Tom Lindsay, a contributor to Forbes, dispels myths about online learning in his list of the top eight things to know about online learning. These were some of the top points.

“Online learning is here to stay. Since 1986, when the first online degree program from an accredited institution was offered (by John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, California), growth has been exponential.

There is no significant difference in learning outcomes. Some 30 years of research, including that of the U.S. Department of Education, has found no evidence that online learning is qualitatively inferior to that obtained in a traditional classroom.

Online learning could soon become the norm for “post-traditional” and graduate students who cannot afford the opportunity cost of traditional programs.That said, while online learning is here to stay, neither the residential campus nor the flagship research university is going to go away.”

To read the rest of the article, visit Forbes.com