Questions and Answers
What is this site, and how can it help me?
What is distance learning, and is it for me?
How do I earn a degree online?
What is accreditation?
How is this site different from other directory sites?
What's the difference between for-profit and non-profit schools?
What about scholarships and financial aid?
How do I earn a degree online?
Many students assume that earning a degree online is easier and faster than earning a degree the traditional way. But if you want a quality degree from an accredited institution that employers will respect, nothing could be further from the truth.
The following are four steps you should follow as you begin your online education.
Step 1: Admit and commit.
The first step in earning an online degree is admitting and committing to this fact: quality distance education requires focus, time, and dedication. If you can't spare any one of these, distance learning is not for you.
To test your readiness for distance learning, follow this link to the readiness quiz.
Step 2: Research.
Once you've decided to rise to the challenge of online learning, you should begin researching degree offerings at various institutions of higher learning. Remember that you're not limited by geographical boundaries, so look everywhere!
Among the factors you should consider when looking for an online program are:
- Accreditation;
- For-profit vs. non-profit status;
- Quality of faculty and instruction;
- Cost per credit hour;
- Totally online vs. partially online;
- Financial aid availability and scholarship options;
Most colleges provide information about all of these at their individual websites. Mouse over the links above for a brief explanation of each.
One thing you should research very thoroughly is whether a school requires any on-campus visits of its online students throughout the term. Some programs are only partially online, while others are totally online. Be sure of what you're getting into before you sign up for a distance learning program that may not be 100% at-a-distance.
After you've done a thorough job of researching the above factors, compile a list of possible schools based upon suitability and continue to narrow your options by contacting each school for information about its programs and faculty.
Step 3. Choose and apply.
Once you've chosen your ideal program or school, follow the procedure for applying as outlined on the institution's website. At this point, you simply wait for the school to notify you of your acceptance and/or receipt of any financial aid or scholarships (if you've applied for these).
Step 4. Enroll.
After your application is processed and accepted, you will receive instructions about how to enroll in a course. Most likely, you will be assigned an online adviser who will guide you through the course of study you've chosen. Most correspondence with this person will be by e-mail or phone.
Accreditation is the process by which educational institutions are granted credit or recognition for the quality of their academic programs and courses.
For more information, see "What is accreditation?" from our Questions and Answers page. Close
Accreditation is the process by which educational institutions are granted credit or recognition for the quality of their academic programs and courses.
For more information, see "What is accreditation?" from our Questions and Answers page. Close
A non-profit school:
- Exists for the benefit or greater good of the community, state, nation, or world;
- Has a mission that reflects the above;
- Does not pay taxes;
- Cannot use its funds for any purpose other than the mission for which it was formed;
- Must use its profits (as in tuition and fees) for the operation and funding of the institution and its mission.
- Exists to make money for owners and/or shareholders;
- Pays taxes.
One of the most important decisions you can make for your education is to choose an academic program with strong, qualified faculty. As you explore the various websites of the schools featured in this directory, be sure to check out faculty web pages and credentials.
Questions you should consider include:
- How many faculty members teaching in your program of choice have degrees at the master's or doctorate level?
- How many years' experience do they have teaching online?
- Will your teachers be merely facilitators and monitors, or will they actually be engaged with their students in discussions and learning activities?
- Are the faculty in your program of choice easily accessible and helpful?
Cost is always an important factor in choosing a distance learning program that suits your needs. Be sure to compare costs among universities and colleges, and don't necessarily assume that more expensive tuition equals a higher quality education. As with all things in life, you don't always get what you pay for.
In distance learning, cost is typically represented one of two ways: by credit hour or by flat fee. Flat fees are generally reserved for single, "pre-packaged" courses from for-profit institutions. Be wary of these. A better value - both in terms of cost and quality - might be a non-profit, public institution's course offerings, the cost of which will be figured per credit hour. A typical college course consists of three credit hours.
It's simply a fact that public, non-profit institutions are generally less expensive than for-profit schools.
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Be aware that some distance learning programs offering degrees online may not actually be 100% fully online. It's important to read the fine print of a degree program's requirements, as some institutions require occasional trips to a physical campus for proctored exams, orientations, etc. If the college you're taking courses from is five minutes away or even thirty minutes away, this isn't inconvenient. If you live in Montana and are taking courses from the University of Florida, this could be problematic.
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Generally, the same financial aid opportunities that are available to traditional students are available to non-traditional students. Scholarships vary from institution to institution.
For more information, see "What about financial aid and scholarships?" from our Questions and Answers page.
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