Who really ever wants to get out of bed when it’s time for class?

More students have been achieving full-fledged college degrees, undergraduate and graduate, without ever stepping on campus.

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File
AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File
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Online learning, from classes to homework to exams, has become a more viable option for students in New Jersey and across the country.

John B. Wilson, head of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in New Jersey, said most members are jumping on board with degrees achieved via the Web.

“It has become much more popular,” Wilson said. “Of course, technology has changed as well to make the delivery more effective.”

And there are quality control measures in place to make sure the learning experience online matches what a student would achieve by attending class in person.

Most online degrees are available at the graduate level, but undergrads have opportunities as well.

At Rider University, for example, students can take only online courses for four years and achieve bachelor’s degrees in business administration or nursing.

Boris Vilic, dean of Continuing Studies at Rider, said the university has about 70 fully online students, and the school is looking to expand its online offerings.

“We have grown tremendously in the area from the humble beginnings when we only offered six online course sections,” Vilic said. “Last year, we offered almost 200 course sections."

The most recent report from the Online Learning Consortium cited a 3.7 percent increase in the number of “distance education” students, and that’s the lowest recorded spike over the report’s 13 years.

Among the schools offering online degrees:

Rowan University offers 40 programs that can be completed partially or entirely online.

Caldwell College offers online undergraduate degrees in business administration, psychology, and nursing. Graduate degrees are available in accounting and several educational subjects.

St. Peter's University offers its RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program online

• Thomas Edison State College offers dozens of programs entirely online.

Fairleigh Dickinson University also describes itself as a pioneer in online education, offering several programs that can be completed entirely online, and others that are available at partnered locations.

Rutgers offers 11 online degree programs in topics including engineering, education,  business and public service.

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