When some colleges think of online learning they think "cheap." Many colleges believe they can hold dozens of internet classes at only a portion of their usual expenses. That means part-time teachers and limited technical support. Unfortunately, the quantity over quality attitude also means student learning is lessened.

A recent Educause article addresses the distance learning quality vs. quantity debate:

"Will distance learning continue to flourish and have the double-digit annual growth that has been projected? To achieve this, all institutions-particularly those that look upon distance learning as a crucial element of revenue growth-must address several challenges. The top-tier universities as a group constitute a small segment of e-learning total enrollment revenues and will continue to pick and choose courses and programs strategically, emphasizing quality over volume. The community colleges and non-top-tier schools, with the lion's share of e-learning enrollments, are on the verge of a major growth surge. If the general demand for online learning continues, especially in junior colleges, at some point the issue of volume versus quality must be faced squarely."

When distance learning programs are not high-quality, students suffer. Not only do the students of a particular low-quality course miss the opportunity to learn, the reputation of all online degrees suffer.

For more on this subject see: Education at a Crossroads - What Price Quality?