Definitely you can expect a lot of flexibility in online education for which it is so popular and widely acclaimed among students. The online education provides you some distinct facilities that have been unknown in the formal education. Some of the greatly distinctive facilities of online education include flexible scheduling of classes, studying at the own pace of the students, studying at the own convenience of time and apace, interactive global fraternity of students for better and widespread learning environment, online as well as virtual study materials, interactive space of the internet to stay continuously connected to the worldwide knowledge base of internet, the facility of instantly referring to the internet for any educational requirement during the online class session and lots of other facilities as well as advantages like being less expensive compared to the same standard of education in any reputed institution, being hassle free as the student is not required to travel any distance to attend the classes or living in hostel, being devoid of any chances of distractions like personality clashes with fellow students or teachers, etc.

But as we have already mentioned that there is a lot of limitation regarding what to expect and what not to expect from online education, there is obviously great many things that you cannot expect from an online education. Similarly like your expectation the list of the things that you cannot expect from an online education is long enough to accommodate great many things that are normally associated with classroom based formal education in schools and colleges. The educational constituents that you cannot expect from an online education include lively interaction between students and teachers, spontaneous educational environment that boosts participation and human bonding, real life and real time situation and problem solving environment, motivation and cooperation of teachers and fellow students in overcoming various hurdles towards obtaining the performing ability, freedom and refreshment through beyond the classroom activities and most importantly personal touch in all the educational activities and personal interactions. Definitely the charm and liveliness of the good old college days are something that remains as the most cherished memory and in an online education you cannot expect such a thing.

The question of what to expect and what not to expect in an online education is a preparatory one and every student give this question a few hours of consideration before applying for an online education. To set the expectation right is the beginning of satisfaction and this is more than just a justified perception for young minds who are venturing into different modes of career focused educational programs.

1. Bill Gates – A list of college dropouts now rolling in money simply has to have this man at the top. Imagine this…Gates scored 1590 out of 1600 on his SAT. He was designing code for business establishments when still in school. He enrolled in Harvard and in his very first year wrote code for a “pancake sorting” problem that stood for three decades as the fastest solution for the problem and this was way back in 1973. In 1975, Microsoft was formed. Gates dropped out of Harvard and in 1987 he was declared a billionaire by Forbes.

2. Larry Ellison – Today, Oracle is perhaps the biggest name in the field of enterprise software. Huge conglomerates all over the world use Oracle ERP and CRM solutions to save and earn millions of dollars. The software has made Larry Ellison worth $33 billion and the third richest person in the world. Ellison has come far from being born out of wedlock, living with adopted parents, and dropping out of University of Illinois before the age of 20. And Oracle has come a long way from being a simple database program for the CIA.

3. Mark Zuckerberg – He’s 27 years of age and already worth $18 billion. He came up with the idea of Facebook. You’re on Facebook, aren’t you? This guy wasn’t a geeky nerdy guy in school. He designed games and also captained the school fencing team. From Facemash to Facebook, it has been a roller-coaster ride for Zuckerberg. And yes, he didn’t complete his college at Harvard. Would you go back to college if you came up with such a kicker of a website?

4. Michael Dell – The guy who changed the face of how business is done. He wrote the book on e-commerce. His mantra of content, commerce, and community is religiously followed by internet business owners. Dell.com was reporting sales of $ 1 million each day in 1996. Today, Michael Dell is worth almost $15 billion dollars and the 44th richest individual in the U.S. And it all started in the early eighties when Michael Dell was selling computer kits while still a freshman at the University of Texas. Needless to say, he never completed college.

5. Andrew Lloyd Webber – He’s proof that if you have the talent and the savvy then you can do just great without college education. He’s not a businessman in the conventional sense of the term. He’s only got his art to sell and he’s done great doing just that. This music composer’s work for plays and movies has been immensely popular all over the world. It has enabled him to amass a fortune in excess of 800 pounds. And he’s done all this without a college degree; he dropped out of Oxford after just one semester in 1965.

