In the past, if you wanted to get a college degree, that meant heading to classrooms and listening to boring lectures from professors throughout the day. However, the American college landscape is changing, and online education schools are providing new opportunities for students of all types. In fact, nearly a third of college students in the United States are enrolled in one online class, if not more. Whether you just don’t feel like living in a dorm and heading to class every day is right for you or have responsibilities, like a child you need to take care of, the flexibility provided by the top online colleges make them a great alternative to the traditional college experience.

Though there are many factors contributing to the fact that more than six million students are currently enrolled in online university education programs. However, the most potent might be that online programs are simply far less expensive than traditional college programs. They tend to be 25 to 30% cheaper, so if you plan on graduating with an online degree, you won’t likely find yourself more than $100,000 in debt. As a result, when you finish, you can focus on saving your first pay checks and not have to worry about struggling to make loan payments for the next decade.

With so many students choosing to take online courses, colleges and universities have been forced to adjust. Just over 65% of all chief academic officers say that “online education is critical to the long-term strategy,” and those who do not adjust might find themselves struggling to attract students. So while online classes might be most important for students needing lower costs and more flexibility, they are also important for colleges who want to keep a large student population.

Before enrolling in an online university course, you should always take the time to find some online education free information. Good magazines and websites will have information about costs, including tuition and fees, course requirements, and class structure. Every program will differ, but many professors use web cams to give lectures and meet with students via video chats. Getting online education free information is vital for students who are unsure what to expect when taking classes online but believe that doing so is the best option.