Online Education Buyer's Guide

Online education allows you to further your career and education at a cost, pace, and flexible schedule that works for you. The virtual classroom offers a wide selection of programs, engaging multimedia content, and access to instructors and classmates from anywhere in the world.

When you’ve committed to further your education online, choose a credible online college or university that supports your desired course(s) of study, your budget, and your schedule with adequate resources and content. Consider the amount of time you’ll need to spend each week, the availability of desired courses, and duration flexibility. You should also consider your life after graduation: will the college help with job placement? Can it help you make contacts that will open up future career opportunities?

Considerations



Credibility:

Before choosing an online college, check its accreditation- a marker of educational excellence- status in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. A lack of accreditation or fake accreditation is a red flag. A credible online institution should have a good reputation and positive graduation rates, employment outcomes, and student satisfaction rates. The best online colleges have professionally produced courses and professional faculty with experience in online education.

Curriculum:

The curriculum is the set of courses that a school offers. If you are seeking a postsecondary degree, you first want to ensure that the online school offers your desired major and relevant coursework. You can receive a graduate equivalency (GED), undergraduate, or post-graduate degree with an online education. Some online schools offer a set curriculum, while others allow you to customize your degree with specializations and elective courses.

Tuition Costs:

Tuition rates vary depending on the institution, but the average cost per online credit hour is $300- $400. This is around $38,000 total for an online undergraduate degree from a public (in-state) school and $58,000 from a private school. When choosing an online program, ask about financial aid, payment plans, and any tuition-saving or scholarship opportunities. Calculate the total tuition, fees, and other expenses like books and materials into the total cost.

Online Resources and Support:

A good online school will provide easy access to the courses’ digital resources and any university materials to assist in degree completion. Beyond this, the school should provide the same level of access to support services as those students attending on-campus. These include:

• Access to instructors via chat or email
• Community interactions with peers through synchronous sessions, discussion forums, online tutoring, or chat groups
• Library resources
• Career counseling
• Mental wellness resources
• 24/7 technical support

Course Format:

Some online colleges are fully virtual, while others offer hybrid options, with some courses online and some in person. Courses may be synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous classes meet at a set time on a regular schedule, while asynchronous courses can be completed on your own schedule. The flexibility of asynchronous courses works well for working adults.

Flexibility:

The ability to work on one’s own schedule is why many adults with jobs and families choose online education, so flexibility is vital in an online institution. Consider the availability of required and elective courses, the course duration (can you extend the timeline?), and the number of study hours required each week. Furthermore, determine if the coursework has any in-person requirements like lab courses, internships, or practicum hours.

Graduation Requirements and Timeline:

How quickly do you want to complete your online education? Online colleges offer full-time, part-time, and accelerated enrollment options so you can choose which works best for your schedule. You should also consider the school’s graduation requirements and transfer policies. Determine how many credits and what courses are required to earn your diploma and if the school offers all of them. Will they allow you to transfer credits from a prior institution or give credit for relevant work/life experience?

FAQS



Is online college more expensive than in-person?

When comparing a four-year in-person degree to an online degree from a public college, statistics show that attendance costs around $10,000 less for an online education. The cost is also significantly lower for those attending online private colleges. Furthermore, online students save money on transportation and housing.

Is online education better than traditional college?

Studies show that online and in-person teaching is effective, though the success rate depends on the individual. However, online education opens up possibilities to people who may not have access to a traditional college. People who have full-time jobs, family obligations, or live far from a traditional college campus can access the online campus from anywhere. They have more control over the scheduling and pace of their coursework.

Do employers accept online degrees?

Now that online learning is becoming mainstream, more employers are acquainted with online degrees and look upon them favorably. Online learning is becoming more prevalent in the workplace, and many traditional colleges offer online programs, so online degrees are widely accepted.

How Do I know if an online degree program is credible?

To determine if an online education program is credible, look at the statistics—Research the institution’s post-graduate employment rate, enrollment numbers, and reputation. You can determine if an institution is accredited (and if the accreditation is valid) by the US Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education by checking with one of the six primary regional accrediting agencies



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