Current evidence, public opinion and most industry professionals have said that distance education programs offer the same benefits as traditional classroom based learning. Most accredited online universities offer courses that are of equal quality compared to those offered by traditional universities and colleges.
It is important to choose an online university that has been accredited either by a nationally-recognized accrediting agency, or by a regional institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You can reference The Secretary of Education’s list of organizations that are regarded as trusted authorities on the quality of education provided by the university. The top quality online universities have been accredited by at least one recognized national or regional accrediting agency
The U.S. Department of Education provides information regarding online universities and colleges that have been accredited by a nationally-recognized or regional institutional accrediting agency. This site can be accessed at
http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp.
Yes. Employers are more likely to hire a candidate who has a college degree. The most attractive, high paying professions often require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. The US Department of Commerce has shown, that on average, college graduates have far more successful careers and earn more money over the course of their lifetime than non-college graduates. Studies have shown that a Bachelor degree holder can earn an average of 98% more income in their lifetime than non-college graduates. People with a Masters degree earn 170% more.
On average students can complete their online degree much quicker than students attending traditional colleges. Online students often take one course at a time allowing for quicker completion times as assignments are received and completed at a much quicker pace. Keep in mind that the time to complete a degree will vary among online universities and degree programs. Because online university students can complete their courses faster than traditional college students, they can take more courses per year and fulfill degree requirements sooner. Online universities typically allow students to take more credits per year than most traditional colleges. Earning a degree can be even faster if credits from previous college coursework or professional training are transferred and applied towards the degree.
No. Online learning allows you to set your own pace and your own schedule. This flexibility allows you to take as long as you’d like to complete your degree. Most schools are very accommodating if you need to take a break for work or personal reasons. However, it is important to keep in mind that earning a degree requires discipline and focus. It is generally recommended that students devote the same amount of time to online education as if you were pursuing a degree in a traditional learning environment.
Some universities may have courses with minimal class attendance requirements depending on the degree you are pursuing. Many online courses can be completed entirely online. Classroom requirements can usually be fulfilled at local colleges and will likely take up a minimal amount of time.
For the majority of online courses you will need a computer, an Internet connection, and a phone line to consult with your instructor if necessary. The university will usually provide any special software should it be required for the course you are taking.
Much like traditional colleges, online universities offer Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees. A select few offer PhDs in subjects that can be taught without significant face-to-face interaction like Health Services and Education. Most online universities also offer a wide selection of Certificate programs. The majority of online schools offer courses in the most sought after programs. These subjects include:
- Business
- Communications
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Engineering
- Graphic Design
- Healthcare
- Human Resources
- Legal
- Liberal Arts
- Information Technology
- Marketing
Most online colleges require their faculty members to have Masters and/or Doctorate degrees in order to instruct courses. Instructors also often have professional working experience in the industry related to the program or degree subject. These professionals can add real world work experience to compliment the learning environment. There are usually some formal training programs that the college will require prior to a professor commencing online instruction. In some cases, professors take an active role in developing the program or degree content.
As long as transfer credits come from regionally and/or nationally accredited institutions of higher learning most online colleges will accept credits where appropriate.
Tuition and related fees will vary by university, course level and program type. Education Price Guide will soon be able to help you compare prices among the different online universities. In general, earning an online degree should provide the same high quality education at a much lower cost compared to attending a traditional college.
Financial aid options available to traditional college students are also available to students pursuing an online degree.
No, you don’t need to secure your financial aid before applying. Most colleges have people that can help you apply for financial aid and refer you to the appropriate sources.
Some employers still believe that online degrees are not credible as degrees from four year colleges. However, this belief is rapidly changing as more employers encourage their current employees to advance their education through online studies. Some companies are even now willing to finance an employee's online education.
Some traditional schools still have a negative bias towards online degrees because it is a new and fast growing part of the education system that may have “taken” students away from four year colleges. Degrees earned from accredited online institutions should be accepted by traditional universities. Because online study is an emerging part of the education system, some schools will still be biased against students who earned online degrees versus students from traditional programs. As online acceptance grows, this bias should decrease.
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