I can't think of many hard benefits, but several soft benefits. Being able to ask questions is the only hard benefit I can think of. Deadlines and expectation

I can't think of many hard benefits, but several soft benefits. Being able to ask questions is the only hard benefit I can think of. Deadlines and expectations might help motivate rather than that book siting on the shelf. You get a fancy piece of paper that lists your "grade" when you are done(achievement might motivate some). I have to admit the main draw (over a book) for me is curiosity about one of the nation's best CS programs and how it compares to the mid-west commuter college I went to.