University Of Illinois At Springfield
If you have goals that start with getting a college degree or certificate, but your life and work schedule dont allow you to go back to campus and attend lectures, online learning at the University of Illinois at Springfield might be the answer.
Tuition is affordable, and any student who is accepted into an online degree program qualifies to pay e-tuition, which is significantly cheaper than out-of-state tuition on campus. With a diverse range of 52 programs offered online, you have many options to choose from. Plus, online courses are taught by instructors who also teach on campus.
How Can You Decide If An Affordable Online College Is Right For You And Your Learning Style
Given the different learning formats used in colleges and universities, choosing the type of degree program to pursue is a crucial decision to make. Before choosing an inexpensive online college such as nonprofit online colleges, you need to determine if the program is right for you and your learning style. Consider several factors, including:
- What you are passionate about: You need to identify the field of study you are passionate about and link it to your attributes. For instance, if you are passionate about impacting other peoples lives, you should consider an online college offering healthcare degree programs.
- Consider your learning style: If you are an individual who prefers to learn from home rather than physically attending classes, you probably need to enroll in an online school. Online colleges allow students to earn their degrees from flexible learning environments.
- Are you a tech-savvy person? Online learning processes mainly take place over the internet and through computer gadgets such as laptops and desktops. If you are a tech-savvy individual, you will probably enjoy learning online.
- Career Potentials: Online college programs have different career potentials. If you seek to land a job immediately after graduating, you should probably enroll in a college that offers career advising and has a high employability rate.
Association Of Biblical Higher Education
The Association for Biblical Higher Education is a body under the department of education that requires students to perform well in core biblical and theological studies alongside professional studies and general studies. This means that college students who major in other subjects must pass at least one or two religious courses for them to proceed to the next level.
Theres an increasing number of ABHE-accredited institutions that have started missionary and graduate divisions in the country. Most of them focus on academic research work. The association is recognized by the Council of Higher Education and Accreditation as well as the U.S. Department of education.
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North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC
Visit WebsitePoints: 14
North Carolina State University is a public land-grant research university that is a part of the University of North Carolina system and the largest university in the Carolinas. It began as a school grounded in agriculture and engineering to become the leading public research university that it is today. The school is a powerhouse in science, technology, engineering, and math programs and excels across disciplines. It has a high average enrollment of over 35,000 students who pursue research, excel in their careers, and start new companies.
Fast facts:
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Tuition per credit: $272.29
Visit WebsitePoints: 14
Boise State University is a public research university awarding baccalaureate and masters degrees since 1965. The faculty and staff are re-imagining higher education and expanding access to students all over the world. The school is known for its groundbreaking research and academic programs to exponential growth all over campus. It offers over 200 programs of study. It has a NASA astronaut teaching on campus and offers the nations only masters degree in Raptor Biology. It is designated as a doctoral research institution.
Fast facts:
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Tuition per credit: $252
Visit WebsitePoints: 15
Fast facts:
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Fast facts:
How Do I Find Out If An Online College Is Accredited
The vast majority of colleges and universities undergo a process of evaluation to determine how well all aspects of the school compare to quality standards set by the U.S. Department of Education. If the school meets or exceeds these high expectations, it is deemed accredited. Not only can an entire school become accredited at the institutional level, individual programs within a school may also be accredited by professional organizations.
You’ll find that all of the schools on OnlineU.com are accredited by one of the approved accreditation agencies. If you’d like to do additional research, you can search the online databases of the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation . Another option is to check the school’s website. Some schools will have a special Accreditation page devoted to this topic, or it may be shown on the About Us page. Also, school websites often list programmatic accreditation on specific program pages.
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Is An Online Education Right For Me
Attending college online can be an ideal choice for many students. One 2019 survey of current and former fully online students showed that 84% agreed that their online education was worth the cost. Virtual learning gives students the flexibility to get a college education on their own schedules. In many cases, it also gives students more opportunities to find a program that aligns with their goals and price range without having to relocate. Depending on the program, distance education may even allow students to earn their degrees faster so they can get out into the workforce sooner.
Despite the many positive qualities, online college is not for everyone. Those students who need or want greater structure and in-person connections with their peers and instructors may prefer a more traditional college experience. Many younger college students also look forward to living on or near campus, where they can develop essential life skills and build lasting friendships.
If you’re thinking about earning a college degree online but you’d like to get a better feel for what it entails, you may want to take a free online course. Quite a few schools offering online programs provide free trials and sample courses that simulate the experience. With minimal time and effort, you will get a clearer picture of how well online learning fits your personal style and preferences.
