Quality and Cost/Benefit Analysis of Distance Education: ACase Study at Karadeniz Technical University

Karadeniz Technical University Distance Education Research and Application Center (KTUDERAC) has 5 Master Degree Program, 2 Graduate Program and 4 courses with approximately 20.000 students. Quality and cost in distance education have been considered and evaluated by university and Higher Education Institution. Quality and cost analysis studies are held on yearly and distance education policies are composed and shaped regarding results. At this study, quality and cost analyze studies between September 2010 and June 2014. Problems, achievements, benefits and strategies are detailed and presented with changes over time. Student’s success, comfort, expectations, supports; instructors’ performance, comfort, expectations, supports; university management’s expectations, KTU-DERAC staffs’ performance, comfort, expectations are regarded for analyzing quality. Cost/ Benefit analyses has been made regarding budget, expenses, investments over the years. Quality and cost/benefit relation is also discussed at this study. Results of study showed that experiences, investments, student’s and instructors’ comfort and expectations are key factors for success of distance education.