Accredited Online Universities

Posts Tagged ‘Jim Zorn’

In comparison to a regular university degree, are online universities really worth it? Traditionally, getting a professional qualification has meant that a student physically attend a college or university, adhere to fixed schedules, attend regular classes and seminars and participate in time-bound projects. Any departure from these standard protocols would invariably result in students getting lower grades, leading to high dropout rates, a scenario that is not very uncommon in this day and age. Today’s fast-paced life demands greater flexibility and control over daily schedules, and a balanced lifestyle that is not too unduly skewed towards mere academic excellence. Financial considerations might also force individuals to opt out of college education to earn a living. Under these circumstances, it is but natural for students and even seniors to turn to online universities for getting professionally qualified while retaining their day jobs.

The Advantages of an Online University Degree

The biggest advantage to seeking a degree from online universities is the convenience of not having to be physically present at pre-scheduled times on a regular basis, and not being forced to relocate to a different city, in case one is unable to attend college locally. This eliminates the need to commute daily, a task that is not only very time consuming but also impossible for people with busy lifestyles and regular full-time jobs, not to mention single moms who have their kids to look after. Online universities typically offer their entire course-work and training material via dedicated education portals, which incorporate sophisticated learning management systems that make learning a pleasure. All assignments, tests and projects are usually managed via these interactive systems, thus potentially eliminating the need to ever attend a single day of lecture at a campus. This gives people who are otherwise averse to a traditional education system an opportunity to further their careers by getting a higher degree from the convenience of their own homes.

Check for Accreditation to Avoid Being Scammed

With the rise in demand for online modes of knowledge delivery and certification, online universities have started mushrooming all over, some of which are setup with the sole purpose of making money, while offering little or no intrinsic value. Many of these online universities are not even recognized or accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, a sure sign that the university failed to meet certain minimum standards of teaching excellence. Accreditation is thus one of the most important factors to consider in choosing an online university program, as most employers and organizations prefer hiring candidates with an accredited degree from a reputed university.

Check for Financial Aid Availability before Applying

You should also ascertain the availability of financial aid programs before you select a university. There are numerous options available in this regard, and if you have a job, your employer might be willing to pay a portion of the tuition fees. It is always wise to check with the particular online program of interest to see what financial options are available, since some universities might not offer financial aid to students who enroll in online degree programs.

Getting an online degree is a legitimate, convenient, and flexible way for you to advance your career. All it requires is firm commitment, motivation and some time management skills.

There are many accredited universities with distance learning programs that you can consider applying to, but which ones are the most prestigious? Which ones should you apply to? These questions are very important for several reasons. For one, getting accredited has become all too easy today, and with accreditation scams surfacing every once in a while, unfortunately one cannot rely on the accreditation status of universities to gauge the value of the education as well as the degree that you would earn from them.

Secondly, if you are looking to join a distance education program to further your career, it is important to know the opinions of employers of respected companies, as it would be pointless to acquire an accredited degree that does nothing to raise your chances of getting a better job in a reputable company. Keeping this in mind, we have compiled a small list of three of the most prestigious accredited universities with distance learning programs.

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix is probably one of the most well known and reputed of all accredited universities with distance learning programs in the US. This university boasts of over 17,000 highly qualified instructors and over 99,000 students that have graduated in diverse fields including Business, Technology, Education and Healthcare through it’s gigantic network of educational partners operating through out the world encompassing over 140 campuses. The University is also a member of several educational organizations, including the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, the American Council on Education, the Association of American Colleges, the American Association for Higher Education, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Course instructors average 16 years of practical industry experience in their respective fields in addition to being highly qualified. This is definitely one of the universities that you should consider for getting your online degree.

Capella University

Capella University is one of the accredited universities with distance learning, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It offers high quality bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs to an average of around 8,500 students and professionals every year. What’s more, Capella University has education alliances with over a hundred top corporations, including Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, Farmers Insurance, and Xerox. The value of a degree from this university is held in high esteem in the industry.

Walden University

Like Capella, Walden University is also an accredited universities with distance learning, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. Founded in 1970, Walden University has earned a reputation for itself in academia for imparting quality distance education to students and working professionals alike. Its courses are known to be flexible and well designed. It also makes available several financial aid options to students. Subject to the fulfillment of academic pre-requisites, one can choose from a range of degree programs at the graduate, masters and doctoral levels, in diverse fields such as Education, Health Sciences, Psychology, Management and Engineering.