The education is peripheral to the experience of the university. Harvard, Yale, and other brand-name colleges command a premium because they insert you into the

The education is peripheral to the experience of the university. Harvard, Yale, and other brand-name colleges command a premium because they insert you into the network of a higher economic class. University is a coming-of-age experience, where teens become adults. Sitting in Mom's basement doing online coursework for a degree is fine, but misses the point. Yes, the Internet has disrupted many business models, and there will definitely be losers: textbook manufacturers is an obvious example. In the final analysis, kids need a transition from their parents. For some that is military service, for some it is going off to college at 18/19, for some it is a brief period of independence at minimum wage followed by living at home into their 30's or until they get married and their wife/husband becomes their new parent. The current proliferation of online studies is fueled by the GI bill and employer tuition-reimbursement programs for people already employed. Online study is not for everyone, it takes a lot of dedication and commitment to complete a class, much less a degree. We are seeing an evolution, not a revolution.