How Much Does An Online College Cost
Post-secondary education has developed a reputation for being crushingly expensive. From tuition and fees, to room and board, to textbooks that cost nearly as much as the classes themselves, theres a lot of money to be spent on higher education.
Tuition costs for online universities vary like they do with traditional colleges, but affordable online degree programs range anywhere from about $5,000 to $10k per school year. The big determining factor here is whether or not the school is nonprofit, with for-profit schools costing more.
As for WGU, our tuition costs vary by program, but we still tend to come in under the radar, ranking amongst the most affordable for online bachelors degree programs. Our lowest tuition costs are just over $3,000 for a six month term. Taken over a four year span, thats just $24k in tuition, while saving you many of the additional costs like on-campus room and board.
This is fair less expensive than traditional universities tend to be. As recently as the 2014-2015 school year, the average student shelled out around $25k per year for the whole packagefrom tuition to room and board.
The most expensive colleges in the nation approach $60,000 a year, just for tuition. That means, for a four year degree, students could end up paying around a quarter million. For most of us, thats money wed rather like to hold onto.
WGU’s tuition is substantially lower than other online schools’, saving students thousands.
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Begin Your Degree With A New Laptop
Enroll in any bachelors program, and get a new laptop preloaded with Microsoft software.
Eligibility rules, restrictions and exclusions apply. Connect with us for details.
Eligibility requirements and other details
- Books, supplies, and other fees apply.
- Developmental courses , transfer credits, courses completed prior to readmission, and courses passed by placement exam are excluded from this program and do not count toward earning tuition awards. Fund must be redeemed for final courses leading to the completion of a bachelors or masters degree. Successful completion means earning the grade required by the curriculum as outlined in the Strayer University catalog.
- Tuition credit is earned only after successfully completing courses and will be lost if you do not take courses for two consecutive quarters.
- Students already receiving scholarship aid from Strayer University may not be eligible.
- Students receiving tuition assistance from their employers through agreements with Strayer University may not be eligible.
How Many Hours A Week Do Online Programs Take
One of the common misconceptions about online college courses is that they require less time and effort. Although online students enrolled in asynchronous courses are not required to log in to lectures at specific times, they will still need to devote a fair amount of time each week. Most experts agree that a typical undergraduate, three-credit online course will require a minimum of eight hours of work per week. This may include reading assignments, research and paper writing, other homework assignments, discussion forums, collaborative group projects, and studying for exams.
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Why Get An Online Degree In California
California has the world’s fifth-largest economy. Earning a college degree can help students increase their earning potential. Bachelor’s degree-holders earn about $27,300 more per year than those with a high school diploma.
Online colleges in California offer affordability and flexibility. Enrollees can complete coursework around work and family responsibilities. Many California online colleges offer low tuition rates for distance learners.
Featured Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Middle States Commission On Higher Education
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides accreditation to universities and colleges in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States and a few other select locations: Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. MSCHE fosters educational progress, acts as a gatekeeper to maintain educational standards, and provides consistent measurement to gauge an institution’s effectiveness. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
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Institutional Accreditation: What Is It
Both regional and national accreditation are ways of confirming that a whole institutionlike a university, college, community college, or trade schoolis offering quality education to its students. This is a quality assurance system that schools voluntarily engage in to have an outside organization investigate their programs and policies to ensure that students will receive valuable and useful education.
Accreditation helps members of the public avoid scams like diploma mills or subpar instructional programs. If a school you are considering is not institutionally accredited, that is a serious red flag.
The older, more established, and more respected type of institutional accreditation is regional accreditation. Public and nonprofit private schools are almost all regionally accredited, while trade, career, and for-profit schools are usually nationally accredited. It might sound like national accreditation would be more prestigious, but actually, the opposite is true. The standards for national accreditation are less rigorous than regional accreditation, and national accreditation is considerably less useful when transferring schools.
The Importance Of Accreditation For Online Degree Programs
Ensuring the Quality of Academic Programs Online
According to the U.S. Department of Education, The goal of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality. Accredited colleges and universities have met high standards set by an accrediting agency regarding the quality and integrity of their academics, faculty and administration, student services, and other educational components.
