Eventual death of online only schools?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by SurfDoctor, Jan 14, 2012.

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  1. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    We are all well aware that more and more traditional universities are offering degrees that can be earned online. As more B&M's offer online degrees, do think that this fact will eventually severely hurt or even kill many online only schools? Given the choice, wouldn't most students choose a degree from a traditional school, if it were available online?

    I tend to think that, sometime in the not so distant future, the online only schools will suffer greatly from the proliferation of online degrees from traditional universities. Enrollments are already dropping for various reasons and it is likely to get worse. What do you think?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2012
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    It's an interesting question. I always look at costs. If an online school can find a way to turn it's lack of infrastructure into reduced cost to the student then they may be able to remain competitive. For the most part I think that people sign into University of Phoenix MBA programs (as opposed to one of the many more affordable MBA programs) simply because those other programs don't advertise. So, my first thought is this: If 100% online schools don't reduce their prices they will slowly die. If, at the same time, B&M school with online programs increase their advertising then death will come more quickly to those 100% online schools.
     
  3. PilgrimPastor

    PilgrimPastor New Member

    I tend to agree. I am amazed that even University of Maryland and many other quality and well low state and private schools got into online learning fairly early. Why would I pay more at an online only school rather than less at a school like that?
     
  4. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Private colleges and universities cost anywhere from two to five times more than their counterpart taxpayer-assisted public universities -- yet private colleges and universities manage to stay in business. Conversely, as long as online colleges and universities continue to provide educational services that people want, then they will stay in business.
     
  5. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    For sure it hurts some online schools. I have worked for few online programs that have gone out of business.
    There are some online schools that are doing really well in spite of the competition.

    I have noticed that enrollments are dropping at the graduate level but increasing at the undegraduate level. The market requires a BS for almost every job while Master's degrees like MBAs only seem to be useful if they come from a recognized school.

    My guess is that in the future, the BS will become like the high school diploma so the name of the school that granted the degree won't matter much. Master's and PhDs will only carry some value if granted by top institutions. At least this is what I see for MBAs and PhDs.
     
  6. Psydoc

    Psydoc New Member

    I think you are correct!

    MBA - Univ. of Ala. Bham - on campus
    Masters in Counseling - Liberty University - distance the school has a campus
    Masters in Psychology - Univ. of West Ala. - online the school has a campus
    Masters English/Writing - Western New Mexico University - online the school has campus
    PhD Counseling - Capella - online but I think the learning experience was at least equal to the State Schools; if I could have accomplished the same at a B&M - especially a state school - in the same way for the same price I would have been all over it.
     
  7. dl_mba

    dl_mba Member

    I personally think, the way these .COM schools operate - they should not be in the Education Business. People/Government/Accreditation Bodies will eventually find out what happens in these schools and will will be the end of these outfits.
     
  8. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Interesting that you would say that considering your username. :smile: (Just yanking your chain)
     
  9. PilgrimPastor

    PilgrimPastor New Member

    What does that mean? Surely you are not implying that all .COM schools that HAVE accreditation are less than above board?
     
  10. ebbwvale

    ebbwvale Member

    I think that online learning schools can survive if they have a low cost structure and maintain their standards. While they don't have government subsidy, they can offset this by a low cost structure and increase their value by high standards. Online teaching is now no doubt a specialist skill and these schools need to be at the top of their game in terms of technology and expertise. Ultimately, they will become known by their graduates skill base, not their networks.

    Corporates are now heavily into skill development of their workforce by online learning. They will be influenced by low cost and a product that produces a high skill base, not a name. Unlike the individual who is looking for the status, they are looking for an skills related edge at the right price. It may be the corporate market that provides the solution for online schools. The skills ability of the workforce is the only reason why manufacturing will stay onshore in a high cost labor market or, conversely, manufacturing in high cost labor markets had better have a highly skilled workforce that can add value that low labor cost markets cannot. The cost of increasing this skills base had better be low, and the product value adding. The educational process had better be globalised and available 24x 7. Online expertise may have an edge there if they develop specialised niches. Technology, online teaching expertise, standards, flexibility, and low cost will be the competitive advantage. B& M Schools then to treat online learning as secondary and are not flexible enough.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 15, 2012
  11. BobbyJim

    BobbyJim New Member

    I think you're on to something here re corp skill development.
     
  12. The_Blacksmythe

    The_Blacksmythe New Member

    I hope not to soon I happen to need one of this places for a while.
     
  13. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    So, you believe that you know how schools operate but their accreditors don't? :rolleyes:
     
  14. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I also think that administrators of some online schools will realize that they can offer the same degrees at a much cheaper price and will find a competitive niche that traditional schools will not be able to fill. IMO, it is likely that some schools will suffer greatly and others, run by more astute administrators, will adapt and continue to prosper.
     
  15. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I think the future of DL lies with diversification; any school going forward from here that markets DL programs, be they B&M schools or online schools, needs to offer something different. I mean, how many schools of all types offer DL M.B.A. degrees, for example? It has to be well over a hundred.

    As they said in Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come".

    Offer something unique/different (that isn't too "out there") and a school will likely have success. For example, I predict that Nova Southeastern will have great success with their 100% non-residential Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, because they're the first legitimately accredited school to offer it. There are some RA schools that offer *similar* degrees (Northcentral with their Business Administration degrees with a concentration in Criminal Justice), but Nova is the first to offer a DL Ph.D. in pure CJ in the country.
     
  16. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Yes, the key will be adaptation, but I wonder how many schools will be able to to this.
     
  17. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    If I recall correctly, there were 420 in my MBA Sticky.
     
  18. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I rest my case.
     

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