For-profit Online Program Managers (OPMs) like Academic Partnerships and 2U recruit students for regional and elite state universities and private schools--hoping to profit from the growth of online education. But learning outcomes, completion rates, and debt-to-earnings ratios may be riskier bets for consumers choosing to take the more convenient and seemingly cheaper online route.
Studies indicate that medical school students in face-to-face programs fall short in empathy. So what can we expect from online instruction in education, nursing, psychology, social work, and other professions where empathy is necessary?