The emergence of the Internet as a worldwide communications network has revolutionized the concept of distance learning. Prior to the Internet becoming ubiquitous, distance education was being provided mainly through correspondence courses and video media. However, using the Internet, it has become possible for a student to study online from any location and at any convenient time.

With the adoption of online learning by universities as an important media for imparting distance education, the quality of the online courses offered has become comparable to traditional classroom courses. Courses on topics across a broad spectrum of disciplines have become available on demand and accessible from any location. These factors have also contributed to the increasing popularity of online distance education.

Earning an educational qualification from the comfort of one's home or workplace is an idea that is appealing to a large number of people who do not have the time to enroll for a traditional classroom-based course. It is usually easier to obtain admission for online courses; another advantage is that sometimes the tuition fee may be lower than a regular course for the same discipline.

One of the common misconceptions related to online learning is that it is a solitary, non-instructor-led, self-paced activity. This is far from the truth. Quality online education is a people-oriented, instructor-led activity that requires a level of communication comparable with on-campus education. Students are able to communicate with their peers through e-mails, online class projects and discussions. The availability of online libraries has also made the learning process easier. Some universities even allow students to shift from on-campus learning to online learning and transfer the credits.

With the proliferation of online distance education, it is becoming increasingly important to select the right college or university. Several websites provide detailed information about the online courses available and also offer a comparison of the colleges and universities with respect to the quality of their online distance learning programs.