Online Universities

[FSwenson]

Hey guys, long time lurker here. I’m 25, married with two kids, and work a full-time job in IT at a data center in Silicon Valley. When I was 20 I made the mistake of quitting college and working in the field without any qualifications. Without a degree it was hard finding a decent paying job with benefits. Together, my wife and I can barely make rent and car payments each month. Some weeks we have to survive by eating only ramen and cereal. On top of those hardships our youngest daughter Jennifer was recently diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called PEHO syndrome. It turned our world upside down and made me realize that I need to go back to school and get a degree so that I could better provide for my family.

Since I’m working full time, and taking care of a sick daughter in my off time I’ll probably have to take online courses. A friend suggested that I check out AIU Online (aiuonline-degrees.com), which offers online classes for working adults. I requested information from their website and am waiting on a reply.

Today at lunch my boss told me that since I’ve been working in the IT field over the last 5 years I might qualify for a bachelor’s degree from Eisenhower University (eisenhoweruniversity.com), through their prior experience degree program. A plus is that this program is a great deal cheaper than traditional programs since there are no classes to take or books to buy.

Does anyone have any experience with online colleges? Who has the best education programs and where can I get the most bang for my buck?

 

[OldShepherd]

Carefully check their accreditation. If they are not accredited by some recognized accrediting body, avoid them like the plague. If they claim to be accredited, check the background of the listed accrediting agency. An advisor at any local college should be able to help you check into this.

No classes, no books, no courses, etc. sounds like a diploma mill. A "diploma" from a diploma mill is worse than no diploma at all, because it indicates some degree of dishonesty.

 

[septemberskies]

I don't have any experience with attending online colleges but from what i do know they should be regionally accredited. Places like www.regent.edu, http://university.phoenix.edu/, and http://ellis.nyit.edu/, are accredited so you could transfer to a public or private state university and be accepted to further your degree if you choose so. The only thing is, online universities can be extremely costly and could place you more in debt then what you need right now.

 

[PrincessFromOz]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say I study online with Harvest Bible College in Australia, and I'm loving it Very high quality education and I earn an accredited Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Ministry). Anyone else studying ministry online?

Rachel

 

[fishstix]

One that I know of in Canada is Athabasca University. If you've taken some applicable classes they might give you transfer credit, considering that you are currently employed in the industry.

 

[Adela]

Carefully check their accreditation. If they are not accredited by some recognized accrediting body, avoid them like the plague. If they claim to be accredited, check the background of the listed accrediting agency. An advisor at any local college should be able to help you check into this.

No classes, no books, no courses, etc. sounds like a diploma mill. A "diploma" from a diploma mill is worse than no diploma at all, because it indicates some degree of dishonesty.

That's right. You have to be very careful with where you decide to go because of transferability of credits.

I'm no expert, but I do have some things to add. Maybe you should go to a "regular" college. One that you have to go to classes on campus. I say this because you may qualify for a lot of financial aid, like the Pell grant and stafford loans. Before I got married I didn't qualify for anything because my parents made too much money, but once I got married we got a lot of financial aid.

From what I've heard from other people having children helps, especially if you are low income. Even if you had to borrow loans you could easily pay them back with a good job in the IT field.

Could you possibly take night classes? Just apply at a college near you and apply for financial aid to see what you might qualify for. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Does your wife work?

 

[BattleAxe]

My 2-cents worth...

I go to a university and plan to transfer. I was suprised and am still taking advantage of their online courses. You can try inquiring at a regular ole university. Many of them offer their classes online (distant learning) and many have course work for those who work a full time job. Currently, I am taking 3 classes on M,W, F and I have 2 online classes. I want to work in the summer so I already registered to take 3 classes in the summer online. Its a major help for me. I would do alot of research if I were you.

 

[larryjf]

Here is a good discussion board that deals alot with online degrees...
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/

AIU is regionally accredited (Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools)

Eisenhower University i would stay away from.

There are other online universities that offer porfolio evaluation credits and transfer credits...

Excelsior College...
https://www.excelsior.edu

Charter Oak State College...
http://www.cosc.edu/

When researching a potential school check out who they are accredited by. Then visit CHEA and see if it is a legit accrediting agency...
http://www.chea.org/

 

[Shannonkish]

I currently attend NorthCentral University (ncu.edu) for a graduate degree. They are regionally accredited.

I enjoy it becuase I work at my own pace.

Other schools I have looked into--

Capella University- capella.edu
University of Phoenix.

