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If you want to be a more sellable commodity in a flooded job market or to earn more money in the future, you might consider higher education. And Internet-based classes and online degree programs these days offer the flexibility to accomplish this goal on your own time, in your own space and when you don’t have to tend to your career or your family.

There are a variety of Internet-only schools as well as “bricks and mortar” colleges with virtual classes and online degree programs from which to choose. But although students enrolled in online classes achieve grades similar to or higher than those who physically attend college, studies show that virtual learners have a greater tendency to drop out.

In a Today Show interview last year with co-host Ann Curry, Ladies’ Home Journal Editor-in-Chief Sally Lee emphasized the need for online class and online degree program enrollees to be “self-motivated” and “self-disciplined.” Distance learning has become a popular way for nurses to obtain Bachelor of Science degrees, and the demand for master’s degrees in business administration has also reportedly been high, according to Lee. But computer-based studies shouldn’t be passive, she said, noting that many virtual schools feature online communities, where students can meet others from a variety of backgrounds. Students can also participate in virtual classes and online degree programs that utilize two-way video and audio, interactive offerings that the Institute for Higher Education Policy has encouraged.

The Institute in 1999 released a “What’s the Difference?” study revealing that students who succeeded in computer-mediated education were often married, women and those with high literacy skills. Students who considered themselves persistent in taking on new projects and organized with regard to management skills had characteristics associated with online college success. So did individuals who work well independently, according to the study.

Students shopping for a college should always consider how well-suited the institution is for their needs and objectives and how much higher education costs after any financial aid is taken into account. Those considering online classes and online degree programs particularly should also consider:

•?? ?Make sure the institution is accredited by one of the six regional boards and/or the Distance Education and Training Council. Accreditation means that the institution provides an education that meets minimum standards, and this makes a difference to many employers, transfer credit recipients and career endeavors such as taking the bar exam. Also, beware of “degree mills” — virtual entities go so far as to offer degrees in as few as five days or based exclusively on life experience, according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, which provides a list of accredited colleges on its Web site.

•?? ?Make sure online classes offer the level of support and interaction they need.

•?? ?Whether or not they can dedicate time to their studies and take them seriously. In “What’s the Difference?” successful online students said they had time to do what they planned to do and that consequences came with failure.

•?? ?How confident they are of their success. Students completing online college rated their chances for success at their accredited degree higher than their dropout counterparts, according to the Institute for Higher Education Policy’s “What’s the Difference?” study. If you are interested in improving your career and would like more information about accredited degree online, check the internet.