How do I choose the best online college for me? 

As digital transformation continues to change education (among other fields), more colleges and universities are offering complete degree programs online. Many prospective students find it difficult to choose the best online college for them. After all, choosing an institution of higher learning to earn a degree may be one of the most important decisions you make for your career.

Follow along as we discuss factors to consider when choosing an online college, including how to apply to online programs, what you can do to be accepted to the online university of your choice, financial aid options and more.

One way to determine the quality of an online college is to check whether it is accredited. Accreditation is the process by which an institution of higher education is regularly monitored for rigor and quality. The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize certain accrediting bodies to monitor institutions’ accreditation status and ensure they continue to meet specific standards and criteria during the renewal process, which occurs every few years.

Given the intensity of this process, accreditation goes a long way toward maintaining a positive reputation for a university. Maintaining accreditation status also signals to employers that an institution’s graduates have the knowledge and skills their diplomas suggest.

Accreditation can also affect the transferability of credit hours. And it can be an important factor with it comes to financial aid. Students who attend an unaccredited school are often not eligible for many types of financial assistance.

 “When looking at any postsecondary institution, accreditation is a vital component for identifying whether or not an institution has gone through a rigorous, peer-reviewed quality assessment process,” Booker says. “[That is] a very important baseline factor that a school should meet.”

A crucial yet simple factor is the program offerings and specializations. What field of study do you plan to pursue? Not all colleges offer all degree programs and specializations, so do your research before choosing a school to apply to. It can save you both time and money. 

Accrediting bodies require faculty to meet specific qualifications, which may include academic credentials, licensures or certifications, professional experience, scholarly work, ongoing professional development, teaching skills and performance evaluations. Some key requirements may include, but are not limited to:

• Faculty are generally expected to hold a degree higher than the level they teach. For instance, undergraduate faculty typically hold at least a master’s degree, while graduate faculty are expected to have a terminal degree, such as a PhD or professional doctorate, to ensure subject matter expertise.
• In licensure-based programs, faculty must hold relevant, current certifications. For example, nursing faculty in CCNE-accredited programs must have an active RN license, and counseling faculty in CACREP-accredited programs must be licensed professional counselors to meet current standards in their fields.
• Faculty are also required to have relevant professional experience. For example, business faculty in ACBSP-accredited programs should have industry experience, and counseling faculty should have clinical practice experience. This blend of academic and professional expertise enhances the student learning experience.

This list of qualifications is by no means exhaustive. Each accrediting body has its own faculty qualification requirements. While there are commonalities across the accrediting bodies, the requirements are also nuanced in terms of content, how they are applied, where they may be flexible, and more.

When choosing an online college or university, prospective students will want to factor in flexibility and convenience. Consider your circumstances. Do you have children or other dependents to care for? What is your work schedule like?

Given the other things happening in their lives, some students may want to find an online program that offers asynchronous learning. As opposed to synchronous learning, asynchronous learning allows students to interact with the material on their own time. Examples might include watching prerecorded lectures or participating in online class discussion boards.

No matter your exact situation, you’ll want to think about how you’ll balance full-time work and school. 

Another consideration is your learning style and time-management skills. If you’re self-motivated and good at managing your time, online college may be perfect for you. If not, you might want to consider a more traditional route or a program with synchronous classes. Staying connected in real time can help with motivation and time management.

Like many colleges and universities, prospective students at online colleges need to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Check to see if the colleges you are considering require SAT or ACT scores. Other possible admission requirements to check include:

• Personal essays or statements
• Portfolios (especially for students seeking degrees in art, design or creative writing)
• Letters of recommendation
• Previous college transcripts
• Financial documents that prove you can pay tuition and other expenses

No matter where you wish to attend, be sure to submit your application and relevant documents before the deadlines. These will be on the institution’s website, so put those dates in your calendar so you don’t miss out. 

The admissions process for online colleges is fairly simple and similar to that of on-campus colleges. After gathering the necessary documents for your selected school or schools, fill out a general application for each you’re applying to. Double-check the deadlines and application fees as you go to make sure everything is in order.