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Going to College Online…

What’s it all about?

The demand for online learning has been growing at a frantic pace since the turn of the century. In the United States alone, there are approximately 3 million students studying online.

Most of the nation’s traditional colleges and universities have added online courses to their offerings and many provide full certificate and degree programs online. In addition, several more recently established for-profit institutions offer a wide range of opportunities to study via the Web. Institutions in other countries, too, are making higher education accessible in this new digital format to students around the world.

As with any new approach to an age-old tradition, questions arise among those interested in trying it.  Below are some of the most commonly asked questions from prospective students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the online students?

The diversity of the students who study online is greater than what one would experience on most campuses. Although WCET members report that a high percentage of students living in their dorms enroll in their online courses, other students may live across the country or half way around the world. Students studying online may be in the traditional 18-24 year age bracket, but many are older. Most are working, living at home, and going to school part time. Many cannot go to campus or prefer the convenience of studying from home or work.

Is online learning right for me?

That depends. Students who are most successful are self-motivated, have clear goals, have set aside appropriate time, and are Web-savvy. Many institutions have a self-assessment tool on their site such as this one (http://www.learn2.maine.edu/survey/survey-learning.asp) to help you gauge your likeliness of success studying online.

What kinds of educational offerings are available online?

The offerings vary by institution. Some colleges and universities offer only a few courses, while others offer full programs. Students can earn a certificate, an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a PhD, JD, or other professional credentials.

From anthropology to zoology, students can find programs and courses in most disciplines. Some programs may include one or more on-campus component for those learning modules best addressed in a face-to-face environment. In others, a student may never set foot on the campus until he or she attends his or her graduation—if they even go there then.

Are there different kinds of online courses and programs?

Absolutely! Some are completely online, while others we call hybrids require students to come to campus or to another location for some activities such as lab work or tests or specific modules or perhaps week long residencies or more. Some have set start and ending times or dates while others are flexible. Some require students to participate in real time activities (such as chat), discussion boards or group activities. Some have deadlines for assignments and assessments, while others are self-paced. Some courses are highly interactive and in some students work more independently.

Is online the only “study at a distance” option?

No. Some colleges and universities offer a variety of delivery methods including interactive TV, video tape, audio tape, and correspondence. In general, however, many institutions are concentrating on developing courses in the online format in response to student demand and because the online format fosters interaction between students and the instructor and among students.

Do online courses count the same as on-campus courses?

In most cases, yes, especially if the institution is offering the same credit course both online and face-to-face. But what if you take an online course at an institution other than the one where you are seeking a degree? Usually, there is no distinction on transcripts between online courses and on campus courses. If you have any doubt, however, be wise and check in advance with the registrar, adviser, advising center or other appropriate party at your degree-granting institution.

Another word to the wise: Even though you may be able to transfer a course for credit to your degree-granting institution, it may not articulate (or count) toward your degree program. So you want to ask a two-part question to the appropriate party: will it count and how will it be counted (general education, major, or elective). Again, check in advance when you wish to transfer a course.

Are online courses easier?

Online courses are as much work as face-to-face courses. In addition, online courses require that you be well-organized, self-motivated, and have good time management skills. A rule of thumb: If you are taking a three-credit course, you should set aside at least six hours per week to participate in class activities and complete assignments.

Keep in mind, too, that online courses usually require a substantial amount of writing such as in online discussions. It helps if you are comfortable communicating in writing.

Is it cheaper to study online?

Tuition is often the same, although some institutions add on a technology or other fees. You may save time and money, however, by eliminating your commute to campus, parking fees, and childcare or other costs. Some campuses may add a distance education or technology fee but then waive fees for services that online students will not need, such as parking, health center and recreation facilities. In-state and out-of-state tuition rules may still apply to online students so there may be a benefit to studying at a school in the state in which you live. Some institutions, however, offer online courses to out-of-state students at the in-state tuition rate.

Can I afford to get a degree online?

The rules and requirements for financial aid apply to online students just as they do for on campus students. Most colleges and universities have a financial aid office with lots of information about loans and scholarships online. Some general information is available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before014.htm.

How can I find the online program or course I need?

Check out the links to WCET member institutions at http://wcet.info/membership/current.asp or you can try the Southern Regional Education Board’s Electronic Campus at http://www.electroniccampus.org/.

How do I select a U.S. college or university?

There are so many more schools to select from when you choose to study online because you are not limited geographically. If you are just taking a course for enrichment and don’t need to acquire credit, look for the best fit for your needs in terms of content, cost, and convenience. If you want to earn a certificate or degree—or take a credit-based course to satisfy a requirement—you should make sure that the college or university is accredited.

What is accreditation all about?

Accreditation is a process used by higher education to evaluate colleges, universities, and educational programs for quality and to assess their efforts toward continuous quality improvement. Accreditation is conducted by private, not-for-profit organizations designed specifically to conduct external quality reviews. In the United States, there are regional accrediting organizations operating in six different regions of the country. These organizations review degree-granting nonprofit and for-profit institutions within their regions.

Regional accreditation ensures that an institution’s academic program meets the same high standards for educational quality and rigor required of premier colleges and universities nationwide. Oftentimes, employers want to verify the accreditation of a college or university before they will pay for tuition or fees as part of a company-sponsored benefits program.

