Choosing the Right Online Degree Program

It pays to do your research before you sign up for an online college degree program. The first thing you need to find out is whether or not the online college or university in question is accredited.

In order to be accredited, universities must apply to a recognized accrediting agency. The agency evaluates the curriculum, the academic support services, the faculty qualifications and several other factors. Unfortunately, however, there are some "online colleges" and "online Universities" that claim to be accredited when actually they are not.

You have to watch out for diploma mills. There are many of them. If an online college says that you can earn a degree strictly based on your life experience, it is a diploma mill. Accredited universities sometimes offer credits for work experience, but they do not offer degree without requiring you to take some courses. Be aware that diploma mills may say that they are accredited. They may have an official-sounding name and claim to be accredited by an official-sounding organization. Don't take their word for it. You can check with the US Department of Education to see if the institution you are considering is actually accredited. The website that publishes the accreditation database is www.ope.ed.gov.

You can also check out the credentials of an online university by calling a local college and asking it they accept transfer credits from the institution you are considering. If they say, "no", then it would be a waste of your time and money to complete the program.

Like all higher education, an online degree can be costly. It is, however, an investment in your future and can enable you to earn significantly more money throughout your life. Be a good consumer: compare the per credit fees charged by several different institutions, and ask about available loans, grants and scholarships. Remember that virtually all legitimate institutions charge by the credit hour. Conversely, many diploma mills charge a flat fee for tuition.

Once you have verified the credentials of the online university you wish to attend, the next step is to be sure that it offers the major course of study in which you are interested. Degrees requiring laboratory or other hands on work may not be available via online education, although some universities allow students to complete a degree by taking a combination of traditional on-campus and online courses.

There is one more thing that you should consider. Earning an online college degree requires substantial self-motivation. Distance learning is the right choice for many people, but it's not right for everyone. If you're not sure, sign up for just a single online class and see how it goes.