For a long time, online education has been attempting to make its way to the same level of legitimacy as a traditional education. Despite its many benefits, employers and many four-year universities have been opposed to the thought of online education being as effective and as desirable as in-person education. It has taken a while to warm up, but slowly it’s rising to the forefront. It seems now, though, with some political candidates’ focus on education, online education might really take off. 

Potential 2016 presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Marco Rubio, among others, have created education reform policies that use online education as a way to make education more accessible and affordable for more people. 

Clinton’s policy is one that is meant to reduce or end the need for students to take out heavy loans to pay for their education, and also to make education in general more affordable. A trend is emerging in which states are paying less and less for students’ educations at public universities, and passing off more of that cost onto the students themselves. One tactic in her plan would urge universities to promote less-expensive courses through the use of technology, such as streaming classes. Online education would be used to fulfill students’ requirements. If colleges reduce tuition rates to a level where students don’t have to take out loans, they would receive federal grants. Sebastian Thrun, the founder of online education provider Udacity, consulted on the plan.

Rubio’s plan focuses on a very important barrier to online education. He envisions loosening up accreditation processes to make it easier for colleges to receive accreditation. Many online education options have trouble achieving accreditation, making them not as legitimate of an education source. Rubio’s plan, and the ideas that many other lawmakers are putting forth, attempt to combat these obstacles. 

Education reform is a hot governmental topic currently, and lawmakers everywhere are focusing on it. There’s a bright future ahead for online education, as the federal government steps in to make changes.