"This part is easily and affordably done online, and possibly more effective for some people."
That sums it up for me. I work full-time along with my side projects and I still chug along at getting a degree, running all over the city is not in my favor for taking classes. Online classes have not only saved me money but created more time to take on other projects that pay for more classes.
In regards to cheating, honestly it is just as easy to cheat in class as it is online. BUT this is not factoring the personalities. Some people cheat because they do not really care, others do NOT cheat because by cheating (in my mind) you are cheating yourself.
Lastly, online classes have taught me something far more valuable than a brick and mortar class - RESPONSIBILITY. For me (key phrase) going to class was not only troublesome in my day to day but horrifically boring. On top of which with campus classes you get more of the professors personal opinions on matters rather than actual material that you can base your studies off of to generate your own opinion or hypothesis. With online classes I plan my weeks in advance from quizzes and tests, to writing papers and doing research and of course incorporating my needed day to day duties.
As a student who has taken both campus classes and online classes, I would have to say that online classes are more challenging.