University.com

With the average annual cost of tuition at a private university reaching more than $31,000, and average graduation debt reaching $40,000, more and more students are turning to the internet for more affordable degrees. Though some look down upon online degrees as inherently inferior, both state schools and elite universities alike are beginning to integrate online courses as a supplement to their core curriculum. Arizona State, Columbia, Penn State, and Harvard are a few of the pioneers who have been able to save their students both time and money through this educational revolution (The Economist).

The integration of online courses into college curriculums may help improve some of biggest problems in secondary education. According to a recent article in The Economist, "The Log-On Degree", Arizona State has "almost doubled undergraduate enrollment since 2002" through online courses, and "increased the share of students who graduate after four-years from two-thirds to one-half". All the while, tuition has stayed "reasonably low" at $10,000 in-state.

Online courses are increasing college enrollment and keeping students on track to graduation through their convenience and personalization. The article explains that many college courses with online components feature an "eAdvisor system" which tells students whether they are on track or not, while "prompts and explanations ensure that teachers do not have to keep going over the basics". This allows universities to increase college enrollment without having to fund new buildings or pay expensive professors for as much of their time.  And when universities save money, so do the students. 

The question is where will online courses take us in the future? Will Americans take advantage of the benefits that online courses offer as a supplement to college education, or will college tuition continue to rise as America's educational system refuses to change?