Online College Degrees

Has life put your dreams of obtaining a higher education on hold?  Are you afraid that working forty hours a week and having kids makes your dream of going to college  impossible.  Not anymore, with the age of internet comes the realization of your dreams.  It is now possible to obtain a degree from the convenience of your own home, on your schedule without ever stepping foot on a campus.

So now the search is on.  With so many on-line schools out there, how do you pick the right one?  There are some important things to consider when searching for the perfect school for you.

1. Is the school accredited?  Accredited means that a school has been officially recognized as meeting standards or criterion.
2. Is the school able to meet your basic requirements that you need to be able to obtain work in your chosen field?
3. How many students are in each classroom setting?  Can the instructor meet each individuals needs?
4. What certificates or degrees are available?  A certificate is a document that states that you have completed the courses and have met certain standards.  Certificates are often awarded through schools offering shorter courses.  A degree is a title that is awarded by a school following the successful completion of study in a particular field.  A degree can take from two years or longer to receive.  How long will it take to obtain a certificate or degree in your chosen field?
5. Does the school have technical support available?  Is it available at all times or just specific hours?  How available is the instructor?
6. Is the tuition all inclusive?  Are there additional fees for books, labs, or any other fee that must be paid?
7. Does the school aid in employment placement?  What is the percentage of students who graduate that are working in their field of study?
8. What type of financial aid is available?  Does FAFSA recognize the school?  Are there scholarships or grants available?  Is there in-house financing available and at what interest rate?

By utilizing the tips outlined above, you are ensuring that you have the pertinent information available to you in order to make an informed decision.

Do not be afraid to ask questions of the recruiters that you talk to.  They are there to answer questions and inform you about their school and their programs.  However, do not let them pressure you by pushing you to enroll before you are ready.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, do not attend any school that offers you less than what you desire.  With so many schools available to choose from, there is no reason that you cannot find a school that offers you everything that you need to be successful in whatever career field you want to enter.

If you’re in the field of nursing, there’s a decent chance you’ve heard of the College Network.  I am in now way affiliated with them, but it may be worth your time to check it out.  Why?  Because they represent many different types of degrees and many different universities.

The College Network (TCN) is not like any other place that lists different colleges and degrees because they actually have a partnership with those schools to help you earn their degree.  They are based out of Indianapolis, and have been around for a dozen years or so.  Their specialty is in nursing degrees (ASN, BSN, MSN), but they have added several different health care degrees and business degrees.

Think of this way – it’s like insurance.  You can go to a company like State Farm or AllState, or you can find a reputable insurance broker (like Al Banker in Texas), who represents many different insurance companies, thereby matching you up with the best carrier at the best price.  So, TCN would be like an “accredited college degree broker.”

Here are what I see as the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Many different choices of degrees
• Full university support
• Accredited Degree choices
• Course work guarantees
• Most degree programs are 100% distance learning
• Most degree programs are 100% self paced
• Cost (less money than taking all your courses at a 4-year college)
• Financing is available
• Fully accredited degrees

Cons

• If you speak to the wrong degree advisor, you’d think you were speaking to a used car salesman
• Cost (more money than a 2-year community college)

There’s not a lot of cons.  Many of the pros could also be said for going straight to the university.  But, the biggest asset you have with TCN is choice.  If you can get past “being sold” a degree, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to explore degree options.

Completing a distance learning Master degree from home is not going to be a walk in the park. I have taken classes in a traditional classroom, and I have taken distance learning classes.  While the distance learning was faster, there was definitely more reading and writing involved.  Many students who have worked in these programs find the classes to be very challenging and stimulating.

It would also be worth your time to go down to human resources and see what their policy is on tuition reimbursement for your courses. Many employers find it beneficial to help their employees further their educations and they are willing to help pay the costs of tuition. Good employees are hard to find and ones that have advanced degrees are precious.  This little used benefit could be worth several thousand dollars for you.

If it is time to break through that glass ceiling, and move ahead in your career, then take the time and search for an online Masters degree.

The benefit of taking distance learning Master degree classes is that you can complete assignments during your free time. Most universities do not have residency reqquirements, therefore you would not be required to visit the school in person and you can do your homework around the clock. This is a great benefit no matter what shift you work.

The time you save in commuting, finding a parking place on campus, and walking to class is a real benefit for anyone. That can save you several hours each week that you thought you didn’t have to complete your degree. The distance learning Master degree programs are specifically designed to save the students time, making it possible to earn their degrees in record time.

A typical graduate program will run between 18 months and 3 years depending on your field of interest. Most MBA programs are about 2 years.  You can earn your distance learning master degree while you maintain full time employment. One very important consideration is to make sure the university where you are earning your degree is regionaly accredited.  If it is not, other schools will not allow you transfer credits, and some employers will not recognize the degree you have earned and paid for.

We are starting another 3 part series on earning a distance learning masters degree.

Quite a few business professionals find themselves in dead-end careers or as far as they can go based upon their training.  You might love what you do, but you know that you are not going to move up in your company without expanding your education. That is why distance learning Master degrees have become so popular for adults.  Major universities are making their Master’s Degrees available 100% online.

Today’s workplace has many demands on its employees.  With all of the demands, many feel that they don’t have the time or the energy to to work on an online Masters Degree. However, most online Masters degree can be earned in the spare time you have throughout the week. These courses are designed to work around your schedule.