Not all online universities are the same. Finding the right one for you will take time and lots of research, but the choice you end up making will further your career and make you happy that you decided to continue your education.
Instructions
1. Determine the type of degree you plan to pursue. Some online universities offer associates' degrees (2-year programs), while others confer bachelors' designations (4-year programs). Most offer degrees of several different types, so look for a school that features your program of choice. So many universities have online programs that it will take some time to explore them all and find out what is available. For a list of all online universities, visit eLearners.com.
2. Online universities can be just as expensive as traditional schools. Understanding how much you can afford to pay for tuition will help you narrow down your choices. For each university you consider, check out the tuition page, where you can learn how much the school charges per credit hour and per course. If you will not be able to cover expenses out of pocket, apply for federal financial aid. You will need a copy of your income tax return from the previous year. Additional information and the application can be found at fafsa.ed.gov.
3. Consider how much time you will need to devote to your courses. Some online universities only allow students to take one class at a time. If you choose one of these schools, your classes will only last a few weeks each. Other online schools allow you to take more than one class per session, with terms lasting as long as 10 to 18 weeks. Depending on the type of job you have and your other obligations, a school that only allows one class per session may be a better choice for you.
4. Request additional information. Most online universities provide a questionnaire that a prospective student can submit to be contacted by a representative, who will have more information about the university. You will generally find this request located on the university homepage.
5. Make sure the school is accredited by a national or regional organization. Information on accreditation can be found at online-education.net.
6. Research the university through student reviews. Many websites provide such reviews to enumerate the pros and cons of online universities like the one(s) you may be considering. Universityreviewsonline is one such source; in addition, check out social-networking sites like MySpace to find groups of students who attend these schools. You can learn a lot of useful information by asking current students.
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