So, you're a professor I take it?
As a former student, both online and traditional:
1. You don't get a useful physical or personal presence in a traditional college. You get the foreign guy, who seems brilliant and passionate, but you can't understand a word he says. Or you get the grad student, teaching something she barely understands because the professor can't be bothered to actually come to class and teach. Or you get the tiny speck, 30 rows down from you, who you can't hear and who can't apparently bother to buy new whiteboard markers. Or you get the "Flubber" guy who might be great, but he can't seem to organize his thoughts, notes, slides, etc., so you pray for the grad student to replace him. Or you get the professor who is a wanna-be political pundit so, instead of the topic of the class - which might be useful for you and your future - you get her preaching on Reaganomics, GWB, Palestine, race-relations, inter- and intra-departmental BS, death of honey bees, peak oil, etc. Ultimately, this nonsense leads even b&m classes to be more or less online - any learning you do beyond the books is through e-mails and texts/IMs with other students as you try to figure out what that last lecture was supposed to be about.
2. You don't get a useful physical or personal presence online either. But you do actually tend to get the information you need so you're prepared to do something when you graduate - so on the whole, it's a better deal unless you are only in college for the beer. The major problem with online is, not surprisingly, that the professors can't be bothered to answer questions or interact with you. Pray there's a grad student around - they might answer your e-mails about administrivia. For topical questions - better try google.
Now, surely, there are some schools that are clearly the sort of place that you should attend in person. Similarly, there are also some degrees that can't possibly be taught online. But these, in both cases, are, in my opinion, the rare exceptions. And I'm certainly not recommending "schools" like Phoenix, but if I can avoid it - I will never throw the dice and take another b&m class.
