Picking an Online Education Provider

Selecting the right online education provider is very important. The source of a degree can be almost as important to potential employers as what the degree is in. With so many trying to cash in on the demand and the potential for a vast number of student, choosing an online educational institution with a good reputation is critical. This can play a major role in landing a job once your have your degree.

Traditional Universities with Online Offerings

You can pretty much rest assured that if you walk into an interview with an online baccalaureate degree from University of California Berkley, they will be just as impressed as if you had studied there on-site. So, if you're going into a field where a little name-dropping goes a long way, an online degree from a traditional university might be the way to go. But bear this in mind: the cost will be the same, or at best at a discount. Sticking with that example, a BA from Berkley for a non-resident costs over $28,000 per year on average - for tuition alone! For more information, please visit our online vs. traditional education page.

Additionally, traditional universities see online education as an interesting side business, not as their core mission. As a result, especially if its a state school dependent on tax dollars, the latest technology and the expertise to implement it optimally may not be available to online education programs.

Online Education Specialists

There is a dramatic upside to schools dedicated to ongoing online education. Most are for-profit and therefore have the freedom to invest in the latest technologies to maximize their students' educational experience. And because this is their primary focus, educating students online, they will have a dedicated staff focusing on the the optimal implementation of emerging technologies, such as built in webcams on student computers to facilitate interactive education. Traditional institutions of learning will almost always lag behind private providers for whom online education is their bread and butter.

The downside is that this is an exploding market, with often faceless personnel, and it is just that easy to buy a domain name, throw up an online application form that's there just to take down your personal information and your credit card digits. Scams on the Net abound, even in online education. So, there are some particulars you should look for in an online education provider.

What to Look for in an Online School:

• Accreditation - Always check to see if they are accredited. Don't take their word for it! Check! It should be accredited by a legitimate and recognized accrediting organization, such as The Council for Higher Education Accreditation. But beware: even accrediting agencies can be fake! Look deep and do what may seem a strange thing for selecting a school: Check with the Better Business Bureau. You might well end up with an education from an unaccredited online school, but your credentials will be a red flag to an employer.
• Placement - As mentioned above, once you have a degree from an accredited school, you may face the need for employment or improved employment. Since there are many legitimate online education providers out there to choose from, you might as well hone your selection down to those with placement programs for their graduates. And further, since there are many who offer placement programs, you might want to investigate their success rates in placing their graduates with employers. It pays to be selective.
• Costs - As with anything, there is likely a budget you will have to work with in accessing your online education. So, for some, this might be the first place to start, with accreditation and placement programs following. But never spend a dime on a school that doesn't confer legitimate credentials, no matter how affordable. It just isn't worth it. But check out the particulars on your chosen field of study. Be aware that some courses might have unexpected fees for outside field work. And some may even require you to travel to their headquarters for final exams and the like. And when in doubt, call their customer service line or their student liaison, and ASK QUESTIONS!