One of the best reasons to pursue a graduate degree online instead of attending traditional classes on campus is the freedom it offers in scheduling. In an online course, the classwork and homework can be done at any time of the day, night or on weekends. This allows the student to work while going to school, without having to commute to and from both the office and campus.
The ability to work online at any time of the day, night or on weekends also offers the student a chance to spend more time with family and children. This is especially important for parents who have young children as the cost of hiring a babysitter, while in school, is often prohibitive. Attending online classes allows the parent to create a schedule that allows her to work around the child's school or daycare schedule.
With gas prices going up and up every week, it is more and more important to save money and resources whenever possible. Unless the student lives near the campus or in dorms, he may have to travel a great distance to attend classes. Obtaining a graduate degree online allows the student to work from home, eliminating the need to spend money on fuel and car maintenance. In many cases, public transportation is not an option, making the ability to telecommute even more important.
These days more and more people are concerned with their impact on the environment. Attending graduate school online cuts down on carbon emissions from commuting and drastically reduces the amount of paper used in classes. With all homework, papers and correspondence done online, the impact that the student has on the ecosystem is reduced exponentially.