online college

[renae3]

Hi everyone. My husband has finally decided to go back to school for his bachelors degree, he is 38! Anyway, he is looking into schools that are accredited and online, since he works full time. Does anyone have any recommendations on schools that are reasonably priced? Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[DisneyBrat]

I am a student with Ashford University online They are great and easy to get a degree with. I have taken 5 classes so far and really do like them. If your husband has any credit hours from other colleges they are very liberal at transferring them. Good luck with your decision!!!

 

[Juliet25]

Last week, NBC news did a segment on Western Governors University. I haven't had a chance to research it yet, but I'm meaning to. It's a non-profit institution, and I think the tuition is something like $6000.

I never heard of it before, so I'm just throwing it out there.

 

[lindsmom]

Don't know where you are, but I finished my degree at UMass Amherst online. They have some programs entirely online (I had a "classmate" from India!), and some programs that are hybrid.

 

[Green Tea]

Last week, NBC news did a segment on Western Governors University. I haven't had a chance to research it yet, but I'm meaning to. It's a non-profit institution, and I think the tuition is something like $6000.

I never heard of it before, so I'm just throwing it out there.

Ditto. It is a not for profit, fully accredited, college. It was founded by the governor's of a number of western states to create an opportunity for more teachers and other professionals to be educated. With the accreditation, financial aid can be awarded.

 

[AshleyW]

My fiance goes to Upper Iowa University, and he does their online program. He'll graduate in October with his bachelor's in Finance and he has LOVED it. It is $325 per semester hour for online courses, or $276 per semester hour for independent study classes online. The classes are 8 weeks long. Here's a list of online programs they have:

* Accounting
* Business Administration
* Criminal Justice
* Emergency and Disaster Management
* Finance
* Health Service Administration
* Human Resources Management
* Human Services
* Interdisciplinary Studies
* Management
* Marketing
* Psychology
* Public Administration
* Public Administration - Fire Science Emphasis
* Public Administration - Law Enforcement Emphasis
* Social Science
* Technology and Information Management

 

[mrsklamc]

Be sure to look for regional, rather than national, accreditation.

 

[Soben]

I would check with your local Jr/Community college. Ours has lots of online classes. They're all guaranteed to transfer to any Illinois university. Most of them have online programs too. Then you would save tons of money on tuition. And he would end up with a degree from a "real" school that also has a B&M presence. No one would know that he took the initial classes at Jr college or went online. My 2 cents.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Besides the online classes there are a few colleges locally that do a "one course a couple of nights a week for a few hours" kind of thing. Each course runs for 6 weeks. You get through pretty quickly that way, too.

 

[dmpteacher]

Be sure to look for regional, rather than national, accreditation.

I totally agree with her. As someone who used to work for a "FOR PROFIT" online college, you definitely need a college that has REGIONAL ACCREDITATION as opposed to NATIONAL. The ones with just national can't be transferred as easily and sometimes not at all. I was a Transfer Credit Coordinator and ran into that all the time.

I also saw the piece on Western Governor's University on NBC News and looked into myself. They are regionally accredited and their classes are a bit different. I even looked into them myself to get my license to teach ESL classes in elementary school.

I definitely would check them out!!
Just Google Western Governors University.

 

[disneymomof1]

I completed my BA in Sociology from Thomas Edison State College, based out of New Jersey. It was a terrific experience, very affordable, I got no assistance from my employer and I really found the price very reasonable. Check out TESC.edu and good luck to your hubby.

 

[u2katie]

I got my Master's through Western Governors and would highly recommend it! The tuition is VERY reasonable - mine was approximately $2800 every six months. The great thing about WGU is that you can take as many classes during that six months as you can finish. So, your $2800 could net you three classes or six, depending on how fast you work. Let me know if you need more info...

 

[Sunshineanddaisys]

I'm seriously looking at enrolling in WGU. I saw the piece on the news last week and did some research. I've already sent in my transcripts and am waiting for them to evaluate them before I make a final decision, but looks good so far.

 

[ajh88]

I agree with the PPs and just wanted to say congrats to you and your DH and good luck!

Most universities and community colleges offer at least some courses online - he may not be able to do an entire degree that way, but I had to take a couple of classes from a community college online and it was super affordable. I did have to go to campus for exams, but that depends on the professors. From an "affordable" standpoint, this would be the first option to explore (although if he wants a bachelor's, he'll have to end up at a 4 year school eventually).

My sister is doing her master's through Seton Hall (in NJ) - I don't know what all programs they offer online, but it might be worth checking into - she does have to go there once a year for a few days.

Also (which I think a PP mentioned), several universities have degree programs that cater to the working adult - class one night a week and at an accelerated pace. Of course, these he'd have to *go* to class and maybe he wants to avoid that, but it could be an option (I have several friends who did Master's degrees in various disciplines this way).

Again, good luck to you and DH!

 

[Brer Rabbit]

My wife is finishing her degree at Liberty University, not an easy cirriculum at all, but well worth it, Professors are accessable, on line instructor sessions and about 250.00 per hour. She finishes this fall, should have graduation with honors and we hope to go next spring to participate. She will start grad school as soon as she finishes undergrad

 

[mrsboz]

subscribing. thank you.

 

[Leajess99]

I am completing my Bachelors through the University of Louisville while taking all online courses. I looked around and was not happy with the options or some of the costs and decided to stay local but through their online program.

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

When I first decided to go back to school (already have 1 bachelor's degree) I needed to go online because of having a small child and being a single parent. I found that most local colleges/universities and community colleges have online programs now. Just depends on what you want to study. I took everything online that I could, but starting this semester I HAVE to go to campus, but that's not for long so I'm ok with that. Some colleges also have evening and weekend programs (even nursing programs which surprises me because back when I was in that program it was M-F during the day no exceptions).

 

[annsteere]

I teach online.

Think carefully about the advice to seek regional not national accreditation.

If I were spending tuition, I'd want a school with BOTH regional and national accreditation.

Online "schools" are popping up like dandelions. Choosing to work online with an existing "real" college that is fully accredited will ensure that your work is accepted everywhere.

Online work from my community college, with VERY cheap tuition for locals and very reasonable tuition for those outside the geographical area, is accepted everywhere. This summer my students are transferring work to Stanford and to a school in China.

 

[Irin997]

I just graduated from the University of Baltimore which is part of the University of Maryland system of schools. I completed almost all of my schooling online. I did have to take three on-campus classes, however that was for my specialty. I could have chosen to complete the entire degree online by selecting a different specialty.

I would definitely into state schools and talk to advisers there. From what I've seen, most state schools have very strong online programs.

ETA: I first got my AA degree from a local community college where I completed all online classes....for a fraction of the cost. If your hubby needs those early credits, urge him to go to community college first and get those classes out of the way there. Plus, in MD there are full transfer agreements from a community college to a state school so you don't have to worry about transfer credit issues.