66-year-old earns three degrees through online university

66-year-old earns three degrees through online university

Over the last decade, the advent of online education has created opportunities for people who are interested in earning a higher degree, but find it difficult to attend conventional on-campus classes. Distance learning programs have also made it possible for students of all ages to better themselves educationally while continuing to work full-time.

Paul Annetts, an Empire State College alumnus, understands the convenience of online learning as much as anyone.

Annetts, 66, earned his associates, bachelors and masters degrees through the institution's online school while working full-time at a New York State correctional facility, according to RecordOnline.com. After obtaining his graduate degree, Annetts eventually became the superintendent of the Downstate Correctional Facility.

"Not just young students, but returning and older students find [online education] more convenient," said Kirk Starczewski, a spokesman for Empire State College. "They don't have to be bound to coming into that class so many times a week."

Nearly one in four U.S. students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002, Reuters reports. The online education sector grew by 17 percent in 2008 and had been growing at about 20 percent in previous years.

By Mark Danson