It is true that online education has gained some popularity within recent years, but it is still relatively new concept and many people question which online colleges provide the best program. There are many different schools and many different types of online degrees. With so much choice, many prospective students wonder which online school they should apply to.

While a flexible schedule is the reason why most students who choose distance education look for online colleges, it is still important to look into different colleges before making a final decision. In addition, while some students choose online colleges because they simply learn better with a more flexible schedule and they don’t cope well in a more traditional institution, shopping around and seeing what others have said about the various online institutions is an important part of finding an online program that will meet your needs.

In a recent poll conducted by USA News, they ranked online education programs based on a number of criteria.

Based on Student Engagement and Assessment, the top 5 schools were as follows:
1. Bellevue University (Bellevue, NE)
2. Newberry College (Newberry, SC)
3. Troy University (Troy, AL)
4. University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, TX)
5. University of Phoenix (Phoenix, AZ)

Based on Faculty Credentials and Training, the top 5 schools were as follows:
1. Westfield State University (Westfield, MA)
2. United States Sports Academy (Daphne, AL)
3. St. Mary’s College of California (Moraga, CA)
4. Pace University (New York, NY)
5. Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX)

Based on Student Services and Technology, the top 5 schools were as follows:
1. Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
2. Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX)
3. Florida International University (Miami, FL)
4. University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND)
5. Troy University (Troy, AL)

It should be noted that while for-profit institutions such as the University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and American Public University are among the schools with the highest enrollments in online programs, non for-profit institutions provide high quality programming as well. This is illustrated by the rankings listed above. However, there are a number of important indicators that prospective students must inquire about prior to enrolling in an online institution. They are as follows:

1. Regional vs. National accreditation
Accreditation is the best way to find out what the type of institution, the prospective school, is. Put simply, regionally accredited institutions are institutions whose main focus is academia. Alternatively, nationally accredited institutions are vocationally centered and mainly focus on career training. There are seven regional accreditation associations in the U.S. and it has been traditionally understood that regionally accredited institutions are more widely recognized in the U.S. than nationally accredited institutions. What does this mean for students? Those who attempt to transfer their degrees from nationally accredited institutions to regionally accredited institutions, do not find a lot of success in doing so. On the other hand, some online colleges will offer national accreditation which means that if you want to transfer to your local university later on, you may not be able to. To ensure that your online college has the right accreditation, check out the school’s “About” page or contact their main office for more information.

2. Course Format
While many people believe that online courses are always in a “go at you on pace” format, many online colleges offer course work that comes in several formats. Video, conference, correspondence, web-based or even face-to-face format are some of the various types of programming prospective students can expect to see at different online colleges. If a course’s format presents a problem for you, you may need to do your research. For example, it may seem great to have 24 credits of web-based format coursework but finding out that your last 6 credits will have to be face-to-face format when you live over 1,000 miles away from the college location could be a problem. It is important that you research exactly which courses will be required of you, in your given program.

3. Online Tuition
More and more schools are starting to offer out-of-state online students incentives, such as tuition waivers and special rates. This can make it easier for students to afford to take part in an online program that is within their budget even if you are out of state. Check with the institution to see if there are any monetary incentives that they offer for their online students.

As great as online colleges are, they may require more research to ensure a smooth college experience. It is important to investigate online colleges before you enroll. Please browse through www.academies.com for a better understanding of the various online education programs available.

Inland or Coastal College?
Due to the overwhelming number of choices that students face, one approach is to consider what geographic region you would prefer, or at least which areas are acceptable to you. Are you from a tropical climate? Try the East or West Coast. If not you should consider whether you should go to New England, with world-class universities but with a cold climate. Another factor to consider is if you are interested in any specific type of cultural, sporting or recreational activity to practice outside of your class time.

Some people are attracted to mountain areas such as Colorado or Vermont for skiing or ski-boarding while others wish to be on Florida’s Atlantic Coast or Southern California for surfing. Theater fans are attracted to areas such as San Francisco or New York. Some students prefer to be close to communities of their countrymen so places like New York and Los Angeles are popular. Other students choose to be inland or somewhere in “Middle America” where they can have an almost complete cultural immersion.

Keep in mind, also, that many of the United States’ most important research universities are located in small cities or towns such as Lawrence, Kansas or Madison, Wisconsin which might not be famous in other countries but are well known “college towns” with relatively low cost of living but a high quality of life.

Location of Academy or University
It is wise to find out how far the academy or university is located from your home if you are attending a local college. On the limited budget that a student must live on one thing you don’t want to worry about is spending too much for gasoline expense. Also the driving time if your school is too far can be a detriment. Traffic delays are another time waster.
Also, looking at the location of the employment you are planning in your chosen field. For instance, if you are studying for a degree in the medical field you should determine the distance from the university or academy to the local hospitals or clinics.

Tuition Costs at Today’s Academies & Universities
When a student is considering choices for college education it is important to weigh the cost differences between academies and universities. Depending on the credibility of the college or university the costs of tuition and fees widely vary.

If you are an out of state student the cost is considerable cheaper. However the living expenses are part of the expense that should also be considered. Housing can cost as much as $6,000.00 to 9,000.00 per year. Slightly less if you plan on living in the college dormitory.

The lowest cost for tuition and fees for undergraduate study, based on 2008- 2009 prices is $3797.00 at California State University for one year. The average cost of tuition and fees was found to be $7,122.00 per year with the highest being Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey at $10,357.00 annually.

Many colleges offer much more than a degree—they also offer special programs that allow students to tailor their education to fit their needs. Some offer Music, Film, Art, Theatre, Journalism, Bible Stud and  Farming/Agriculture. Here’s a sampling of the offerings that might be available to the enrollee.

Accelerated Program: This is a program students may complete in less time than is normally required, usually by attending summer classes or by carrying extra courses.

Cooperative Education: This program allows students to alternate between semesters of full-time study and related paid full-time work. It takes five years to receive a bachelor’s degree under this plan, but your child will get a year’s practical experience, too.

Distance Learning: Students take courses for credit broadcasted via public or cable stations or the Internet.

Double Major: Students complete the requirements of two majors, concurrently. (more…)