6. Roman Abramovich – He’s definitely had the most colorful journey of all to his dollar billions. Imagine, moving from selling smuggled goods in Russia to owning Chelsea Football Club, a premier club in European football. He’s a product of the times when Russia was opening up courtesy Glasnost and Perestroika. Today, Abramovich is worth almost $13.5 billion dollars and has interests across various industries. He’s among the top ten rich persons in Russia. He enrolled for Law College but never completed the course.

7. Ralph Lauren – He’s come far from the days when he was Ralph Lifshitz. Wonder if he would’ve made it big in his chosen field of designer wear with that name. Ralph Lauren sounds so much cooler. He went to the DeWitt Clinton High School, but not to college.

8. Gautam Adani – Yet another example of what enterprising individuals can achieve given the right environment. Gautam Adani has gone from being a small-time plastic trader to being worth more than $10 billion and the 6th richest Indian. He’s a college dropout and a truly classic example of a person making it rich because he has that itch, the fortitude, and the knack. The knack, most likely, is in the blood.

9. Ted Turner – Media Mogul and the Mouth from the South, Ted Turner was till some time back the largest property holder in America. He has owned billboard space, radio stations, news network, cable network channels, Atlanta Braves baseball team and so much more. He has made billions and seen them go. Even so, he still holds a formidable fortune and is a venerable member in any list of entrepreneurs that came good spectacularly. He is a media guy from the age that precedes the internet, an inspiration to all those internet millionaires out there. And to think that Ted was expelled from high school because he was caught with a female student in his room.

Here’s an interesting footnote. Almost 20% of America’s millionaires have never attended college. Also, not only have most of these billionaires made a lot of money, they have made a positive difference to society through their contributions in taking civilization forward and also their philanthropic efforts.

Business Education

Florida Tech University Business Programs
The online educational curriculums of this university in the discipline of business deserves special recommendation, simply because of its wide coverage of multiple specialisation areas in the professional education of business discipline, ranging from accounting, marketing, management, finance to business administration and many more.

Healthcare

Kaplan University Bachelor of Science Program in Health Care Administration
The uniqueness of this one of the most popular online university programs is that, beside offering a great state of the art educational and training programs it gives the student a lucrative scope of professional exposure by giving them an opportunity of one year externship in a reputed healthcare facility prior to obtaining their degree.

Information Technology and Computer Applications

Colorado Technical University Master’s Degree program in Information Technology
This university is well known for its academic excellence in various technical and professionally relevant educational curriculums. The Master degree program of this university in the discipline of information technology is considered to be one of the best in the country.

Education

Walden University Bachelor Degree program in Education
This online university is one of the most acclaimed online educational institution with well known contribution in education of many professional as well as academic disciplines. The Bachelor Degree program of this university in education is considered to be one of the best in the entire north America.

Hotel and Tourism

DeVry University BS in hospitality management
This online university is famous for its unique online curriculum in various professional disciplines. Hospitality and tourism being one of the key growth driven sectors in the entire country requires professionally proactive individuals with a good variety of practical skills in the hospitality trade and DelVry university is one  of the best online university to answer to these professional requirements

Though the above mentioned short list of some of the most popular online university programs cannot at all be considered as a final recommendation for the respective disciplines, it definitely provide a better glimpse at the coverage, expanse and quality of online university programs as a whole.

Compared to traditional degree courses, the cost for online university programs are very less. You can also talk to your professors and other classmates through forums, instant messenger and chat rooms and can complete your coursework from any location. Most of the online university programs are designed specially for working adults and professionals. So you need not compromise with your present job for pursuing your higher education. You can also access various financial aid programs through online. Online universities offer diploma, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s degrees, MBA degree, PhD degree, etc to students. Depending on your tastes and preferences, you can select courses from various subjects in:

• Health and clinical,
• Engineering,
• Education,
• Architecture,
• Culinary,
• Arts and design,
• Computer,
• Beauty and cosmetology,
• Communication and media,
• Business,
• Legal and law enforcement,
• Vocational or technical,
• Travel and hospitality,
• Liberal arts and humanities,
• Science,
• Social services, etc.

Some of the top online universities and the courses they offer are discussed in detail below.

