Comments on: Online Learning Myth #2: The Cheap Online College

By: Zoe Bogart

Zoe Bogart — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:52:35 +0000

Thanks for the information on cost differences between online verses on-campus degrees. These are some issues to definitely consider before you make your final decision. It also helps when you are on a tight budget.

By: Vicky Phillips

Vicky Phillips — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:57:01 +0000

Hi Dan,

Yes, online masters vary so WIDELY in cost and cost is not necessarily related to quality. I hope you found our Best Buy lists which uses hard data on online college cost to reveal which are the most affordable — and expensive — online degree options.

This lists can help you “see” the range of costs so you can choose more intelligently how much to spend for your degree.

The #1 way masters students fund their degree is through loans — and that means assuming consumer debt. So look for you borrow for a healthier tomorrow.

Vicky Phillips

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:59:21 +0000

This post just confirms what I found when looking for an online masters degree. You need to do your research, what seems like the “best” school in the terms of cost can very well be an expensive choice. Many schools don’t want to admit it but cost is a one of the most important factors when finding a program. After all, why would I want to earn a degree and then find myself in over my head with debt?

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:31:26 +0000

There is so much more that goes into getting a college education than people realize. Great post. Thanks.

By: Vicky Phillips

Vicky Phillips — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 23:37:43 +0000

Hi Dawn,

You are correct that this is a very complex issue. Many business bloggers are assuming that online learning will reduce physical infrastructure costs — which it does — and that this factor will logically reduce tuition costs.

The policies you cite — of state money rules and regs and cost recovery principles that can affect online and extension learning — are great examples of how higher education does not follow logical free market principles in pricing their programs. The way higher ed is funded is very complex and unless one looks at the funding models they cannot understand and arrive at the true picture of how online education is being priced in this country.

Thanks much for the insights and explanations of how online learning funding operates in Wisconsin.

Vicky

By: Dawn Drake

Dawn Drake — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:45:15 +0000

This is a very complex issue that is trying to be “shoe-horned” into one size fits all. There are a number of reasons why online education may be more expensive than face-to-face. For example, I work at a 4 year public institution and we get state money to assist with keeping the cost of tuition down for the on-campus students. However, the online programs are set up on a cost recovery basis, so we need to charge more tuition to cover costs, because the state isn’t budgeting any $$$ for the online programs. Where the student saves their money is not having to drive to campus, living at home, eating at home (i.e. they have to live and eat someplace, but they can do that where they currently live, they don’t need to expend extra money to do this). If you look at the cost of a person attending college, tuition is only 1 of the costs–food, rent, gas, etc. all add pretty quickly.