Is online colleges creditable? If so, what is a good one?
914028
The way to handle this is to enroll in a program from a legitimate College or University that has a campus, library, accreditation, and standing in the academic community and take as many courses as they allow you online.\n\nThe recommendation for University of Wisconsin is an excellent one. Also, I know for a fact that the Texas State U. programs are totally legitimate. Villanova also has a respected program. However, you have to take at least one course on campus.\n\nI have met only one person in my career who actually got a job using a totally online college degree - and that was for a desperate employer in the sticks of North Dakota.
1091796
My daughter is in Early Childhood/ Special Education and she is taking on line courses from Genesee Community College. Also the Univ. of Arizona has online courses.
633695
I would regard online universities as the absolute last resort for someone seeking higher education.\n\nThe quality of education these programs offer is minimal - there is simply no substitute for the kind of dynamic interactions and discussions that commonly occur in face-to-face college courses. Also, the quality of educator is significantly less at online universities - the best faculty choose to teach at real colleges and universities. Both the pay and work environments are far superior to online universities. So, for great classes from great instructors, go to a real college or university.\n\nAlso, because of the minimal training they offer, employers and graduate institutions place little value in degrees earned from online programs. Many of these programs lack even basic accreditation for the degree programs they offer.\n\nBottom line - you will receive little if any personal or professional benefit from online universities relative to what you could have received from a real college or university.
1020983
Some are just as good as any other.  If from a quality university then it will have value.  It is better to attend class but if you can;t then on line is a good way to go.  Be sure to know about the university offering the course.  There are some out there that are nothing but scams so beware.
5720
I was looking for an online school about a year ago and I really did a lot of research.  There are a number of "sketchy" schools that you should avoid.  The only one that I was really interested in was Kaplan University.  Kaplan is the company that is in charge of SAT testing and test prep.  It is a very reputable company.  If I do end up taking online classes I will take classes from Kaplan.
360565
The key element that you should look for in an online degree it to make sure that the school is regionally accredited.  A few states (Colorado and Mississippi, I know off the bat) have a virtual community college site where you can take online courses from almost any of their community colleges.  You'll want to be very careful about technical degrees, though.  I have lots of students who are re-taking many of their classes at c.c. after they found out that companies won't accept their degrees from schools that aren't regionally accredited.
149370
It is very good, free money which are grants. Also you should apply as soon as you can so you can get approved for school. Also you have the subsidized and unsub very low rates / some 0 intrest NOT based on credit.you can use school lenders like UOP offers for online education.
30911
I am currently a full-time online student at AIB College of Business (Des Moines, IA).  I have found that it is great for a person with a difficult schedule.  You can do your work at any time of the day or night from the comfort of your own home.  I have also learned though, that a lot of the time you have to teach yourself many things, as there aren't a lot of lectures and teacher demonstrations.  But if you are good with learning on your own, I definitely recommend online college.
137820
Mediocre. I feel that online schools take away  from the experience of being in a live college environment. Although the at home convenience may be helpful and beneficial to others, i think that everyone should participate from a college campus. However i believe the education offered is the same. Also i do believe that you learning may be easier when in the classroom setting.
1059347
Definitely look into accreditation!  If it's not accredited, it is not worth it at all.  \n\nI don't have any experience with online programs, but I do work in a large university, and the only thing I would caution you about is the stigma attached to online education.   Many people (prospective employers, for example, or graduate school admissions committees, if you're talking about a bachelor's degree here) view online degree programs as less rigorous as traditional university programs.  I'm not saying that this is true or not, but that negative view certainly does exist.  I suspect it's largely dependent on your field and whether the program you're looking into has any kind of reputation (good or bad), as well.  \n\nGood luck!
512131
They are not a scam. They are a private college and a friend of mine graduated from their campus in Atlanta. They are not only online. They are however, a bit more expensive.
544787
It sounds like you are very mature and know what you want. Make sure that you check into the accreditation of Penn Foster. I don't believe that they are regionally accredited. I am pretty confident that their college programs aren't. Accreditation is probably the MOST important thing to look for when looking at online programs. If the program says Nationally accredited or Accreditated through the distance learning counsel etc and does not say regionally accredited stay away from it. It will only hinder you later and colleges will be less likely to accept you.
757386
Any online school would work if they offer it. Most online schools do not offer fnancial aid. Most colleges offer online classes to an extent. You will still have to attend campus to get them all. Some are not offered online..The basics usually are but when it comes to your major courses, you must attend campus (unless you go to an online school
1105521
University of Phoenix is one.  Also a lot of big name schools are now offering online programs.   Some of the legitimate schools also offer programs that allow you to get credit for some of your life experience which can shorten the time to a degree and save you some money.  (NONE of the legitimate schools will let you write off a majority of your degree...one sign it is a real school).\n\nYou may find a selection of them on websites designed to help prospective students pick a college, like www.princetonreview.com or www.directoryofonlineschools.com\n\nGood luck.
810297
Online degrees are a good way to keep your schedule flexible. Typically you can work from any computer with Internet access. You would most likely participate in class discussions via forums or emails. You could hand in assignments by email or by posting to a web page.\n\nHere is some more info about online schools if you're interested:\n\nhttp://www.college-scholarship-hound.com/index.php?t=onlineschools\n\nGood luck!
180385
An on-line degree can be just as valuable as one earned through a traditional, on-campus degree program--if the on-line program is sponsored by an accredited/credentialed college or university that has a solid reputation.  \n\nThe question really should be whether an on-line program can meet your specific educational needs as well as a  traditional program.  Before you rush off to enroll, stop a moment and consider whether or not virtual learning is right for you.\n\n\nIs the class or program of study offered by an accredited university?\nDoes this university have a solid reputation in the field in which you will pursue your coursework or degree?\nWhat sort of training do the instructors have?\nHow long will it take to complete a course or program of study?\nAre all of the classes taught on-line or will you need to attend a real classroom some of the time?\nIs the class taught in real-time (meaning you'd have to log on during specific hours/times/days), or is time management up to me?\nHow much will it cost me?\nAnd, finally, is there any financial aid available to me?\n\nIf, after working through these questions, you're satisfied with your answers, an on-line degree program may well be a good match for you.\n\nGood luck!
875193
It depends on the University or College.  Be sure the college has a brick and mortar place (Colleges such as University of Phoenix, DeVry, Cal State Dominguez Hills has brick and mortar or real colleges and on line colleges as well).  Make sure they are regionally accredited. DETC colleges are suspect.  Just because students are able to get federally subsidized student loans does not mean the school is properly accredited.\n\nDon't go to a college where you cannot transfer your credits.\n\nGood information can be found on the www.degreeinfo.com forums\n\nAnd yes, a good on line degree is as good as a one you get at a local state college.  Most employers don't even know the difference (and most degrees don't show the difference either)