A lot of classes at the UI have online options. Actually, the university has entire majors that can be taken completely online. Students can register in the UI’s distance and online education program; those who choose this route get a small break in tuition — they do not have to pay the full amount of student fees that their in-class counterparts do. And though the cost difference is miniscule, some students decide that taking online classes is  more convenient for them — for a whole slew of different reasons.

Choosing to take a course online does not actually seem to be best for students. Everyone knows that online classes mean that students have little to no face-to-face interactions between themselves and their fellow classmates or professors. For some students, a lack of interaction can hinder learning.

Many online classes have components that allow students to go at their own pace, which can, on its face, seem appealing. However, it also leaves a large door open for students to procrastinate and do the bare minimum at the end of the semester. With procrastination comes a lack of learning and overall long-term retention of material.

Online classes make sense for students who know that independent learning is their strong suit. But online classes have little benefit for typical first- and second-year students who may not fully understand how they learn best. Sure, it could save time, but students at the UI pay the same amount for a class regardless of if the course is online or in a classroom. This leaves students shelling out the same amount of cash despite the obvious difference in the amount of resources between the two.

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