Recommended online college from personal experience

[jwl84]

I am so confused!:confused: What is a good online college? There are so many. I need so continue my education, but have to do it online due to my schedule. I need someone to please help and recommend one that they went to and had a good experience with. One that an employer would not question, one that was good to work with, and one that you have few complaints about. Thanks in advance for your help in this time of struggle for me.

[johann]

Hi

Tell us a couple of things - three, to be more precise.

(1) What level of degree are you looking for - Associate's (2 yr.) Bachelor's (4 yr.) Master's (beyond that)?

(2) What will be your major field of study? Business, I.T., Psychology, Arts, Science etc.

(3) Do you already have some college credits you'd like to apply to the degree? (Not necessary, but they could cut the time and expense considerably!)

Based on that info, maybe we can make some recommendations. I don't think "one" college can fit "all" students.
(OK Brian, maybe Excelsior is the exception :-) )

Please let us know - we'd really like to help - that's what we do...

Johann

[jwl84]

I am actually wanting a Bachelor's degree, but I have to get a Associates degree first. I want a degree in Business and I do not have and credits to transfer. Thanks for your post.

[johann]

Hi -

You can do the Associate's first if you like - but you don't have to. You can do it first, or start on the Bachelor's. Same amount of school by the time you finish the Bachelor's either way.

Cheapest accredited on-line degree sources (all Regionally Accredited) are:

www.excelsior.edu
www.cosc.edu
www.tesc.edu

You might also want to check out www.bain4weeks.com to check out how the process works at the "Big 3" distance universities listed above. Don't worry about the name! It's a great site - though I think the name is possibly ill-chosen. You WON'T be offered a bogus degree!

If National (DETC) Accreditation is OK - have a look at www.pennfoster.edu They have DETC-accredited Associate Degrees - fees should amount to around $4,000 or so which is pretty reasonable. The school has an excellent reputation. Its predecessor school (ICS) has been in the distance-ed business since the 1890s.

Other good DETC on-line schools that offer (I believe) both Associates and Bachelors at reasonable fees are

www.calcoast.edu
www.columbiasouthern.edu and
www.aju.edu

If you need to know about schools in other countries, let us know. There are 'WAY more excellent opportunities in the U.S. and plenty in Canada and Australia, but most of them cost considerably more than these schools I've discussed. Asia and South Africa offer some real bargains, and have some good schools - but in Asia you have to pick carefully. I can help a bit.

Here are two American RA schools that DON'T "cost considerably more!" - I think the lowest per-credit-hour tuition fees in the US for RA Universities are at:

www.lsu.edu and
www.peru.edu

For RA Associates degrees, the Community Colleges can't be beat for reasonable tuition. Have a look at www.maricopa.edu www.clovis.edu and www.riosalado.edu for starters. One good plan - get an RA Associates (low cost) at one of the Colleges, and head practically wherever you want for years 3 and 4 of the Bachelor's.

As I said - if you need other countries etc. - get back to me. I'll be back on the boards Monday March 10 :-)

Johann

[jwl84]

Thanks a lot Johann. You gave me a lot of great information to research. You really went above and beyond and I appreciate it.

[RobbCD]

I have had a good experience with Baker College in their MBA program.

www.baker.edu

They also have associates and bachelor's programs in business. Five week courses at the undergrad level, no group work.

Good luck.

[scaredrain]

I am actually wanting a Bachelor's degree, but I have to get a Associates degree first. I want a degree in Business and I do not have and credits to transfer. Thanks for your post.

I went to a local community college for my associates and did about 50/50 online and in class.

For my 2 bachelor degrees I went on ground via an adult degree program and only had 1 or 2 classes online.

For my masters programs, I went to Cameron University and Grand Canyon University, both which were great schools and I didnt have a problem with. Both offer 8 week courses and you can earn an entire bachelors degree online at Grand Canyon University, but they are pricey, I was fortunate enough to have tuition reimbursement.

One option you can do is to attend Penn Foster and get an associates in business if you do not mind that it is NA and then transfer to one of the "Big 3" or to a college that accepts NA credits.

You should check your local community colleges first, many offer fully online associates these days.

[jillibean24]

I had a great experience with Lincoln College Online.

Check them out they offer some great associates and bachelor programs.

Lincoln College Online (http://www.lincolnonline.edu)

It was one of the best online schools I found when I did my research