Four Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Online School
Today, an increasing number of college students are making the decision to study for their degree program online. Online study has boomed in popularity since it was first introduced, with more colleges and schools than ever offering the option to take online, rather than physical classes for a range of program types. Whether you’re hoping to study business, nursing, education, legal studies or something else entirely, there’s bound to be an online program just right for you. Studying online isn’t just cheaper when it comes to tuition fees, but it’s also the best way to achieve more autonomy and flexibility when it comes to organizing your studies. Here are some of the key things to look out for when choosing an online school.
#1. Good Level of Support:
The first thing that you should be looking for in an online school is a great level of support. As an online student, your main point of contact with the faculty will be online. Therefore, it’s essential to pick a school that has dedicated staff assigned to online students, and several ways to get in touch every day, such as email, web-chat, and video calling. While online learning is very self-led, you should always have access to professional staff who can offer advice, support, and guidance to you as you learn.
#2. Tuition Fees:
If you’re hoping to save money by studying online, then don’t assume that all online programs will be cheaper than those taken on-campus. While it’s true that the majority of online programs are priced significantly lower than their traditional counterparts, it’s important to double check the price beforehand since this doesn’t always apply. For example, if you’re studying an online or distance-learning program with a renowned private university, you may be expected to pay the same tuition cost as one of their campus-based programs.
#3. A Chance to Try:
Some online learning schools, such as Purdue University Global, offer prospective students the chance to try out a program beforehand for free, helping them to get a better idea of whether or not it’s the best choice for them. Studying online isn’t the best choice for everybody, so if possible, opt for a school or program like Kaplan that allows you to take a peek at the learning materials, speak to online teaching staff, and get to know the online portal before committing.
#4. Information and Learning Materials Provided:
Lastly, it’s always good to know how much course-related information and learning materials is going to be provided to you as part of your program. In general, the majority of online degree programs are all-inclusive when it comes to learning materials, although you may be required to pay if you want hard copies of textbooks. Before enrolling, ask about the amount of information that you’ll be provided with as part of your program, and be sure to clarify whether it includes e-book versions of key textbooks.
Studying online can be a cheaper and more flexible alternative to attending a traditional college. If you found this information helpful, we’d love to hear from you in the comments.