In general, online higher education gives prospective students more opportunities to complete courses and earn their degrees. Traditionally, students begin an on-campus program at the beginning of a semester (which happens just twice a year). And, they need to meet application deadlines months prior to the start date of the program. But with online education, students are able to begin their program at nearly any time of the year (at Grantham, classes begin monthly). Many online courses take an accelerated path and can be completed in just eight weeks, which creates more academic terms and more opportunities for students to enroll.

Students enrolled in an asynchronous program have the ability to pursue their degree at any pace. This is especially beneficial for those working as a full-time professional and dealing with other life obligations while going to school. Many colleges require students to complete their program in a specific time frame. At Grantham, students have the ability to reduce or increase their course load as needed.

Because Grantham students are able to customize their course load, many programs can be completed in less time than the typical two- or four-year timeframe. Students can easily continue classes during the summer months, and the unique eight-week structure helps them move through the program quickly.

Compared to a traditional, on-campus education setting, an online format gives students several technological advantages. Courses are offered through a fully integrated learning management system, and assignments and quizzes are completed within these platforms. Many online programs are identical to their on-campus counterparts—the only difference is that lectures are available on demand and material is viewed whenever the student chooses to access it.

Online programs are especially beneficial to students looking for a new job or promotion. In these programs, students are responsible for learning several programs and applications needed to be successful in online environment. These days, most jobs require some degree of virtual literacy and familiarity with programs like Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Most traditional institutions facilitate one-on-one communication with instructors during specific office hours throughout the week. For students enrolled part-time or who have other life obligations that keep them away from campus, utilizing these office hours may be difficult. In an online learning format, however, instructors often offer virtual office hours via Zoom, Skype or the school’s learning management system. Because the student can participate in virtual office hours from anywhere with an internet connection, they can more easily access their instructor and get the help they need.

Other communication vehicles such as email and instant messaging allow online students to quickly and conveniently reach out to their instructors when necessary.