To summarize, online education is a significant and growing part of higher education (Caruth & Caruth, 2012; Graham & Jones, 2011; Larreamendy-Joerns & Leinhardt, 2006; Schulte, 2010). Impact of Distance Education on Higher Education. Administrators and faculty in colleges and universities in the United States have been forced to handle numerous changes caused by technology and the impact of distance education.