Bradd Essex
Considering an Online Degree Program? Start Here
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.
Accreditation indicates that the programs offered by the online university have undergone rigorous reviews by a legitimate organization. But, just because an institution says that it has been accredited does not necessarily mean that is true.
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.
Earning an online college degree can be expensive. It’s a good idea to compare fees and ask about financial aid. Legitimate universities charge by the credit, rather than charging a flat fee for a complete program. That’s another way to spot a diploma mill. If they say that you can earn a specific online degree and pay a flat fee, the degree probably will not be worth the paper it is printed on.
Once accreditation has been verified and you are comfortable with the costs, be sure that you choose an academic program to help you achieve your professional goals. Be sure that the entire program is available on-line or that the credits you earn on line are transferable should you wish to continue your studies elsewhere.
Your final step is to consider your suitability for online education. Some students thrive in the distance learning environment, while others don’t do so well. You might want to coplete a single three credit class or a certificate program online to see if distance education is for you.