Online universities are growing in popularity as technology advances. Just as with any other institution for higher learning, these universities are subject to and reliant upon ratings to attract future students. Whether you would like to rate an online university that you have attended or currently attend, you can easily do so on your personal website or through online rating websites. However, to provide an accurate rating, keep certain essential criteria in mind to help future students gain a clear insight into the online university you have attended.
Instructions
1. List the accreditation of the online university, for in order for a college degree to be useful it must be recognized by the state in which it is acquired. Online extensions of traditional universities should be recognized by the state or region at least, and purely online learning should be accredited by an organization recognized by the U. S. Department of Education. Obviously, if you chose to attend the online university, you determined that it was accredited before attending; be sure to mention its accreditation in your rating to others. If you're unsure of your online university's accreditation, you can easily find this information listed somewhere on the university's admissions or future students' web page.
2. Disclose whether the university truly is 100 percent online. Many people who are interested in attending online universities want the program to be completely online due to their busy work or family schedules. Some online universities actually require a minimum amount of physical campus attendance. Were you required to attend a certain amount of physical classes or take examinations at a physical location rather than online?
3. Rate the flexibility of the online university. Most people who attend online universities are drawn to the idea of planning college schedules around their lifestyles. Some online universities, however, have structured weekly schedules, whereas some require only that all work be completed by the end of the course. Examine how flexible your courses were. Did you have to meet deadlines for weekly assignments, or did all coursework simply have to be completed by the end of the course?
4. Evaluate the credit transfers and financial aid of the online university. Some online universities don't accept as many transfers or offer as much financial aid as other online universities and traditional universities.
5. Consider the cost of tuition for the online university. Determine whether the cost is too expensive or so cheap that it's "too good to be true." Some online universities that are extremely cheap might not offer as high an educational quality as more expensive ones.
6. Evaluate the admissions process. The process at some online universities can be relatively quick and easy, or it can be as lengthy as admissions to traditional universities.
7. Evaluate the quality of the faculty and coursework of the online university. Does the online university offer an online atmosphere that meets your educational needs? Is the faculty helpful, and is the coursework well structured and informative?
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