Discipline, Field Area Distance learning courses are broadly offered across the full spectrum of disciplines. Liberal arts courses are offered more than any other type. There are substantial offerings in engineering and the sciences. There are significant additional costs associated with distance learning, technological and organizational. Costs associated with development differ from costs associated with delivery.
Costs also differ by medium used.
Due to high cost for telecommunications connections, interactive video may have higher ongoing costs than online. The same outside services are procured by a number of institutions. Opportunity exists for aggregating purchasing power. Students are willingly paying modest extra fees for the convenience of distance learning. Future Potential National studies have not found a difference in the instructional outcomes between distance learning and traditional classroom instruction.