Is The Online College Program Legit? Online college will be the future of education; this is inevitable. It’s been a slow and steady climb, but distance learning is making strides toward becoming the new higher education norm. But despite its progress over the years, not all online programs are as good as they advertise themselves. If you plan to become a distance learner, here are some ways to tell if an online program is good or not.
Accreditation
If you’ve been reading about online colleges, you might’ve seen this word often. Accreditation is the most significant factor determining whether an online program is legitimate. This will also be considered once you have earned your online degree and are applying for a job. Diploma mills and shady online schools are still out there, so having the government’s thumbs is vital for these educational institutions.
Support services
If you are a distance learner, it doesn’t mean you need less support from your school. Ensure that the online college you want to study at provides sufficient support to distance learners, primarily if the online school you wish to look at is based in another country. Accessibility is essential since distance learners may only be available at night or early in the morning.
Financial aid pressure
If an online college program pushes you to get financial aid, you should be wary of them. This decision should be up to you, and if you ever choose to take out a loan, they should answer all your questions about it. However, watch out for red flags like unanswered questions or details not in black and white.
Graduation rate
Sadly, the online college has a higher dropout rate than a traditional college. As a prospective distance learner, you should find out the graduation rate for the online school you are interested in. This will help you assess whether or not the online program is a good fit for you, or perhaps you should enroll elsewhere.
Check out another article by Clubonline College: First-Time Online College Students Tips.
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