Learning For Success

7 Probing Questions to Ask Your Prospective Online College

May 23rd, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

average cost of online courses By the time you start your search for the right online college or university, you have already learned a lesson on distance education and the benefits involved with this type of educational program. So, as you close in on the final few school selections, what questions should you ask the school that will help you narrow down your search to the final one?

We have prepared a list of the 7 most important questions to pose to your prospective college choices. Get the right answers to these questions, and you will be almost assured of making a wise decision. Here they are:

#1 - Is the school and your desired program accredited? If so, by whom?

This is probably the most important question you can ask the online college. If the program and college is NOT accredited by the correct regional association, your degree could be diminished or rejected by prospective employers.

#2 - How long has the college or university been in existence?

This is important to determine the stability of the institution and the reputation associated with their degreed programs.

#3 - What online degrees are offered?

You may already know the answer based on your research, but not all institutions offer all degree levels in your chosen field of study. Make sure they offer the specific degree that you want.

#4 - How long will it take to get your online degree?

This will tell you whether there is flexibility in the program to allow you to accelerate your degree or extend the period to completion to accommodate your personal lifestyle.

#5 - What is the total cost to get your desired degree?

We are not just talking about the average cost on online courses here, but a total cost of your education. Start by asking about tuition costs, fees, books and course materials, hidden fees, etc. Your cost should be slightly less than a traditional “brick and mortar” university, but make sure you are not over-paying for the privilege of a distance education.

#6 - How many students are attending the university and how many have graduated?

This will again give you insight into the stability of the institution (large number of students) and give you a gauge of how satisfied the existing student body really is (the more that graduate, the more satisfied they are with the school).

#7 - What are the materials required to take the classes?

This will tell you if you need to purchase textbooks, lab materials, computer hardware and software, and any other course fees. All of these should be considered a cost of your online education.

There you have it - the best questions you need to ask your prospective college or university to get to the bottom line. And if you would like additional information about your final school selections, why not visit eLearners.com and let them do the “legwork” for you. The cost is right – FREE – and you can request information about your chosen online degree and online college just by filling out a short form. It’s the smart thing to do!