University of Phoenix
This is the largest private accredited university, which offer high quality education to aspiring career professionals and adults. The campuses of this university are located in several locations such as United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The university offers online degrees in healthcare, education, technology, business and criminal justice.

The degree programs of University of Phoenix include Associate’s degrees, Bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and Doctorate programs.

Associate of Arts in General Science
If you are planning to pursue an advanced professional education degree, Associate of Arts degree of University of Phoenix is the best option. This is the stepping stone of Bachelor’s degree. It takes two years or less to complete this course. The course work includes sociology, psychology, history, philosophy and mathematics. You will also get opportunities to your written and interpersonal skills.

Bachelor of Science in Business or Accounting
The Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Accounting enables students to work in several areas in accounting. The course work mainly focuses on communication, critical thinking and technology based accounting theory. Besides, students need to study management training, statistics, finance, economics and organizational behavior.

The other bachelor’s programs offered by University of Phoenix are:

• Bachelor of Science in Business/Administration,
• Bachelor of Science in Business/e-Business,
• Bachelor of Science in Business/Management,
• Bachelor of Science in Business/marketing,
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration,
• Bachelor of Science in Human Services/Management,
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/ Database Administration, and
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Master of Health Administration
University of Phoenix also provide various master’s degree programs to the students. Master of Health Administration enables students to acquire skills necessary for working in healthcare industry. The coursework include research, marketing, business strategy, technology, quality control, economics, finance and policy. You can also select areas such as health informatics, public health and long term care.

Master of Business Administration in Accounting
You can become an expert financial manager after the successful completion of this course. The program emphasizes capital  and human resource management in a firm. The course covers topics such as accounting theory, strategic planning, decision making, corporate taxation, executive management, organizational development, information management, accounting information systems, advanced costing techniques and conflict management.

The other master’s degree programs offered by the University of Phoenix are:

• Master of Business Administration in Global Management,
• Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management,
• Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management,
• Master of Business Administration/Marketing, and
• Master of Business Administration in Technology Management.

You can also undergo training in various online doctorate programs of the University of Phoenix. They are Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, Doctor of Education in Leadership, and Doctor of Health Administration.

Kaplan University
This is another prestigious educational institution, which offers relevant and innovative courses to the students. The university provides professional certificates, associates and bachelor’s degrees in education, information technology, criminal justice, business, nursing, healthcare management, and paralegal studies. Kaplan University has accreditation from higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

American InterContinental University Online (AIU)
AIU online is committed to educate students and produce top quality leaders to the professional world. The aspiring career professionals can earn bachelor’s degree online in business administration, visual communication, information technology or BBA in management, healthcare management, marketing, human resources. You can also earn associate degree in IT or business through this university.

It also offers Master’s degree in business administration, education, IT or MBAs in marketing, management, healthcare management or human resources for the brightest students.

Strayer University
Established in 1984, Strayer University is providing high quality education to professionals and adult students online. The independent and unique degree programs of this university empower students to earn bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree in various fields such as criminal justice, technology, business, culinary arts, web designing, engineering, etc. Middle States Commission on Higher Education provided accreditation to Strayer University.

The other universities, which offer accredited and high quality online programs to students are:

• Argosy University,
• Ashford University Online,
• A T Still University of Health Science,
• Benedictine University Online,
• Boston University,
• Berkeley University,
• Capella University,
• Chamberlain College of Nursing,
•  Colorado Technical university,
• Columbia Southern University,
• DeVry University Online,
• Everest College,
• Everglades University,
• Grand Canyon University,
• Graceland University,
• Globe University,
• JIU Online Graduates,
• Keiser university,
• New England College,
• National American University,
• Norwich University Online,
• South University Online,
• University of Cincinnati,
• University of Florida,
• University of Maryland, etc.

You can enroll in any online university program, which is offered by these institutions. Some universities such as Ohio University, Georgia College and State University, Boston University, University of Newcastle, etc offer online degrees in music.

It is not surprising that more people today prefer an online university program to traditional college education. This is because the former is much more convenient and affordable. The most popular online university program is currently the MBA, research has shown. This can be accredited to the many graduates seeking to improve their worth with an MBA degree.