 

[kittystrawberry]

I would choose to go to a traditional college, rather than an online college. Some traditional college offer online classes. I don't think the traditional college would pust on your transcript if it is an online class.

 

[Shannonkish]

Can I ask why?

My university does not state on the diploma that it is an "online" univeristy. At the same time, even if it did, according to the HR dept of both my company and the company my dad works for, as long as the school is accredited the diploma is accepted the same.

For some reason, people think that online universities are somehow easier than traditional universities. I would beg to differ. As someone who has been in both (for undergrad-- traditional; grad- traditional and online), I would actually argue that it is more difficult to get your education online. The reason being because you have to be more self-disciplined and self-motivated as opposed to a traditional school in which you have a set time that classes are held.

 

[spinningwheelgirl]

One that I know of in Canada is Athabasca University. If you've taken some applicable classes they might give you transfer credit, considering that you are currently employed in the industry.

At Athabasca you can do a challenge for credit if you have previous knowledge of the course content to recieve a credit. It might be something to look into. I know they take international students.

I have one more suggestions, many traditional universities offer corraspondence courses. I believe that taking a course from traditional university, such as the University of Toronto, would be better than some unknown online place. As well you could look into going to night school at your local university.

 

[Shannonkish]

I believe that taking a course from traditional university, such as the University of Toronto, would be better than some unknown online place. As well you could look into going to night school at your local university.

Why? Why is a "traditional" school better than an online school? According to whose standards? What evidence do you have for this?

Online universities, if accredited, have to go through the exact same process of accreditation that "traditional" schools do. So, how does the fact that you actually have to physically be at a school make a difference?

Knowledge is knowledge, regardless of how it is obtained.

 

[bliz]

Why? Why is a "traditional" school better than an online school? According to whose standards? What evidence do you have for this?

Online universities, if accredited, have to go through the exact same process of accreditation that "traditional" schools do. So, how does the fact that you actually have to physically be at a school make a difference?

Knowledge is knowledge, regardless of how it is obtained.

Weelllll.... yes.....and no.

Obviously many people feel that a "traditional" degree is more valuable, and I'd be willling to bet that many people who are in a position to hire others also share that opinion. That by no means makes it right or accurate, but their opinion does matter.

Your diploma may not state that your degree was earned online, but when it is a school that only offeres online courses, that fact will be known by people who evaluate resumes.

For these reasons, I tend to encourage people to look into online courses offered by accredited institutions that primarily offer classroom courses. I think the degrees will be perceived to be of better quality.

Yes, it's all about perception.

 

[Shannonkish]

As I mentioned before, both the HR from the company I work for, and the HR from the company my dad works for--- both billion dollar companies, have stated that as long as the school is accredited, it makes no difference if you attended class on a daily basis in a building or on the internet.

Again, my university, NCU, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission-- the same organization the accredits University of Kansas, KSU, and many other "traditional" universities. Union University, my undergrad "traditional" institution is accredited by the Southern Commission of Accreditation.

If you look at the accrediting standards for these organizations, they are not any different for Online Universities.

 

[spinningwheelgirl]

The reason why I said it is better to go with a so called 'traditional' university is because you know they are accredited. If you look at the OP the schools that he were talking about seemed questionable. You have to be very careful if you are going to do anything that is only avalible online.
As well, although, it really should not play into the hiering processes an employer maybe more likely to choose the candiate that has gone to a reputable school they know about, than some school they have not. It is like if one person went to Harvard and another person went to some small not as known insititution. If the online school is accredited and is well recieved in the area you are studying then go ahead and take the program.

 

[Shannonkish]

http://searchwarp.com/swa27115.htm
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/distance/online-trad.htm
http://weblogs.ucalgary.ca/sami_khan/online_vs_traditional_education
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/distance/pros-cons.htm
http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=217
http://www.silktide.com/articles/our-articles/web-based-learning-vs-traditional-classroom-education
http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter44/tucker44.html

Here are some articles both for and against distance learning programs.

 

[Shannonkish]

The reason why I said it is better to go with a so called 'traditional' university is because you know they are accredited. If you look at the OP the schools that he were talking about seemed questionable. You have to be very careful if you are going to do anything that is only avalible online.

I can understand that reasoning, however, just because a school requires the student to attend classes in their buildings, does not mean they are accredited. As with any university, online or traditional, one must check the accreditation status of the university in order to be sure.

Checking this status is simple and requires only seconds.

AIU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association.

Eisenhower University is accredited by the USDLA, which I have never heard of.