Courses online are not some passing fad. Rather, they have become an accepted and viable alternative to the traditional classroom setting. The many advantages of online education have helped to fuel the virtual classroom revolution. Some of the country's most prestigious universities are considering getting into the game, including Brown University and Williams College. Almost half of American colleges and universities are experimenting with online education formats, and many other schools will begin to do so in the coming years.
Public universities are especially interested in developing new distance learning programs.
An explosion of online course opportunities will inevitably lead to more competition as discriminating students pick and choose the best program for them. This increase in competition will help better the quality of online education. Colleges and universities will have to provide an exceptional learning environment and keep up with new technological trends in order to retain students. The students who reap the most benefits from online education are adults and other non-traditional students. These students rarely have schedules that allow them to take traditional college courses on campus.