In early models of online instruction, learning activities and assessments relied primarily on threaded discussions or papers. But advances in online technology, and a growing trend to incorporate collaborative learning strategies, have lead to the emergence of online group projects. While student-centered learning activities such as group projects have a well-established history in traditional educational environments, the value of group work in the online classroom is less clear. A survey of experienced online students and faculty revealed inconsistent perceptions between these two groups concerning the value of group projects in virtual education. Online faculty report that group projects are a valuable tool as group work provides a realistic assessment of requisite professional skills. In contrast, online students indicate that group projects are counterproductive to their choice to pursue online education. Discussion examines unique challenges in incorporating student-centered collaborative projects in the virtual classroom.