When you choose to attend an accredited online university, then, you can rest assured that you will receive a high quality of education. Whether accreditation has been granted on the institutional or programmatic level, you can have confidence that the curriculum, faculty, and educational services have been approved and recognized for their excellence. Accredited online schools offer great value to students in terms of quality, which in turn showcases on graduates resumes. When you are applying for future jobs, employers will recognize the reputation of an accredited online college or university listed.
Qualifying for Financial Aid
If you are planning to apply for federal student loans or other financial aid via a FAFSA, it is important that you attend an accredited college or university. This will ensure you will qualify for federal assistance to help cover the costs of school.
Meeting the Criteria for Professional Certification and Further Education
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Southwestern Oklahoma State University
In the center of western Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma State University serves residential students at its Weatherford or Sayre campuses. Many students, however, pursue associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees through the Universitys distance learning programs.
With advanced technology connecting students to lectures, assignments, and assessments, SWOSU puts a college degree within reach of busy adults juggling work and family life.
The administrators and the financial office at SWOSU proudly distribute $40 million in financial aid to more than 70% of the student population, and the schools financial advisors work with students to fit the costs of education into their budgets.
Dakota State University Online
Not to be confused with South Dakota State University, another public institution based in South Dakota, Dakota State University Online offers about 50 online graduate and undergraduate programs to students whether or not theyre within the borders of its sparsely populated state. Though initially conceived as a teacher training university, Dakota States breadth has expanded considerably in recent decades. Its lineup of degree programs now approaches larger rivals, with particular focus on IT and computer science disciplines.
- Institution Type: Public
- Educational technology
- Cyber defense
You can find a list of their undergraduate and graduate programs on the interactive menu on their website.
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Benefits Of Attending An Online College
Education at any level has benefits. Associate degree holders earn $157 median more per week than high school graduates, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics . That figure jumps to $524 per week with a bachelorâs degree. Out of the occupations BLS tracks, around half require an academic degree, meaning you may qualify for more jobs .
There are numerous other benefits associated with attending an online college or degree program:
Common Questions About Tuition & Financial Aid
How does tuition work?
WGU treats all students as full-time and charges tuition at a flat rate regardless of the number of competency units attempted or completed by the student in a six-month term. The “standard term” is based on attempting at least 12 competency units per term for undergraduate students and 8 competency units per term for graduate students. Students who attempt more or fewer units are charged the same tuition rates.
What do tuition and fees pay for?
- All e-textbooks and course materials, with 24/7 access via the WGU student portal, your online “campus.”
- Course assessments .
- Continuous one-to-one faculty support.
How will I pay tuition?
WGU accepts cash, checks, and web checks/EFT at no additional cost to the student. Credit cards are also accepted, but a 2.75% credit card fee applies. Students may make payments through the Make or View Payments link in the online student portal. WGU does not accept post-dated checks. WGU will not hold any check for deposit past the date of the receipt of the check. WGU will not be responsible for any bank fees associated with the deposit of said check.
More Information
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Best Accredited Online Colleges
Online universities, schools, and colleges have become increasingly popular with time and still continue to grow. Taking online classes from a reputable college is an equally fascinating option as being on-site for completing your education and getting your bachelors, masters, or doctorate degrees.
Whatever the circumstances may be, students have the flexibility to complete their degree programs through an accredited online college from anywhere. Accreditation is a way of verifying that institutional bodies are providing superior quality, useful, and valuable education to their students.
The college/university you enroll in must be institutionally accredited. Our comprehensive guide sheds light on some of the best accredited online colleges and universities across the United States that are known to offer the best education and degree programs.
Where Can You Find Scholarships For The Cheapest Online College Degrees
Prospective online students can find scholarship opportunities from various organizations. Some of the common organizations that provide scholarship opportunities include:
- Federal and State Government: Federal and state governments award scholarships to low-income students seeking various online programs. The students have to prove they are financially incapable of financing their education.
- Colleges and Universities: Colleges and universities award scholarships to students excelling in various curriculum and co-curricular activities such as leadership and sports.
- Professional Associations: Professional bodies award annual scholarships to students who pursue degrees in a specific professional field.
- Nonprofit Organizations: Nonprofit organizations award scholarships to vulnerable students such as immigrants and persons living with disabilities.
Related Online Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Flexible Scheduling And Learning Environments
Online classes tend to fall into one of two categories: synchronous classes or asynchronous classes. With either one, you can decide your learning space, studying where itâs most comfortable or convenient for you. Online classes also tend to be more flexible than in-person classes, which can be helpful if youâd prefer to keep working while attending school.