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[A501]American Intercontinental Online University

by Daniel Kane, Dan

While that's a good thing, it can be difficult for students to narrow down the choices to those best meeting their needs.

But, it doesn't have to be so tough if you spend a little time thinking and putting together a list of questions. The first question should be to yourself. What are you looking for in an online degree program? As you develop answers to that question you will be well on your way to choosing an online degree program.

The questions below are universal...they are a good starting point. Depending on your needs and preferences, just add to them.

First, students should eliminate from consideration any institutions which are not fully accredited by an agency which has been approved by the United States Department of Education.

Next is the question of majors? Which colleges offer the major in which you are interested? How strong are their programs? Do they offer concentrations or specialties of interest to you? What are the backgrounds of faculty? All are questions worth asking.

You should consider financial variables, of course, but do so carefully. Don't just ask about tuition. It's only part of the puzzle. Find out about the availability of scholarships, grants, loans, and installment payment plans.

If you have done prior college coursework, or if you have experience for which you might be granted college credit, ask about colleges' credit transfer policies. Specifically, be sure you understand what you must do to determine which transfer credits you might receive and the number of such credits which might be applied to your degree. In addition, ask if you can be informed, in writing, which credits will be accepted before you enroll.

Don't forget to thoroughly investigate student services, which can vary widely from college to college in both availability and quality. Ask in depth questions about whatever kinds of support are most important to you; financial aid counseling, academic advising, contact with faculty and fellow students, tutoring, job placement, etc.

Take some time to think about and clarify your educational and professional objectives. You'll then be able to know which questions to add to those we've already discussed. As you obtain answers to those questions, you will be able to rule out some of your potential choices fairly quickly and identify others worthy of continued consideration.

For most students, getting their questions answered turns out to be pretty easy. The harder job is being certain they are asking the right questions. Luckily, that should not now be a problem for you.

First, Find The Right Online Degree
Before you begin to settle on a decision about which online university will provide the most bang for your buck, you should first do some shopping online to determine which degree is the one you most want to pursue. There is a wide range of online education opportunities for you to take into consideration. To distinguish themselves from each other, online universities offer many different types of degrees. Even within one field, you will find many different online degree experiences. A Bachelor's of business at online university A will differ from the one you can pursue at online university B, etc. You will probably find that each online university you shop around in offers several versions, however nuanced, of the same degree. This is all good news for prospective students like yourself; it's good to have options. However, in a bang-per-buck discussion, first you should decide what you want out of your online degree. Then, when you know what online degree it is that you're after, do some comparison shopping among the online universities that offer the degree of your dreams.

While You Do Your Comparison Shopping
Again, while this is a bang-per-buck discussion, don't just make your decision based on what your online degree will cost. You should also think about what your online degree will offer you. You've already done quite a bit of this type of thinking by putting the time in to determine what type of online degree program you're truly interested in. Don't shortchange yourself at this point by just going with the online university that gives you the lowest quote on price. In addition to your consideration of the cost of your online university, you should factor in the intangibles each of the online universities you're comparing will offer you. What are the success stories of graduates of the various online universities you're comparing? Are there graduates you can call or email to quiz them about their experiences in the online degree program you're considering? Which of the online universities has the strongest alumni network? Which of the online universities you're researching have the best records of placing their students into high-profile careers after they graduate? Again, to get the best bang for your buck, take into every aspect of what the various online universities you're considering offer, not just price.

Avoid Online Degree Mills
Finally, a word must be said about so-called online degree mills. Avoid these at all costs. Make sure the online university you sign on with is fully accredited, meaning that the degree you earn from it will be acknowledged and respected.

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About Author

Both Daniel Kane & Elizabeth Saas are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Daniel Kane has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education, Online College and College Education. Daniel Kane has been assisting students for more than 25 years through his positions in higher education and more than a dozen educational websites on