Real accredited online college courses used to be difficult to find, but these days it seems that every major university has an Internet-based degree program! This trend is good for colleges and great for students; busy parents and rural scholars are now able to complete their education from the comfort of home without missing a beat.
Don’t let a valuable degree slip through your fingers – get the credits you need with an accredited online course!
How to Find the Courses You Need
The best place to look for online college courses is not the Internet – always search locally first!
There are too many “diploma mills” and rip-offs floating around the web, many of which have higher tuition costs than even the most reputable brick-and-mortar universities. Most mid- to large-sized institutions offer real accredited online college courses and prove to be a much better value than “online only” educations.
Unfortunately, distance education still has a few disadvantages: most colleges charge an “out of state” fee for non-resident students taking online classes. Several online courses at Washburn University in Kansas, for example, are twice as expensive for non-residents. You can avoid these extra costs by choosing a school within your state or province. A few schools (like the University of Massachusetts) charge the same flat tuition rate no matter where you live – but colleges like this are still considered rare.
Avoiding the Scams
Even the rich and successful fall for frauds: Laura Callahan, a former director of the United States Department of Homeland Security, is famous for receiving a fake degree from a diploma
Apparently, she did not know the university was unaccredited – but knowing that ignorance is no excuse, her resignation shortly followed this well-publicized (and embarrassing) incident.
Nothing is worse than spending money on a rip-off, especially when the mistake can end your career!
Sometimes the Internet is the only way to discover those hard-to-find accredited online college courses, but this puts most students in a very vulnerable position. Real classes, colleges, and universities usually exhibit the following traits:
- Acceptance of federal financial aid or other sources of outside funding
- Display of accurate information about tuition and fees
- Ability to speak with a real representative, not a call center
- Has a .edu domain name if based in the U.S. (only accredited institutions are eligible for a .edu)
Don’t be afraid to “window shop” for the right college or university – this is a big decision and requires a great deal of research. Whether you’re searching for a full-time gig or just a few classes to take in your spare time, there are countless accredited online college courses just waiting for students like you!
