[quote=earlyretirement]
Absolutely these on-line degrees I’m sure will pick up and become more popular. But quite honestly for me I learned more from college just going through the 4 years and going through the entire experience, dealing with people, living in the dorm my first year, living in a fraternity, etc.

The entire “college experience” was amazing to me. Looking back, I wouldn’t have changed anything about the experience. In fact, I want my kids to go through that experience rather than sitting at a desk learning online.

I think many people underestimate the social setting and the lessons you learn as a young adult navigating through that and dealing with so many groups of different types of people.

I think making it through college helps shape a person and makes them who they become as adults. That’s part of the reason why I think that colleges and universities will be able to charge what they do. I know many people that have the same opinion.

By the time my kids reach college if someone gives me the option to have them study and get an “online degree” for $X or go to a reputable and respected traditional University for $XXXXXX, I will still choose the traditional route even though it’s more expensive.[/quote]

How much is that experience worth to you and how exactly is that experience different than moving out of your parents house, moving in with some roommates and getting a job to pay for it. Moving out of your parents house and getting the experience of living on your own is what you describe. Why do you think it takes college to live that experience.

There’s plenty of non-college students in their early 20’s that live a lifestyle really similar to the college students. They get a lot of those same experiences and they didn’t have to pay for college to do it. Now college might feel like a safer place to send your child. It’s a more controlled environment and colleges today will help babysit your kid a bit, but it’s really not that different.