Not everyone can go to pack up their bags, leave everything behind and go to college. But not everyone is willing to let go of their dreams and aspirations because of that either. What do they do? They go to school online. But how do you find one that’s worth your time, money and effort? Let’s take a look.
Always check the accreditation
When it comes to online colleges, some students might find it hard to distinguish between a diploma mill and a legitimate, respectable college. The key is look up the college’s accreditation. A legitimate online college will hold either a regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body recognized either by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or both. Not only will this guarantee that the college has met a set standard of education quality, but it is also likely to be recognized and accepted by future employers.
Do a check on the qualifications of the faculty
An online college should be willing to disclose information about its faculty. Question the college administration about the qualifications of the faculty. The instructors should be graduates in their respective fields with relevant work experience. Having work experience is beneficial to students of fields such as healthcare and business.
Read up on student reviews
One of the best ways to find out about an online college is by reading student and alumni reviews on the Internet. Such reviews talk about student experiences; good or bad, college offerings, where they think the college could improve and much more. Take for instance Independence University. Student reviews of Independence University talk about the student services, financial aid assistance programs for those who qualify and other things students might find helpful. To know more about the college you should read a student review of Independence University.
What is the level of student-instructor interaction?
Keeping the students engaged and interested is important for the any online program to be successful. A college should always be open to discussing the measures they take to keep the programs engaging. Also, ask the college about how the faculty communicates with the students and how students can communicate with each other. It would help if you get an idea of the frequency of interaction between instructors and their students as it will help you understand just how involved the professors are with their students.
Keep your eye out for:
· Colleges with names that closely resemble names of popular colleges.
· Colleges that provide no details about their accreditation.
· Colleges that have been accredited by agencies not recognized by either the USDE or CHEA.
· Colleges that have no mailing address on their website.
· Colleges that promise to award you with a degree for a sum of money.
· Colleges that disclose little or no information about their professors and the faculty.
· Colleges that offer degree programs that run over a significantly shorter period of time. Example, 20 days.
If you keep the above points in mind, you should be able to find an online degree that not only promises quality, but also a better, brighter future.
Online education 
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