I’m 20 years old and interested in taking my college courses online. I have a very busy work schedule and taking classes online seems to be my best option. Can someone help me by telling me which one is the best and most affordable?
Online College
College Classes, Find A College
College Scholarships, College Financial Aid
-Our sponsor links have been Verified-College information, tips, secrets, services and products.
What is the best and cheapest online college?
3 Comments
-Our sponsor links have been Verified-
#1 by Kristin on August 31st, 2010
Quote
Most on-line colleges are just in business to take your money. I would try a community college and then a state college that offers most of their courses on-line. They will be less expensive than an on-line colleges. They might also offer weekend and evening courses. Good luck with school I hope this helps!
#2 by college-blogger on August 31st, 2010
Quote
You should definitely consider attending an online college. Although some might say an online degree will be easier to earn, or will not be respected by employers, that is simply not the case.
Your degree will be identical to the degree conferred upon traditional brick-and-mortar students… and as an online student myself, I can assure you, the programs are every bit as rigorous!
Dozens of well-known, respected universities ranked in the Top 100 by U.S. News offer online programs (Penn State, Syracuse, Boston U, University of Illinois, and so on). Even Ivy League universities are catching on… Harvard University offers online classes through their Extension School.
Personally, I would advise against attending any college that is synonymous with online learning. Attend a well-established university that also has a campus program. State schools often have the best tuition rates and people don’t immediately think of online learning when you say you earned your degree at the University of Illinois or UMass.
The best feature of an online degree is flexibility. I have attended traditional classes and online classes, and I prefer the online format. As an online student, I am able to work full-time and carry a full-time course load. You can also afford to be picky about your program of study. There are literally hundreds of colleges offering online programs.
In terms of academics, as I mentioned previously, classes are every bit as challenging as traditional classes. In fact, I would say I work harder as an online student than I ever did when I was attending night classes. Also, if you shop around, online colleges can be more economical than traditional schools.
The best way to save money is to take your first two years online at a community college, typically the best tuition rates will be in your own state. Example: I attended Central Texas College for two years and my classes were just $50 per credit hour ($150 per class). That’s a steal. Once you have about 60 hours, transfer to another school that offers online classes. There are PLENTY of them that offer reasonable rates… you just have to shop around. Again, steer clear of schools that many consider to be for-profit (relatively new schools that offer mostly online classes). These types of schools are synoymous with online learning… and your resume will look much better with Penn State, University of Illinois, University of Massachusetts, and so on.
Also, in terms of cost, remember, just because you are taking online classes doesn’t mean you aren’t eligible for financial aid. If you are enrolled in a degree program and attending at least half-time, you are generally eligible for financial aid. It’s how I’ve financed my entire education!
#3 by Phil on August 31st, 2010
Quote
You can easily compare info about these schools in this site – edu.2kool4u.net