Summer classes: are they worth the money, or the time? Summer is supposed to be a break from school. These months tend to be spent lounging by the pool, swimming at the lake or eating snow cones with friends: stress-free months that allow us to recharge for the fall. However, there are a lot of strong reasons that suggest summer classes are in fact worthwhile.

First, consider the price. Summer classes boil down to $1,199 per unit. For a typical four credit class, this means $4,796 in direct costs. The cost could quickly add up if students need to stay in Denver while attending DU’s classes and then the additional cost of a textbook or two. The cost is definitely something to think about when considering online classes. If you are not going to take the class seriously or use it to further your academic progress, then don’t bother. But, there are a lot of reasons for taking summer courses that make the price tag worth it.

Taking a glance at the media, film and journalism studies department, all except for one of their summer courses were offered online. This could be beneficial for a lot of students; by taking required classes for a major online, students can work to get ahead without the added expense of living in Denver. Major requirements aside, this could be a quick fix to get rid of those pesky common curriculum classes. If a student is already living in Denver, then this is probably a futile discovery. However, for students who live out of state and enjoy going home for the summer, online classes could be very useful.

Here is the real question: how much of the summer would this class take up? Surprisingly, many of DU’s courses begin around June 13 and then end by the second week of July. In the grand scheme of things, this is really not a lot of time. During the regular school year, we spend 10 weeks on a particular class. By taking summer classes, you will spend less time in the courses. However, this short window can lead to a lot of work. Be prepared to buckle down, because 10 weeks worth of work and learning has just been crammed into four weeks.

At first, taking summer classes does not seem like an efficient course of action. The regular school year is already expensive without factoring in the extra few thousands of dollars needed for a single summer class. Additionally, it takes up time—valuable time we need to rest our brains and prepare for the fall.

Depending on what class students decide to take, summer classes can be beneficial for furthering their academic progress. If students enroll in classes for their major to get back on track or get ahead, it could actually be a money and time saver. One or two major classes online (or at DU) for three summers could potentially shave a whole quarter off the expected graduation date and save a little money in the process.

After some research and consideration, summer classes are worth it. Especially if students are trying to get ahead or catch up. Plus, with the availability of online classes, students have the option to take courses from home and not sweat about going to class every day. Overall, this is an option more students should consider.