Online Colleges and Courses
Until recently, most online degree programs were only offered by “for-profit” institutions whose credentials were sometimes questionable. In many cases, online colleges have been criticized for putting profits over students, and some have been the subject of lawsuits claiming misrepresentation or fraud.
However, online degree programs from traditional non-profit universities, both public and private, are becoming more prevalent each year leading to a shift in perception by students and employers regarding the value of online coursework.
Millions of Americans take for-credit classes online, with a large portion of these students completing their entire degree online. There are more online colleges than ever, increasing competition, offerings, and overall value for students. Skill-based learning is particularly on the rise online, and most employers now report that they don’t see any difference between degrees obtained fully online and those obtained through more traditional methods. How mainstream have online degrees become? Coffee giant Starbucks offers tuition assistance to its employees who attend online classes through a partnership with Arizona State University.
Who Pursues an online degree?
Online degrees and coursework are gaining traction among potential students with many of the following interests and/or needs:
Limited time due to other commitments – Students with full- or part-time jobs or family commitments
Financial Concerns – Students seeking a college degree at a lower cost (more on this below)
Self-Motivated and Organized
Those who will not miss the social aspects of the college experience
Online Degree Benefits vs Traditional on Campus Degree
May be less expensive per credit hour (but not always!)
Students save room and board costs
No (or significantly reduced) commuting or travel costs
Schedule flexibility – many course offerings do not require attendance at a specific time or even a specific day
Buyer Beware
The quality of most online programs has grown along with the options available. But prospective students still need to consider several factors when deciding if online coursework in general or a specific degree program is right for them. Here are some points to think about:
Consider the Following:
Is the school/program fully accredited?
There are seven regional accreditation boards in the U.S. Accreditation ensures that programs provided by the institution meet acceptable levels of quality. This applies to both for profit and nonprofit schools. It is important to avoid unaccredited diploma mills that offer fake degrees. While these companies are becoming less prevalent, they are still in existence. Students seeking valid online degrees should obtain proof of accreditation from an appropriate national or regional accrediting body.
Look carefully at the tuition cost
Does the school charge by the credit hour? By semester? By course? By degree? Is there a tiered tuition plan – a lower cost per credit hour based on the number of hours taken at a time? Are there in-state and out-of-state tuition rates – yes, out-of-state online tuition does exist. Does the program offer scholarships and/or financial aid? Does your employer offer tuition assistance?
Can you combine online and on-campus experiences.
On the road to your first undergraduate degree? If you decide to switch from one format to another, is that doable? Will your credits transfer within one institution and/or will they transfer to another school if you decide to switch? Can you test out of classes for credit?
Scheduling work, life and classes
Can you take classes on your own schedule or must you be online/available at specific times of day for lectures, etc.?
Professor's Qualifications
What are the professor’s qualifications?
Additional costs associated with the program
Is your technology up-to-date? You’ll likely need a computer that is less than three years old, a printer, maybe a webcam, and high speed internet to stream live classes and study groups. If you travel for your job, will you need wifi to keep up with your coursework? Where will you access that on-the-road wifi and is there a cost associated with it?
Is there travel required on the way to your degree? Some programs require one or more trips to a physical campus or seminar along the way and the costs associated with travel are typically not included in the tuition cost.
Are there “graduation costs”? This is a catch-all category that some schools use to provide transcripts and other documentation.
Is there a “technology fee” (can be as high as $120 per course)?
Massive Online Open Courses
If you’re not sure that online coursework is for you, you can get a taste of the experience by taking a MOOC. MOOCs are online classes that are open to anyone and are usually free but generally do not earn college credit. Many universities including CU Boulder, Harvard, MIT and Stanford and many others participate in offering such courses.
The following are several sites with online course offerings at the college level: