6 Traits of the Best Online Colleges: What to Look For
When colleges, universities and technical schools began offering online education, it changed the world. Literally.
Now, there’s no excuse for not completing the higher education that is available with a graduate or postgraduate degree; you can work full-time, be actively involved in your family life, and even pursue your degree while traveling to other countries with your current work- or military-related career.
At its conception in the late 1900s, online education was targeted toward “non-traditional” students, and no one anticipated that getting an online degree would become a preferred option for most students. By 2011, educators and students were weighing the benefits of online degrees, and in most cases, deciding that online college classes are better for students than traditional classroom settings:
As technological capabilities expand and more traditional schools embrace online education in the coming years, schools may opt to replace many of their massive, entry-level courses that are traditionally taught in vast lecture halls and are characterized by little to no individual interaction between students and professors. -U.S. News, 2011
Online classes offer more – not less – interaction with professors and peers.
Online colleges are not created equally.
Let’s face it, while the Internet has been an opportunity for individual growth, it has also become a haven for scam artists and people whose only goal is to commit fraud for money. When shopping for an online college, you need to do your homework before you commit yourself financially.
Six qualities to look for when considering an online college include:
- Accreditation – Colleges and universities seek “accreditation” as a means of being recognized by reputable organizations for having high-quality academic standards, and these schools continuously make improvements to their curricula. If you want to be a contender in the competitive workforce, your employer will check to see if your degree is from an accredited college. Most colleges list their accreditations on their website, but the “credits” may be fake:
“Some institutions tout phony credentials . . . that either don’t exist or aren’t reputable,” warns Anne Johnson, Executive Director of the advocacy group Generation Progress.
One way to check a college’s accreditation is to go to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website and search for the college(s) you’re considering. The U.S. Department of Education has a “college navigator” program to see if a college is reputable and accredited.
- Credits – Find out if the credits you earn in your college online program will transfer to other schools. If not, find out why not. If other colleges or universities don’t think a school’s academic standards are respectable, then maybe you shouldn’t invest your time and money there.
Another question to ask is if the credits you earned at other colleges or universities will transfer over to a new program. You can also ask if you can test out of certain subjects; it’s a way to save money and time but still attain required credits.
- Curriculum – Research the classes needed to complete a degree program in your field of study and then verify that any school you are investigating can provide all of the classes necessary. Be sure what you want (exactly what you want) in a degree program is available at the colleges you are considering.
- Support – If the school’s motto is “Show me the money,” run (don’t walk) away. After you commit yourself financially to their academic program, support services will disappear.
The right online program actually offers more, not less, one-on-one time with your teachers and academic mentors. Another tip: Research professors, too. Reach out to them with questions about the classes and program you want. Finally, be assured that there is support available to you, even after you graduate.
- Timeframe – If the school has a set-in-stone program in which you must take a certain number of classes per semester and you have to complete them within a specific time, then maybe that online degree program is not for you. The best online colleges care about helping you get your degree with a class schedule that works best with your life.
- Financial aid – Find out whether you can pay per-term, by-the-class or if you have to pay up-front your tuition for the entire degree program. The best online colleges will help you pursue every financial option that is available to you: grants, scholarships, loans, military assistance . . . your counselor will tell you about their availability and help you explore every avenue of educational funding.
@kentuckgirl @geomin76 @Andrew_W360 ecpi online university all day!!
— Hyler The Creator (@ItsHyler) March 18, 2015
Convenience without Compromise in Online Education
ECPI University has been named “Best for Vets” several years running and we’ve awarded over $5 million in scholarships – that’s how we invest in you.
With our online degree programs, you’ll have support before sign-up, during classes and yes, after your graduation. Let’s get started on your new career today. We could have all the best qualities you want in an online college, so contact us today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.