A number of colleges claim to be the oldest online universities in the United States. Some were among the first to offer online classes. Others were among the first to offer full degrees solely through distance learning. Others still are the oldest colleges in the brick-and-mortar category, and they now offer online degrees. As a student or parent researching potential online college degree programs, should the age of the college or its online presence matter to you?

Oldest Online Classes

The advantage to going to a school that was among the first to have classes online is that their classes have been put through the test. These universities sometimes don’t offer the same classes that they once offered online, but their experience in online education means that they have the kinks worked out of the system. You’ll experience fewer technical problems and most often work with professors who are used to teaching online.

Oldest Online Programs

Many of the first online universities to begin offering classes didn’t offer full degree programs until much later. Some still don’t offer degrees, and instead just have single classes or partial programs that students can take to use in conjunction with a typical campus college program. The colleges that were among the first to offer full programs online not only give you some of the same benefits as those who were first to offer single classes, but they also have the added benefits of giving you a program that is evolved and perfected. Teaching online poses some problems, and colleges that haven’t been doing it for very long are still working out some of these problems, like how to give students a hands-on element to the program and how to best ensure that students feel connected to their professors and advisers.

Oldest Brick-and-Mortar Colleges Offering Degrees Online

Some very, very old universities, including Ivy League schools, now offer degrees and classes online. One of the benefits here is that these colleges have extensive alumni networks, and as an online student, you’ll join these ranks just like traditional students who get their degrees on campus. These schools also have established student services, which they often offer to online students as well; on the other hand, schools that only offer online degrees might focus solely on education and not have services like resume help, job networking, tutoring, FASFA guidance, and more.

How Much Weight should This Carry?

Don’t base your college decision solely on how long a program has been in existence. This should be just one of factors that helps you determine the best school for you. After all, there are many advantages to attending an online university with newer programs, as they might include more cutting-edge technologies or innovative online learning tools. The bottom line? Get to know more about a program than just age if you want to truly find the perfect program for you.