4 Responses to “How do I find the best online school.?”

1. vnbmuliyala says:

   May 13, 2010 at 3:20 pm

   i am also look ing for one if you when you find let me know. thanks in advance.
2. thesteveness says:

   May 13, 2010 at 3:48 pm

   Online schools are a risky business. You have to be careful to see who’s accredited and who’s not. An example of an accredited purely online is University of Phoenix. Other than that, I think your best bet is to visit “real” college websites (such as University of Florida, Texas A&M, etc) and search through their site, as many universities have online degree programs now which can be a lot cheaper than going through a purely online school. Just remember than no matter where you go, an online degree will cost a lot. Other than that, the only problem you might run into is finding an online school that has your degree.
3. aisdean says:

   May 13, 2010 at 4:12 pm

   A online school operated by a reputable on campus school is usually a best bet.

   I found this site to be somewhat useful in finding a good online shool.
4. NGC6205 says:

   May 13, 2010 at 4:34 pm

   Congratulations on thinking about furthering your education.

   Validity of an online degree depends upon where you get one. The first thing you need to learn about when searching for a school where you can get a degree online is accreditation. There are three levels of accreditation in the U.S. for an entire institution.

   1. Regional accreditation – this is accreditation by one of six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Best generalized accreditation a school can get.
   2. “National” accreditation – it is not really national, but is called that because the agencies granting these accreditations are regionalized. DETC and ACICS are two examples of “national” accreditors.
   3. Unaccredited – completely unacceptable, avoid at all costs.

   There are additional accreditations that an institution can get. These are program accreditations. For example, the business program (or school) at an institution can achieve AACSB accreditation. Psychology programs can be accredited by the APA. ABET accredits engineering and technology programs, etc. A school that has a program accreditation for the program in which you are interested is the best accreditation possible. I believe most education programs would be accredited by NCATE or TEAC.

   Minimum accreditation a school you choose should have is regional. It is better if the program you want is also accredited. You can check on the accreditation of any school at two websites. The first is the CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) http://www.chea.org/search/search.asp
   The second is the USDE Office of Postsecondary Education at http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp

   Now that you know something about accreditation, you can start searching for a school. When searching for a school, look at the cost of tuition first. How much does the school charge per credit hour. Then check to see if the school is on the quarter or semester hour system. To change tuition rates from quarter hour to semester hour, divide by 0.67. For example, one school charges $310 per quarter credit hour which is equal to $462.68 per semester credit hour.

   One of the first places to start your search will be at your local community college or community colleges in your state. If you are just starting your college education or have little at this time, these will be the least expensive options. Many community colleges are offering online program and classes.

   If you are looking to get a bachelors degree, find a school that offers the degree you want. Get their catalog and get information on the degree requirements, especially general education courses. These will be what you can complete at your community college. Some universities will have degree completion programs where you obtain an AA degree in general studies at community college and then complete a bachelors at the university. Look at the state universities first. An online degree from a state university is no different than a degree conferred if actually sat in a seat at the school. There is usually nothing indicating the degree was obtained online.

   Here are a few sites to get you started in your search…

   Fort Hays State University – http://www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege
   Peru State University – http://www.peru.edu/offuttafb/degreeprograms/onlinelearning.htm
   University of Wyoming – http://outreach.uwyo.edu/ocp/
   American Public University – http://www.apu.apus.edu/index.htm
   University of Illinois – http://www.online.uillinois.edu
   California State University at Dominquez Hills – http://dominguezonline.csudh.edu/programs.php

   The schools above are less than $250 per semester credit hour for online courses. It doesn’t matter where you live in the U.S. If you really feel the need to spend $400 per credit hour or more, please attend Penn State instead of UoP.

   Penn State – http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/

   Be wary of posters who point you to a website that isn’t affiliated with a school, a state’s department of education or the US Department of Education. Most of them are advertising driven and really don’t provide much information. Some even will direct visitors to unaccredited schools.

   Good luck
5. Master Degree in Psychology » How do I find the best online school … says:

   May 13, 2010 at 6:54 pm

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