The origin of online learning may be seen in the mid 1980s. During a very short span of time it has gained tremendous popularity among the masses and the graph of its popularity is increasing day by day. Only in the Unites States the number of students registered in the online degree programmes was more than 1.9 million in 2003. According to survey reports there is a 25 % increase every year in online students consequently giving rise to the number of online colleges and universities as well. The online colleges today offer a range of study programmes in associate, graduate and postgraduate degrees. The most cherished subjects in online education are business and management, including the most favourite online distance learning MBA programme. The other popular bachelor degrees are Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Women's Studies, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics, Bachelor in Arts in History and Legal Studies, or a Bachelor in Science in Biology and Genetics.

The online college courses maintain the same standards of education as the regular institutions do. So there is no difference in the quality of education provided by the online institutions. The online bachelor degree courses are designed on internationally accepted patterns. For example in bachelor degrees the student have to go through courses in Humanities, Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences. Additionally they have to take courses, which impart them basic skills such as writing, computer sciences and General English. These courses help the students to have a firm foundation in general education and are sometimes called ‘core’ of the online degree programmes and form the necessary part of degree classes. Apart from them basic courses, the students have to select certain number of courses, called usually ‘majors’, from an extensive list of elective subjects, which they may continue in their master degree programmes. A major subject is offered on the basis of student's academic pursuits, and aptitude. It provides a strong foundation of knowledge to the student within a specific field or discipline.

On the pattern of online colleges, there are online universities are as well imparting education in various disciplines. The criterion of admission for online universities is the same as per online colleges. In the very beginning, there was a problem of accreditation with the online degrees. But with the passage of time it has improved a lot and now a considerable number of universities award accredited degrees which are as accepted as the degrees by any traditional university. Some very famous online accredited colleges and universities are Champlain College, Clayton College of Natural Health, Ellis College of New York Institute of Technology, AIU Online, Capella University, DeVry University, Jones International University, Kaplan University, University of Maryland, University of Phoenix, Walden University etc.

Some humanitarian organizations are also running free online colleges with a range of courses that are designed to meet the needs of specific career paths. The popular study programmes available through free online education are nursing, dental assisting, building and construction trades, and home schooling etc.