As a graduate of a competitive U.S. university, I didn't take online learning seriously. Sitting in front of a computer couldn't compare with my four-year liberal arts experience collaborating with peers and debating with professors.

However, now nearing completion of my Master of Science in Global and International Education through Drexel University, I am a convert. The professional growth, flexibility and global student body cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom.

Experiences like mine are becoming more common. While once snickered at, online learning is becoming a mainstream choice for students. Forty-six percent of recent U.S. college graduates have taken a course online, and 65 percent of U.S. higher education institutions offer courses entirely over the Internet. Online education graduate programs are numerous and growing. For those in the field of education (or who hope to be), these programs offer an opportunity to increase academic credentials while holding down a job.