"Distance Learning" is a term given to all educational options that take place outside of brick-and-mortar schools. There are both online and offline options for students interested in home study options. The most common home study courses use either correspondence or online platforms. Correspondence courses are offline courses that use mailed, hard-copy training materials, assignments and exams. Students receive materials in the mail, follow the lesson plans, complete assignments, and mail them back to the instructor/institution. Online courses use online educational platforms to stream lectures online, allow students to communicate with one another, complete assignments and track grades. Many schools also offer courses that use both online and offline, hard-copy elements.
Most courses termed "home study" courses are professional programs, such as accounting, business, or trade education (for example, electrician or transcription services). These programs allow professional adults to advance their careers while fulfilling work or family obligations. Students may acquire a complete degree, such as an Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's Degree, or achieve certification. Certification courses tend to involve fewer hours and be specific to a particular trade. Most home study courses, whether for certification or degree completion, are offered by for-profit institutions, though some are offered by more traditional, accredited colleges and universities.
Both nonprofit colleges and universities (traditional schools) and for-profit schools such as Kaplan and the University of Phoenix, among many others, offer continuing education and home-study options. Traditional, nonprofit colleges and universities often offer time-tested models and experienced faculty as instructors. However, these schools are often less geared toward flexibility and less accommodating for older students or those with family and career obligations.
The for-profit school is a newer educational vehicle that operates using a standard business model as a for-profit business. These schools may not offer the same caliber of academic education, or the benefit of generations of educational experience housed in a university setting. However, for-profit schools are often geared more toward "customer service" and offer more flexibility for the adult, professional student. For-profit schools tend to have multiple campuses across the country, and also offer more online options.
Whether you choose a For-profit or nonprofit school in your pursuit of a home study degree, make sure that the school is accredited. Accreditation means that the U.S. Department of Education (USDoE) has approved the school, using rigorous standards for education and professionalism. In order to be accredited, a school must be approved by an accrediting institution such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; once accredited, the school must show that it continues to meet the USDoE's standards to maintain its status. Check your school's accreditation to make sure your home study degree is worth the money you pay.