The MBA online university program is mostly offered for a period of one year by leading universities, something that has attracted many students wishing to fast track their career growth. Candidates can also easily register, complete the course work and even take their examinations through the internet in the MBA online university program.

With many employers voicing their support for online education, there is nothing to worry about doing an online university program. Whatever degree you need, online is definitely the way to go.

Faculty and Financing Schemes: It has been experienced in case of much online college and institutions that instead by providing lessons from qualified teachers rather provide lectures through local teachers and computer with internet access. Therefore you should always prior check out for faculty’s training and on productive online classroom. Do also check out for various financing schemes as provided by for teaching and learning at the institution that too includes education loans and scholarships.

Accreditation: No, doubt this is the most important criteria before you take admission into an online course. The accreditation as hold by a college or an institution tells all about an online college in an instance, it reaffirms your decision to take admission into a college or institution.   In America it is the Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern and Western accrediting agencies that provides recognition for an online course. So before you join an online course should be wary about accreditation provided to it.

Online presence of the Institution: Another important issue of vital importance while taking admission into an online course is the 100% online presence of that institute in real time. Beware of the institutions that despite being telling them to online institutions to impart learning provide teaching by using other than the said mediums like mail, telephone, videotape or calling on campus for the purpose of teaching certain extra classes.

Teaching Infrastructure: The online college where you are planning to take admission into, you should check out on the basis of facilities and utilities provide there like video streaming, whiteboard capabilities and video conferencing. More you should look out for proven technologies like e-mail, bulletin boards and websites before taking admission into an online course.

• The biggest advantage with an online learning program is that it remains available to a student at any time and from anywhere. Moreover, it is of great benefit for students who are employed and have professional obligations. They can attend their classes at their pleasure from any corner of the world.
• Another advantage that can be entertained with online learning is student centric teaching approaches as adopted under it. A student here is free to choose upon his mode of learning that works best for him.
• Another benefit of online learning is availability of learning material at any period of day, without any hindrance or check. In online learning, one can access to learning material for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Under there, twenty four hours course material is available for read re-read lectures, participate in discussions, explanations and comments.
• In online learning, there is no such compulsion of attending classes and lectures and presence only matters if a student participates into an online classroom discussion.  And this online discussion even increases interaction between students.
• The next benefit of online learning is that while at teaching mode it adopts the technology that is very good for purpose of teaching in 21st century and this technology is more used for the purpose of work in offices and departments of profit as well as non profit organizations and in government. This way learning of and teaching tools as used in online learning itself help a student to be prepared for 21st century learning environment.
• Other added advantage with online learning is that under it instructors are quite easily approachable and even can chat with their teachers on online chat environment, newsgroup discussions, and this all occurs without unnecessarily waiting for office hours.
• Another benefit with online learning is that it provides environment of team building and team learning as motivated through chat rooms and newsgroups. This way online learning gets answer to some of the common problems like mismatched schedules, meeting location and distribution of work for review.

And finally as there is no geographic boundaries lies while learning from online medium a student can get quite diversity in learning material and courseware available for them. This is very true and to the core of medical billing training and purchases for students.

Degree and Masters in Business Administration
If you are driven by an ambition to make things happen in the business world then this is a good choice. For a good start, a degree will come as an advantage as it will help you increase your knowledge in business and how to run an office. The online universities that offer this two courses are numerous, but it is important to look for an accredited school to offer you the education.

Degree in Health Care
The health care industry keeps growing and changing and that is why it has become a very popular field. The online universities that offer these programs are designed to equip the students with everything they need to handle the health care industry. The health care industry is very diverse and there is so much you can cover: Psychology, nursing and health care administration.

AA, Degree and Masters in education
The education field is very lucrative and a very great avenue to make a living out of. Online programs in the best universities will guarantee you a job in one of the most prestigious learning institutions in the world.

Bachelors in Arts
The arts are very interesting and very easy to venture in and that is why most people go for them. Enroll for an arts degree program and cover areas such as: residential design, multimedia design, interior décor, architecture and graphic design.

Degree and masters in information technology
If you have the drive to succeed then you enroll in an online university for computer sciences, telecommunications, information systems and information technology.