How to Find the Best Online Degree Programs

(ARA) - You're ready for a new career, or to take your current one to the next level. You've heard that online learning can be a convenient way for busy working adults to earn a degree. But an overload of TV commercials, Internet ads and junk mail has your head spinning, and you're not sure how to choose the online program that's right for you.

Online learning - completing coursework and degree requirements through Web-based lessons and seminars -- has gone mainstream. Nearly 3.5 million students were enrolled in an online program during the fall 2006 term according to the 2007 Sloan Survey of Online Learning. Diploma mills, unfortunately, are also prevalent, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars each year by scamming consumers looking to advance their careers.

So how do you tap the convenience and flexibility of online learning while avoiding the pitfalls of diploma mills or a legitimate degree that still doesn't impress employers? Most important, how do you choose the online program that's right for you?

Choose an accredited institution. "The most widely recognized form of university accreditation in the United States comes from regional accreditation boards. Regionally accredited institutions recognize credits and degrees earned from other regionally accredited programs," says Adrian Marrullier of University Alliance Online, an organization that partners with leading brick-and-mortar schools such as Villanova University, Tulane University, and Florida Tech.

Advantages to accredited schools include:

* Credits earned at unaccredited institutions usually are not transferable to accredited ones.

* Attending an accredited online school can also qualify you for financial aid from a number of sources, including employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement programs.

2. Consider an online program offered by a brick-and-mortar establishment. "Recognized, respected, traditional institutions are quickly expanding their online offerings," Marrullier says. "It is now possible to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees in virtually any field from a long list of top-name universities."

Each year, more schools hop on the information superhighway. For example, the Florida Institute of Technology recently expanded its successful online program to 15 undergraduate and graduate degrees available 100 percent online. Courses include online chat rooms, professor-led streaming video, message boards, e-mail and MP3 downloadable lectures.

Cathy Nanovic, who earned her certification in project management from Villanova through the university's online program, can vouch for the value of a big name school on your diploma or certificate. "The Villanova certificate program I listed on my resume generated so much attention that I had to make a spreadsheet to keep track of all the offers," she says. "I accepted a role on an exciting and highly visible project with Penske Corp. I even had other companies offer more money if I would change my mind."

3. Once you've narrowed your search to one or two schools, examine the specific program you're interested in. Consider:

* Does the program offer the flexibility you need? James Wong, who earned a Master's degree entirely online, travels extensively for his job. "I needed a course of instruction that was flexible enough to accommodate my absences from the U.S.," he says. "Florida Tech's online course was ideal since I could do the work while away or on the airplane, and they even flew my books to me when I was abroad for extended times."

* Will you receive the support you need to achieve success? Make sure your chosen program offers knowledgeable and dedicated enrollment representatives who will assist you with everything from financial aid to class scheduling. "My enrollment rep handled a number of issues for me as I was going through my program," says Donna Bryan, a high school English teacher who is two courses away from completing an online Master's degree with The University of Scranton. "As a result, I've had a great experience taking classes online."

* Is the online program and the degree you will earn from it the same as what you would experience and earn if you physically attended classes at the institution? Will the word "online" appear anywhere on your diploma? To provide the maximum career benefit, your online degree should be no different than ones awarded to attending students.

To learn more about online degrees from leading accredited universities, visit www.UniversityAlliance.com. Online learners can earn associate, bachelors or graduate degrees from institutions such as Florida Tech, The University of Scranton and Jacksonville University and certification programs from Villanova University, University of Notre Dame, Tulane University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Courtesy of ARAcontent