If you possibly can, get your degree in a classroom. You will miss out on so much of what is important in a university education if you just go the on-line route. If you absolutely cannot attend classes then at least do your courses through the Distance Education (or Distance Learning) option from a legitimate public university, not some for-profit on-line university.

I would say the classroom is ten times better.
Price= about the same unless you go to one of those private colleges and thats ridiculously expensive!
Time; You’ll probably be spending as much time on an online class as you will with a classroom based class. The only good part about taking the online class would be that you can do the work at 2am if you want
Availability- There’s probably more room in a classroom based class rather than an online class.

All in all, I’m very partial to classroom based learning simply because I find that I get more from classroom lecture than I have when taking online classes. Anyway, you’re going to have to take the classes; however, I will caution you to pick the university/college you attend carefully because that is looked at when applying for an employment position.

Which are better:
Shoes or boots?
Apples or oranges?
Dogs or cats?

About the same sort of question – and the answer is “it depends”.

Some facts from my experience of having done both – considerably done both.

* Becoming a teacher – there are very few wholly online programs that will meet this requirement. Even those that are offered via distance learning aren’t wholly online. There are face-to-face requirements that you’ll have to meet such as classroom observations and student teaching. There is no legitimate way around those.

Further, becoming a secondary English teacher often requires a bachelor’s major in English with a teacher education program (5-year program) not simply a BA in English. Make absolutely certain you know what the requirements for a teaching certificate in your state are. A classroom based program has an advantage here because you have access to teaching professionals in your own state that have sent students through the process in your own state.

* easier: classroom is easier, hands down. Online is more convenient and often faster. The same work is required of either but the advantage online has is that of time and location. You can do your work at any time of day from any location that has internet access. It has the distinct disadvantages of ease of contact and motivation. If you need help you have to get it electronically and if you don’t stay self-motivated, you get behind and fail the class. Nobody is there each Tuesday and Thursday to remind you to do that paper by Friday.

* money: online is often costlier but not because of the sticker price. There are far more financial aid options available to in-the-seat programs than to online programs so most classroom students aren’t paying full-price. If you’re paying the whole bill yourself either way then the costs are about equal. It depends on the college – some are more expensive online for the same class, some are not. Note: some states give in-state tuition to all online students. That’s a HUGE cost savings.

* time: for my learning style the online method is more time productive. I tend to self-motivate and am able to read a textbook without having a professor interpret it. Other people are not of the same style and need the formality of a classroom in order to get work done on-track. I like being able to do my work at whatever time of the day or night I want to. Some other people won’t do it if there’s not a specific day each week assigned for the purpose.

* time to completion: online programs often run faster but this is because they tend to not have the breaks that classroom programs have. Many operate with 5 semesters per year with no breaks between semesters. Many others operate on exactly the same schedule as their classroom counterpart. A few (very few) operate on a completely open schedule – you take as little or much time on a class as it takes.

* availability (program): In teaching, for initial certification, quality classroom programs will be much easier to find than will online programs. Most online programs in education are for those already certified to teach but seeking higher levels.

* availability (faculty): There is essentially no faculty availability in an online course – you get questions answered via email or in a forum discussion. You can’t (and shouldn’t) expect online faculty to be as accessible as you’d have in a classroom. In a classroom course you can always make an appointment with a professor or visit a learning center (such as writing lab).

* Master’s: That doesn’t exactly enhance your opportunities as much as it increases your earnings. In some districts it can actually keep you from being employed because the district doesn’t want to pay master’s salary for a classroom teacher. In other districts the master’s has become the basic level requirement of all teachers. That just depends on where you teach. Either way, worry about that one when the time comes – the world of distance education changes considerably in four years.

You could always look for a program that is campus based but also teaches online. The best of both worlds as your needs change and adapt.