Video: More MSU Students Getting Degrees Online

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State University students are taking the world wide web by storm.

The school says it’s seeing an increase in students getting their degrees online.

School officials say they saw a five percent increase in off-campus undergraduate students between 2012 and 2013, and they expect that number to rise.

“We believe that there are a lot of students who have jobs and families, who are already working, who can’t come to a university to finish their degrees,” said Michael Busby, MSU Center for Distance Education.

Right now, MSU offers 30 online degree programs in all, and they’re working on adding more to accommodate students.

“Many do live here in-state, but we do have quite a few out of state students,” Busby said. “As a matter of fact, we have students in every state in our country right now.”

Like Missouri forecaster Felicia Combs, who’s taking classes online to become a meteorologist.

“Being that I’ve already finished my initial broadcast journalism undergraduate degree, it just made sense to get my foot in the door and start working and do what was most convenient, which was going to school online through Mississippi State,” Combs said.

MSU officials say even though these students are getting their degrees online, they still have some of the same benefits as students on campus.

“The MSU library has a lot of online services that are available for students to have. They can get their own ID card now. We have online tutoring available from the writing center for those writing papers that need help with that,” Busby said.

Online students say they like having the flexibility.

“I’m able to set my own schedule and finish at my own pace along with the class,” Combs said.

Combs says she hopes to finish her degree by later this year.

If you’d like more information about MSU’s online degree programs, go here: http://www.distance.msstate.edu/.