online education

Also known as a MOOC (massive open online course), online education consists of a series of lectures streamed to tens of thousands of students instead of just to those in a classroom. By using such lectures as the basis for a new menu of educational options—ranging from degree programs mixing traditional and virtual classes, to purely online vocational training—universities tailor programs to individual students, offer access to the best professors in any field, and cut costs and tuitions significantly.

Historical perspective: In 2005, San Jose State University began offering an online course for $150, rather than the usual $2,000 class fee.