Online education isn't just a trend – it's a reality. Students are enrolling in online degree programs more than ever before, thanks in part to a few converging developments.

1. The proportion of colleges offering online degree programs grew from 84% to 90% in 2005.
2. The fastest-growing group signing up for online college courses is adults 25 and older who are working and raising families.
3. The rapid spread of broadband internet access and wireless access (wifi) has made internet use easier and more affordable for a larger portion of the population.
4. When the job market gets tighter, people with credentials from professional skills training tend to fare better.

So you definitely aren't alone in wanting to improve your way of life through online education. There are plenty of students enrolled and you have a wide variety of schools to choose from.

Is an online degree program for you? You can start by asking yourself these questions about online education:

• Will a degree program through online education help me with what I want to accomplish?

If you can't imagine how an online degree will help with your professional ambitions, then you risk losing your momentum and even dropping out of school.

• Can my family support my efforts in my online education?

Will your family be able to handle the big changes around the house and what kind of time you have to spend with them? You should be honest about what you're planning and make sure they understand the change before it comes.

• Am I able to motivate myself through difficult studies?

Ambition and motivation for success are a huge factor in education, whether it's online or in a classroom. Are you ready to take responsibility for your learning and make a commitment to success that you will stick to?

But there's a final big question hanging over it all – "How do I pay for it all?"

As they say, "There's strength in numbers." The non-traditional and online student is becoming more the norm in the college classroom. Because of this, there are now more services that will cater to them, including financial services.

Qualifying for a scholarship or grant can be based upon academic merit, financial need, or your affiliation with a particular group. And thanks to the Web, great scholarships are easier to find these days. The flip side of this is that there are more using these same tools to compete for the scholarships. So be thorough and use your imagination.

Federal agencies that offer online education scholarships:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/

Community service based scholarships:
http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/service.phtml

Scholarships for average high school graduates:
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/average.phtml

Unusual scholarships:
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/unusual.phtml

One more thing – if you're ex-military, remember to contact your division head to ask about variations of the GI Bill! There may be extra money available to you after your tour of duty has expired.

Not ready for the legwork it takes to land a scholarship, but still need some loans for education? You have the choice between private lenders that your school of choice works with, or you can just go straight to the source, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

FAFSA getting started page:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Good luck with your choice of online degree programs and this new and exciting chapter in your life!