Before you sign up or pay for an online college degree program, you need to do a little research. Your first concern when considering a traditional or an online college should be accreditation.
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.
The Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Education have all issued advisories on bogus colleges and universities that they refer to as “diploma mills”. It is easy to spot a diploma mill if you know what to look for. For example, no accredited university offers an online degree based on work experience alone. You might get a little credit for your experience, but you will be required to complete substantial academic coursework to earn you a degree from a legitimate online college or university. To verify a university’s accreditation, visit 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 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.
About Author:
Brad Essex is an education writer whose interests include online colleges and online degree programs.