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Getting a college degree can be one of the single most important things a person can do to help ensure a higher income and opened doors down the road. While it isn't a guarantee for success, it is a key factor in it for many. With this in mind, more and more, people are turning to distance learning degree programs to help them achieve this vital goal.

A distance learning degree program is nothing more than a regular college-level program, but without all the driving and sitting in class time. Instead, these programs operate using the Internet as their classrooms, giving students the freedom to work on their own schedules. This can present a fantastic opportunity for those who must work while they learn.

Distance learning degree programs tend to vary a bit from institution to institution. Some classes, too, can deliver very different requirements. In some online courses, for example, students will be expected to show up in "class," an online chat room at set times on set days. In other cases, all correspondence with the professor is handled via e-mail, chat and telephone on a less stringent schedule. Either way, these classes and programs all add up to a degree at the end of the road.

The benefits of distance learning degree programs are many. They include such things as:

* Less formal setting. Since the setting is the Internet, it means students can live and learn as they go. Whether they roll out of bed and get online or they do their course work in the middle of the night, the reality is the less formal, more intimate setting helps those with a fear factor toward large, lecture courses thrive.

* Individualized attention. Many of these programs actually make it easier - not harder - for students to interact with professors. The time lost driving and organizing a class can be regained online quickly and easily.

* Lower fees. This is not the case with all distance learning degree programs, but many offer slightly lower fees that physical classes do. Plus, activities fees often charged annually on college campuses tend not to apply to these cases. This cost savings with some distance learning degree programs can open doors for those who cannot afford regular tuition requirements.

* Recognized degree programs. Whereas distance learning degree programs used to be restricted to a few set areas, this isn't the case anymore. Accredited colleges and universities are learning to tap into this opportunity to draw more students. To do so, they're tailoring more programs for online learning.

* End result. The end result of a distance learning program remains the all important degree. As long as the institution involved is accredited and the program is, too, the degree is just as viable as one earned by spending years sitting in a class.

A distance learning degree program can be ideal for anyone who doesn't think they have to time to achieve. The reality is these programs are available around the clock, removing one of the biggest roadblocks for many.