Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Distance Education - Critical Characteristics Of A High Quality Online Degree Program

By John B Maxted

Year after year more people turn to a degree online. This is both true for people looking to start a new degree and for people who are interested in finishing a degree that they previously started. Unlike in the past, today there are dozens upon dozens of high quality programs offering an online education. This is great because the doors are wide open for you. However, you will also need to learn to evaluate these many choices to see which ones are really the best and which ones you could do without.

At the forefront of everyone's mind has to be accreditation. People are worried that online schools do not have full accreditation. While it's true that some don't, the vast majority are now fully accredited. Just remember to double check before you get started, because you don't want to waste any time or money with an institution that can't provide you with a top tier degree.

Another important consideration is that most people want to go to a respected university or institution. The truth is that many prospective employers look at the name of your school and little else when browsing quickly through a resume. The good news is that many of the top universities from around the world now offer online degree programs. That means you can attend a highly respected institution and still receive all of the benefits of an online program.

Many people who turn to an online program are working adults with families, and they need to be able to finish a degree as quickly as possible. One way to do this is with an accelerated degree program, which many online universities now offer. With an accelerated pace you can finish your degree in under 2 years, which means you're on the fast track to new, more exciting and higher paying jobs. If this is your plan, be sure your online program offers accelerated schedules.

The main benefit to online schools though is truly how convenient they are for students. You never have to leave your home to get to class and there is no set time of the day or week when you have to be available. This makes it easy to fit your education into your life, and it's one of the main selling points for an online program.

Don't forget that the cost of your online education is important as well. An online degree is almost always going to be significantly cheaper than a traditional on-campus program. However, there will certainly be differences in costs from one school to another. So be sure to compare costs and consider if any price variations come with added value that you're interested in.

Students today have more options than ever for where they are going to school, what they want to study and how they want to accomplish their program. An online degree comes with many different benefits and advantages, just be sure to find one that satisfies your individual needs and preferences. - 16890

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