Another kind of legitimate accreditation approved by the U.S. Department of Education is called National Accreditation. Credits earned at nationally accredited schools are less likely to transfer easily and are often unacceptable for public or licensed employment, but may be suitable for some students’ needs.

Attending an accredited school is an important consideration if you think you might want to transfer credits to another undergraduate programs and when trying to gain admission to graduate programs. Colleges and universities typically accept credits from accredited schools.

In addition to regional accreditation, some professions or employers may require that a course or program have specialized accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For example, the American Bar Association provides specialized accreditation to law schools located in the U.S.

Ten states prohibit or restrict the use of unaccredited degrees, and more are likely to adopt such restrictions in the future. Anyone obtaining an unaccredited degree runs the risk of violating these laws. States with such restrictions as of July, 2006 are Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Carolina are known to be considering such legislation in 2006-07.

For more information about accreditation, go to http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

How can I verify that the U.S. institution or program I select has appropriate accreditation?

You can check to see if it is listed in the Council of Higher Education Accreditors’ (CHEA) database at http://www.chea.org/search/.

How can I be sure the accreditation agency is legitimate and not an accreditation mill?

The Council of Higher Education Accreditors (CHEA) provides a list of questions to help you investigate the agency. See http://www.chea.org/degreemills/default.htm.

What if I select a college or university outside the U.S?

Again, if you are simply taking a non credit course for pleasure or enrichment, you might just look for the best fit for your needs. If you need to take a course for credit that will transfer to an institution in the U.S. or want to earn a degree that will be recognized in the states, you should check the list of institutions recognized by Council of Higher Education Accreditors (CHEA). http://www.chea.org/search/

Beginning in fall 2006, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) will have its EDGE (Electronic Database for Global Education) available that provides information about genuine foreign colleges. Although there is a fee to use this database, your local college or university registrar may be able to check on a foreign school for you. For details, contact AACRAO at http://edge.austindataworks.com/.

Never pay money to an online degree provider in a foreign country until you have thoroughly investigated the school and the nation’s educational system, otherwise you may find the degree invalid in the U.S.

If two accredited schools offer the same program or course, how do I choose?

Look carefully through the campus website. Can you access all the student services that you may need to be successful such as academic advising, library and bookstore services, technical and tutoring services online or do you have to go to campus? Are these services available at a time that will work with your schedule? What are the technical requirements for online courses and does your system meet them? For example, do courses use a lot of streaming media that requires broadband access?

Is the content on the campus site up to date, consistent and informative? Is it easy to find what you are looking for and to find out who and how to contact them when it isn’t? Are communication standards posted so you know when to expect a reply?

In selecting a program, are all courses taught online or do some have an on-campus component? How long has the online program been in existence? Can you transfer credits into the program you have earned elsewhere? Where are former students employed? Make a list of questions and send them to the contact for each program you are interested in and then compare the responses.

In selecting a class, what are the instructor’s credentials? What is her field of study and experience teaching at this and other institutions? Is she experienced in teaching online courses which requires doing things differently than in the face to face classroom?

What do former students say about their experiences in a particular program or a certain class—information you may find provided by the campus on the site or you may want to look at one of the many comparison websites (http://www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/rankings.htm) to learn more about the institution or the instructor.

Can I take online courses from multiple institutions simultaneously?

Many students do, but it is important to be realistic about the workload for each and how the deadlines mesh together. Moreover, make sure you get approval in advance for each course you want to transfer for credit from the registrar, adviser, advising center, or other appropriate party at your primary institution.

Sometimes students think they can just take courses at multiple campuses and then apply them to a degree at an institution later. This can be problematic. For example, an institution or a program may have a limit on the number of transfer credits they accept toward a degree. So a word to the wise: seek admission into a program as early as possible.

Another issue is that students may only accept most types of financial aid from one institution at a time. Campuses may or may not have agreements to allow students to use aid from one campus at another one. Again, check with the financial aid officer at your primary campus.

Where can I get help deciding about a career before I take online courses?

Most colleges and universities have a career services center where you can talk with a counselor and also take a series of assessments to help you determine your interests and strengths.

You may find some useful information at the U.S. Department of Labor’s site for job seekers at http://www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-unemployed.htm as well as some assessments at this Canadian site: The 10 Step Career Plan. http://10steps.careerpathsonline.com/guide/

Another site that you might find useful is from Richard Bolles – “What Color is your Parachute?” http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/library/counseling/counseling.php

Most states have employment sites, too, with many kinds of resources to help you learn about future employment trends, average salaries, and job openings.

How will my employer view an online degree?

Getting a degree online is a relatively new way to learn and acceptance is growing quickly among employers. In general, online degrees from regionally accredited colleges are widely accepted, while those from other colleges may have less acceptance, especially for public employment or work in licensed professions. To be on the safe side, check with your employer or prospective employer in advance. In addition, check with your institution to see if the word “online” will be included on your diploma.

How can I learn more about distance learning?

Check out The Distance Learner’s Guide, authored by WCET, from your local library or order it through Amazon.com or another online bookstore.

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