Students' perceptions of on-line courses versus on-campus instruction

The recent proliferation of availability of on-line courses and programs has caused some concerns related to ensuring that the time and cost investments pro vide beneficial results, both to students and the institutions providing the material. Students' perceptions of these programs are likely to affect their interest in enrolling in them. Schools need an awareness of these student perceptions to determine if a need exists for improvements in various aspects, including increased education of the potential students about the sites as well as possible changes in offerings. This study was designed to determine current perceptions of on-line programs of potential students, compared with the traditional on-campus environment.