One of the main objectives of open universities is to educate everyone. For various reasons, some people do not complete school as they should. They may experience the loss of a parent at a young age and be forced to leave school to help with the family. Or they may have dropped out of high school. With a typical university, the student must find a way to complete her schooling before admission. An open university allows students such as these to continue with a college-level education without going back to finish lower grades first. It also allows students who would not be accepted to traditional universities the chance to further their education.
Some people cannot afford to move away for school and may not live close enough to attend a university on the local level. Open universities offer their courses online through distance learning. This allows them to reach a wider range of people who may not otherwise be able to attend college. In addition to the location factor, online classes allow students to complete those classes whenever it is convenient for them. Students can easily work all day and complete coursework in the evenings.
Some people would think that a university that allows anyone to attend would likely not provide the same level of education that students would get at a typical university. However, many open colleges strive to hire teachers and professors of equal quality to those who are hired by other universities. Students will receive the same kind of education that they would receive at another university. In fact, open universities test their students and distribute degrees, just like all of the other universities.
When people do not obtain a college education, they typically end up working jobs that do not pay as well. They are also often unhappy with what they do. Open universities allow students of all ages to get the education that they did not previously pursue. Since students can study whenever they have free time, they can continue working their jobs or taking care of their families while they work towards bettering their lives. When anyone can get a college education, the overall quality of life will improve for everyone.