How to Choose an Online College

Pursuing an online degree can require significant investments of both time and money, so you should make sure that you will have an enjoyable experience at whatever school you choose to enroll in. Therefore, determining which university you want to attend is a key decision that should not be taken lightly. There are many factors that should be taken into consideration before choosing a school, such as cost, accreditation, reputation, in-person attendance requirements, degree acceptance and offerings, and faculty. All of these factors play a role in the satisfaction of the student, and they should all be examined prior to settling on an institution.

Basic Steps

When searching for an online university, the first step is to determine the needs, goals, and overall situation of the student. Everything from program requirements to desired occupation will have an impact on which institution is the right choice for an individual. Things to consider include:

• What degree is being pursued?
• Where does the student want to work, and in what capacity, upon graduation?
• Is there time in the student's schedule to attend in-person seminars?

The second step in the decision process is searching for the school itself. Obviously the Internet will be the primary tool used in this endeavor, and while most of the basic information about a school can be found on its website, more nuanced questions will need to be directed to an admissions counselor. Additionally, it is an excellent idea to find a graduate of the prospective institution, in the field of study the student is interested in, and ask for his or her perspective of the school. This person should be unbiased and not have a vested interest in new enrollment.

Accreditation Research

There are countless factors that must be researched when searching for an online school. First and foremost, make sure that the online school or program is accredited by a legitimate accrediting organization. This is the cardinal rule of choosing an online college. If an online school is not accredited, or is accredited by an organization not recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education, it should not be considered as a viable option. In the U.S., there are numerous higher education accrediting organizations. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a website with a list of all of the accredited online schools, and the names of the agencies that awarded them their credentials.

What is the Program Like?

Once accreditation has been established, investigation into the degree program of interest should begin. Many schools offer free distance learning introductory courses on their websites that allow prospective students to become familiar with their courseware and the process of online education. The applicant should look into this as well as the nuts and bolts of the desired program itself. Some questions to be considered include:

• Are the faculty members reputable?
• Are there any notable graduates?
• What is the school's reputation in the academic world?
• And, perhaps most importantly, what is the cost? It's imperative that you meet with a financial aid advisor as soon as possible in order to ascertain what options are available, such as grants, scholarships, and loans.

Once you've made sure that an online institution is accredited, the program is reputable, and the financial requirements have been laid out, the final step is to ensure that the program is a good fit for your individual situation. Many online universities have courses that require online attendance during specific hours of the day. It is also common for online courses to have a few required in-person seminars during the course of the term, which could necessitate a fair amount of travel depending on where the university's closest facilities are to the student.

These issues can make the difference between an enjoyable, constructive learning experience, and a waste of hard-earned money. Of course, these factors aren't the same for everyone, and at the end of the day it is incumbent upon prospective online students to do their homework and ensure that the school they choose is a proper fit.

Article Resources:

U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs