Skip to main content

Tell if an Online Program Has a Good Reputation

By U.S. News & World Report

Great online programs offer the flexibility and affordability that students need. Schools ranging from local community colleges to elite universities like Stanford University and the Georgia Institute of Technology offer individual classes and entire degrees.

Sometimes, though, it’s not immediately obvious whether a program is a valuable educational experience or an offering aimed at grabbing tuition money. Before sending out any applications, potential online students should understand how to distinguish between a great opportunity and a terrible mistake. They can do so by following these three tips.

1. Look at accreditation: This means that some outside organization has vouched for the quality of the education offered by a particular school.

If an institution can’t point to some accrediting body that stands behind it, it’s definitely not a good place to be. Even if they can, make sure that it’s a legitimate accreditor.

[Learnhow to tell if an online program is accredited.]

2. Explore rankings: U.S. News has been maintaining rankings of colleges since 1983. They are a very popular resource for traditional students looking to apply to a university campus, but they also have sets of rankings specifically devoted to the best online programs out there.

U.S. News even breaks down the regionally accredited programs they rank into bachelor’s degree programs, MBA programs and graduate school programs in various disciplines, to make it easy to find schools that excel within the right niche.

3. Ask around: Before investing in an education, students should already have an idea of what they want to study and where they hope it will take them in their career.

By contacting professionals, either people they already know or those they find on social networks like LinkedIn, potential online students can learn more about what employers in an industry or a specific company think. A student who dreams of working at Google, for example, can contact actual recruiters and find out whether a specific online program would be helpful, neutral or harmful on a resume.

When I decided to pursue an online graduate degree for myself, the Georgia Tech name was enough to make me feel confident that I was making a good choice. Though the online Master of Science in computer science was a new program at the time, it was being built by one of the best schools in the world for computing.

[Understandwhat employers really think about your online bachelor’s degree.]

On the other hand, some students haven’t had the great experience that I have. For some students, their attempt to get an education at the troubled for-profit institution Corinthian Colleges left them with a debt and no degree — or or even usable credits, in some cases — after the school closed amid controversy and federal government sanctions.

The takeaway: The first step toward getting a great education online is doing some basic research to make sure that the program has a good reputation.

More from U.S. News

Online Degree Programs: How to Tell the Good From the Bad

How to Tell if an Online Program Is Accredited

4 Ways to Use Social Media as an Online Student

Tell if an Online Program Has a Good Reputation originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related Stories

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote