Let’s face it. With so many options available on the internet, choosing an online bachelors degree program can be a daunting task. Try a little test. Type “online bachelors degree” into Google and glance at the results. Many “featured” programs on various degree websites usually include names like University of Phoenix, Walden University, Kaplan University, and Capella University.
Based on the test mentioned above, it should come as no surprise that these for-profit universities also rank in the top twenty of the largest online student bodies in the United States. According to the latest data from U.S. News & World Report, University of Phoenix served over 187,000 online students during the 2006-2007 school year. Significant online enrollment figures were also reported by Walden University (22,138), Kaplan University (22,000), and Capella University (13,726) for the same time frame.
But other non-traditional students take a slightly different approach to earning their degrees via online college courses. Instead of completing a 4-year degree through a for-profit online school, degree completion programs offered by well-known state universities are attracting considerable attention. To meet graduation requirements, many non-traditional students with little time for on-campus classes use inexpensive local community colleges as stepping stones to state universities. The reason: more public two-year colleges now cater to working students than in previous decades.
Three factors appear to be driving students back to long-established public and private universities, some of which are represented by a few big names. For starters, several institutions have adopted special tuition rates for distance learners that are not only less expensive than those for on-campus classes, but also considerably cheaper than the big for-profit universities. Comparable fees for in-state and out-of-state residents at these big schools are becoming more commonplace.
Next, to meet rising demand, more traditional universities are responding by increasing the variety of online classes and degree programs. For example, the Cincinnati Post recently reported that enrollment in online-only programs at the University of Cincinnati is up 257 percent over the past 4 years. In another recent article, the Tuscaloosa News cited enrollment figures from the University of West Alabama for the 2007 Fall semester. A staggering 47 percent, or almost one-half the entire student population at the Livingston, Alabama university take only classes held onlne.
Finally, the thought of having a resume tossed by corporate human resources staffers because the degree was earned through an online-only university may simply be too much for some students. In 2006, career information provider Vault Inc. surveyed hiring managers about how they view applicants with degrees that were earned online. A whopping 77% responded that they believe an online degree granted by an accredited institution holds more credibility than one from an internet-only school. As one unnamed HR professional confides, an online degree obtained from a well-established, traditional university stands a much greater chance of escaping the “correspondence school” stigma.
A related factor, branding, appears to heavily influence school choices as well. Listing a highly-respected, name brand college degree on a resume usually proves advantageous when competing for positions, especially in tight job markets, according to some career coaches. Similarly, nearby lesser known universities are also thought to carry considerable name recognition among prospective employers.
In other words, when choosing an online degree program, choose wisely. The opportunities to earn college degrees from highly-respected schools are many. Spend a little time and do some research. Yes, the larger online-only colleges and universities appear more often in Google searches. But it is highly unlikely that their exposure level is close to what the major state universities receive on those memorable autumn afternoons during college football season.
Below, you’ll find five solid bachelor’s degree completion programs that are fully capable of sprucing up many resumes with eye-catching credentials. Each degree is attainable through numerous options that can include CLEP exams and liberal college-credit transfer policies. Tuition rates, except where noted, apply to both in-state and out-of-state residents. For more information, please visit the respective university’s Continuing Education or Extended Learning website to learn more.
Colorado State University – Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts – $223 per semester hour
Indiana University – Bachelor of General Studies – $145.06 (in-state)/$164.22 (out-of state) per semester hour
Texas Tech University – Bachelor of General Studies – $189 per semester hour (includes fees)
University of Iowa – Bachelor of Liberal Studies – $224 per semester hour
University of Missouri – Bachelor of General Studies – $247.60 per semester hour (includes fees)
Above information current as of September, 2007.
By: Paul Barnette
Posts Tagged ‘Kaplan University’
Big Name State Universities – 5 Relatively Cheap Online Bachelor’s Degrees
April 12th, 2010Find The Best Accredited Online University And Improve Your Career Prospects With An Online Degree
November 11th, 2009There are many universities online, and many of them have unique advantages. With an online university popping up all over the net, it becomes hard to decide which university online school offers the best package for each individual so they can find the top online university.
Online Universities have grown to be a place for many busy individuals who lack time and have family responsibilities to continue their education. Here are a few important tips that you can use when considering your university online.
Accreditation
Almost all education guides will ask you to make sure that the online university of your choice or the online degree program that you are going to enroll on must be accredited by any of the agencies that are accepted by the US Department of Education. In fact, it is the main factor to be considered when you select your university online course.
In simple terms, accreditation is an official evaluation procedure on school programs and policies by one of the agencies that are accepted by the US Department of Education to see if they meet certain criteria. When a school meets the criteria, it is granted accreditation. If your degree is from an accredited online university, your degree will be accepted by most employers, eliminating the risk of unrecognized or fake degrees.
Get university online degrees that Will Look Good In Your Resume.
With so many online universities and online colleges available, you may find it hard to decide which school to choose for your degree. Put yourself in the shoes of the employer for just a minute, a degree from well known state university online like the University of Phoenix and Kaplan University would look far more appealing than a university like the University of Joe Bloggs right?
A degree from a renowned & prestigious online university will make your resume be worth its weight in gold. An applicant from a renowned online university will definitely make an impression on the hiring manager, over a graduate from Joe Bloggs university. Its easy to do some analysis and get some feedback from any of online degree forums about the online to see which is the best known and best acceptable university before you make your decision.
Lab Works Near Your Location
Some university online courses require you to complete a stipulated amount of lab hours work before you can earn your degree. If your busy working schedule will not allow you to travel far, then, you need to consider an online university that has a local facility or agreement with a local institution for you to carry out your lab work.
Credit Transfer
There are many universities online that allow you to transfer your credits earned from your previous degree to save you some credit hours and credit cost. Always check out this information from the admission officer before you enroll into the degree program.
Selecting a university online for your online degree program can be a hard decision: so many options available and too many degree programs. As long as you follow the above guidelines and do your research, you will find university online degrees to suit your needs.
Choosing an accredited online university means you are getting the very best degree.
There have been so many online universities that have started to offer online degrees very recently and more are coming. So the question remains, which university online is trustworthy? The answer is easy: it is trustworthy if only if it’s an accredited online university that has a good quality, venerable reputation.
Accreditation is almost a benchmark given by the US Department of Education. It shows that a University has met academic standards essential to give its students a precise and inclusive education.
So what does that mean for you?
As most students go into an online university to progress their chances for future jobs, accreditation is vital. Many employers look at accreditation as a validation of your degree. A degree by itself is just a piece of paper, but accredited it gives the employer a sense of security, knowing that you have acquired from an online accredited university that has met all the top standards. The second reason it is important is that you are paying for a degree online and you want to make sure that you get all the credit you deserve for all that hard work you put in.
Online universities accredited by the government standard will give you degree programs that other universities who do not offer accredited online university degrees just cant compete with. Having a degree from a nationally accredited online university is like having the president going live on air and saying you can enter the whitehouse anytime you like! Because the university is accredited online you have far more clout and pulling power when you send your resume off to prospective employees.
Now you understand what exactly makes an online university trustworthy, for you to make the most of your investment in your education, you must choose an accredited online university degree program with a good quality reputation. Even though there are many universities out there that have accreditation, at least you have shortlisted your choices down to the most reliable.
By: Kalwant Rana
