an estimated 12.2 million students were enrolled in college-level, credit-granting distance education courses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

To meet this growing demand, more and more classroom-based postsecondary schools have added online courses to their degree programs. In fact, 66 percent of two-year and four-year Title IV degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the nation offered college-level distance education courses during the 2006-07 academic year. Additionally, approximately 11,200 college-level programs were designed to be completed through distance education - of these programs, 66 percent were degree programs while 34 percent were certificate programs.

How advanced degrees help

One of the key factors driving the popularity of distance learning is the fact that obtaining an advanced degree helps individuals improve their employment outlook as well as their earning potential.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the rate of unemployment decreases as the level of education completed increases. In 2007, the unemployment rate among people with less than a high school diploma was 7.1 percent. That rate dropped to 4.4 percent among those with a high school degree but no college. And the numbers keep dropping:

Some college, no degree - 3.8 percent unemployment rate
Associate's degree - 3.0 percent unemployment rate
Bachelor's degree - 2.2 percent unemployment rate
Master's degree - 1.8 percent unemployment rate
Doctoral degree - 1.4 percent unemployment rate
Professional degree - 1.3 percent unemployment rate

In addition to improving one's chances of finding a job, an advanced degree can lead to greater earning potential:

Less than a high school diploma - $22,256 median earnings in 2007
High school graduate, no college - $31,408 median earnings in 2007
Associate's degree - $38,480 median earnings in 2007
Bachelor's degree - $51,324 median earnings in 2007
Master's degree - $60,580 median earnings in 2007
Doctoral degree - $77,844 median earnings in 2007
Professional degree - $74,204 median earnings in 2007

For more information

Returning to school, whether to complete your GED or attain an advance degree, can only help you in achieving your professional goals, and with the growth in online education, going back to school is easier than ever.

To find out more about distance learning, just complete the online form and we'll provide you with details on the many online degree programs available to you. Also be sure to read the tips for getting an online education including finding an accredited school.