An MCA is a 2-year postgraduate course in which students study machine learning and software development. An MCA can be done from 3 different modes- Offline mode, Distance mode, and Online mode. In an offline mode, students come to trend offline classes and learn everything on campus. Whereas, in a distance MCA course, students have to study on their own without any faculty or expertise using the study materials given by the college. Students appear for exams at their campus centers. Online MCA program is very different and easy to approach in terms of regular/ distance mode of learning. In an online MCA program, students attend live classes and get study materials and learning resources from their colleges. The examination also happens in an online proctor-based mode.
Factors and Considerations
To pursue an online MCA course from a good college some factors should be considered before taking admission. Some of them are listed below:
- Flexibility- An online MCA course provides students with ease of learning at their own pace and schedule. Online education is flexible in terms of comfort, schedule, and timings.
- Accessibility- An online course provides access to LMS, e-library, live lectures, recorded lectures, assessments, and study materials to the students.
- Curriculum- Online colleges follow a curriculum of the 4-quadrant rule given by UGC (University Grant Commission). The 4-quadrant rule has e-lectures, online assessments, online classes, e-library, and online examinations. This pattern helps the students cover all broad aspects of learning and understanding.
- Cost-Effectiveness- The cost of an online MCA courses goes from INR 50,000 to INR 2,00,000. Whereas, an offline MCA course costs from INR 2,00,000 to INR 7,00,000. Therefore, it is clear that pursuing an online MCA program would be much more cost-effective than that of a regular MCA course.
- Networking and Internship Opportunities- In earlier times, online colleges were not much into providing networking and internships to the students, which led to doubt in online courses. But, from time to time after realizing the importance of networking and seeking industrial knowledge, colleges are now providing internships to their students. The colleges also conduct online webinars and events so that students get to know and meet different professionals and alumni of the college. Students getting into collaborative projects in groups find their potential and understanding of basic knowledge.
- Job Opportunities- Pursuing an MCA degree opens broad job opportunities in the IT sector for graduates. Some of the career prospects after graduation could be Project manager, AI Specialist, Software Developer, IOS Developer, Database Engineer, Hardware Engineer, and so on.
Top 5 Online MCA Colleges in India
- Chandigarh University Online- This college is entitled by UGC and holds some good accreditations like WES, and NIRF-ranking The college provides specializations in general, Artificial Intelligence, and CCD. The total fee for this course is INR 90,000 only.
- LPU Online- Lovely Professional Univerity Online is a UGC-entitled university that has NAAC A++ accreditation and WES approval. The college provides national and international faculties to the students with LMS and numerous learning materials. The total cost of an online MCA here is INR 1,18,000.
- Online Manipal University- Manipal University Online was established in 2019 to provide quality education to students. The total fee of the course is INR 1,50,000 and has different accreditations and recognitions.
- Amrita Ahead Online- The college provides 3 different specializations i.e., MCA in Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, and General. It has different international University partners and the total fee is 1,40,000.
- Online Uttranchal University- This college is UGC-DEB and IOS certified with NAAC A+ accreditation. The total fee for the course is only 68,000.
Why College Vidya?
College Vidya is a platform where students get to about different online courses and colleges. The platform helps students in taking admissions to colleges. It also provides internship opportunities for the students and gives College Vidya subsidies to their enrolled students from 2,000 to 10,000. Students can compare different colleges and universities using the AI compare feature and get to know which college is best suited for them.
Conclusion
Pursuing an online MCA degree depends on your choice and considerations. An online MCA provides different accessibilities and flexibilities to the students which helps them to cope with the course and extra work. The most important factor to be considered is to gain experience and industry knowledge and upgrade your skills. No matter how good the college is, the degree adds value when you have work experience and knowledge.
