Accreditation of degree programs Some programs are individually accredited by authority e.g., The Board of Engineering and Technology can provide accreditation to the degree programs of engineering, applied sciences, and computing. In the U.S. all degree programs approved by regionally accreditation agencies meet the same professional and academic standards either it is an online or on-campus program.
Regional and national accreditation Online colleges can be regionally or nationally accredited. Seven state agencies are working in the United States for accreditation of colleges or institutes which can attest to two- and four-year degree programs. Regionally accredited colleges provide better academic standards than most nationally accredited colleges.
3. Compare tuition fee, direct cost, indirect cost, and financial aid of online colleges
The cost of an online degree program significantly differs from on-campus degree programs. Traditional or on-campus degree programs demand more time and students have to leave their jobs to complete their degrees. Existing commitments with family and work do not allow them to take on-campus classes. So, studying online is the best method to pursue their degrees without any hurdle. Some online institutes charge more fees than traditional on-campus programs. Distant learners do not take advantage of on-campus services and resources including healthcare services, campus library, meal plans, and parking. So, you should consider the total cost of an online degree before selecting an online college. Most of the students check only the tuition fees of online learning and ignore the indirect cost. Check the indirect cost of the degree program before finalizing it based on the tuition fee.
Direct cost includes tuition fee, application fee, and the admission fee for online distance learning courses. Similarly, you have to pay technology and distant learning fee also often referred to as e-tuition fees. Online colleges may charge for enrolling in different courses, and additional charges for not meeting the deadline of paying tuition fees. Always contact the financial services of online college to learns about the total cost of the degree program before choosing it for your studies.
Indirect cost includes charges for course materials and books. Before finalizing your online college, you must consider these expenses which you have to pay to complete your degree in an online college. To complete your assignments and class discussions, you must have access to the required resources. Online colleges have libraries that you can use to get free books and study material but you need to purchase a certain repository of books, articles, and workbooks.
Financial aid may seek to continue online college and university programs if you cannot meet your college expenses. Many financial aid options are available for online students. Some colleges offer financial aid to enrolled students only while some limit access to the students attending on-campus classes. Federal Pell Grants are available for distant learners so, keep in mind the financial aid option before applying to the online college. You can follow these steps to get financial aid in an online college.
