Distance learning, also known as online education, has been growing rapidly in popularity throughout the United States, and with the current economic downturn, this education option is more popular than ever with working professionals heading back to the virtual classroom.
Recognizing this increasing demand for education via the Internet, the Pennsylvania Distance Learning Association (PDLA) was established. A regional chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association, PDLA serves Pennsylvania as well as neighboring states Delaware and New Jersey. The non-profit organization works to promote the development and application of distance learning for training and education.
Pennsylvania also is a member of Project IDEAL, a national program made up of several partnering states that working together to develop effective distance learning programs designed for adult students. The group's primary objective is to improve the quality of online education throughout the United States. As more and more states establish their own online education resources, Project IDEAL works to provide the latest information and research on distance learning to its member states.
Not long after the Internet become mainstream, online education began to establish itself as a viable education option, and today, this form of education is considered to be a an invaluable teaching tool for busy professionals, employed mothers and even the typical college students.
In fact, an estimated 12.2 million students were enrolled in college-level, credit-granting distance education courses during the 2006-07 academic year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
In response to this increasing demand, many classroom-based postsecondary schools have added online courses to their degree programs - among two-year and four-year Title IV degree-granting postsecondary institutions, 66 percent offered college-level distance education courses during the 2006-07 academic year. Furthermore, 11,200 college-level programs were designed to be completed through distance learning - of these online education programs, 66 percent were degree programs and 34 percent were certificate programs.
A key factor behind the increasing popularity of online education is the benefits that come with attaining advanced degrees. Individuals with advanced degrees find they often have an improved employment outlook with a greater earning potential.
In fact, as one's education level increases, the rate of unemployment decreases, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In 2008, the unemployment rate among those with less than a high school diploma was 9.0 percent. That percentage dropped to 5.7 percent among those who attained only a high school degree, and this downward trend continues as education level increases:
In addition to impacting one's chances of securing a job, having an advance degree also led to greater earning potential in 2008:
