Accredited Online Schools Add New Horizons to Your Career

Online education needs no introduction today. They have been very much in the limelight for being highly flexible to suit everybody's needs and timings. Getting an online degree is very advantageous and one must consider it to be a part of their career plan. There are so many online schools available today that offers a plethora of courses and programs to match one's interest. One thing that needs to be highlighted here is that along with the genuine schools that provide such degrees, an array of fake schools have also mushroomed with the intention of making money. Fake online schools confer degrees unworthy of the marketplace and unworthy of recognition by many employers. Due to this reason working professionals and students need to do quality research on the online school they wish to join.

Accreditation is the Key

One key criterion to check whether a school is genuine or fake is to check the accreditation of that school. Schools must be accredited by the state in which they operate, by one of the six regional agencies:


Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSC)
Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities, (NASC)
Higher Learning Commission of North Central Region (NCA)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
And by national agencies, such as:


Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

Career Prospects with Accredited Online Schools

Accredited Online Schools provide so many opportunities to people to build desirable careers by earning diplomas, certificates, associate degrees, bachelor degrees, master degrees, and even doctorate degrees from an online course of study. This is the time to take action as the online education market is growing approximately 40% each year. Get enrolled with an Accredited Online School to get an edge in job over your competitors for the next big promotion or to switch on to the career of your interest.  Self-determination, self-discipline and focus are needed to achieve success with online education and the efforts are always worth.

Top Accredited Online Schools

There are a number of renowned schools that provide online education. Amongst them, the top accredited online schools are:

Kaplan University
University of Phoenix
Ashford University
American InterContinental University
Everest University
Liberty University
Grand Canyon University
Capella University
Westwood College
Strayer University

The University of the People for Zero Cost Higher Education

This is the latest of online universities. It is a not-for-profit institution. Founded in 2009 by the UN's Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technology and Development (GAID), this university aims at providing quality higher education to those who cannot afford to study at the public and private universities due to high course fees charged by them. The University of the People claims that the education fees have been set such that the students will never have to pay more than $100 to study here. Education will be provided by harnessing the power of social media. Though the university is not accredited as of now, but a proper accreditation has been planned by the university officials.

Conclusion

Fully accredited online schools offer the best of opportunities to working adults and students to prepare for their desired careers. There are a number of accredited online schools to choose from. Before getting enrolled, accreditation must be checked. Consider going for the University of the People for zero cost education.

For more information on Accredited Online Schools, I invite you to visit my website on Online Degrees.

This article has been written by Akash. Akash is a web journalist. He has written blogs, web forums and articles for online education. He was also an instructor in a community college and had organized seminars for online education.

It is a Great Idea to Consider Online Schools

As a frequent writer for higher education I hear every day from college students who are worried about getting quality education and career training online. Some students wonder how the distance education process works and how they will be able to study without traveling to a campus. Others are concerned about the validity of online degree programs and whether online degrees are respected in the real world. And there is always the question about how to find the best online schools, colleges and universities.

Well, you can stop worrying because there are some clearly defined criteria you can use to find top online schools in the U.S. and Canada. Simply follow a few good guidelines and you can easily find prestigious online degree programs that meet or exceed national standards for campus-based schools. Read on to find out how to you can get a legitimate online degree right from your own home.

First, let's tackle the question about finding legitimate online colleges. The most important step in this process is to absolutely reject out-of-hand any school that is not fully accredited. Proper accreditation is a rigorous process of inspection and evaluation of curriculums, faculty, facilities and learning tools that only the finest educational institutions can achieve. Only fully accredited colleges and universities are formally recognized by regional or national accrediting agencies for maintaining exceptional educational standards. "Proper accreditation" means the school has received official approval from an accrediting organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or both. If your choice of online colleges carries such a credential, you have already won half the battle.

Next you should decide on a budget for your distance learning experience. Fortunately, the tuition for online courses is generally much lower than campus-based schools simply because there is less overhead cost for the school. In fact, your tuition could be less than half of what you would expect! Most of the top online colleges and universities are eager to help students in securing online tuition assistance ranging from hefty scholarships and grants to low-interest student loans. Be sure to see if you qualify for tuition assistance; you have everything to gain and nothing to lose!

Another important factor will be your personal timeframe for degree completion. Although there is a great deal of flexibility in online degree programs, students are expected to commit a certain number of hours to home study. A rule of thumb is 12-15 hours of study time weekly, but the required commitment can be much higher with advanced graduate degree programs. And, even though the idea behind distance learning is to study at home on your own schedule, some online courses do require occasional on-site attendance to practice or demonstrate learned skills or to take exams. Some typical examples would include online massage therapy programs, online mechanical and technical training, and health care courses. If you are unable or unwilling to travel for any reason, be sure to find out if you can complete the degree program without travel.

As to how the distance learning process works, keep in mind that some of the finest colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada have been providing online courses for more than two decades. New Internet technologies are overtaking outmoded methods at an amazing pace, and online schools are continually adopting better and more efficient methods for course delivery. Attending college at home can be interactive, challenging and fun, with specialized programs and software to help you practice and learn your chosen discipline at home. Dedicated chat rooms and blogs are available 24 hours a day so you are virtually never alone. And the best part is the freedom to choose when and where you will study.

Once you have determined what you can expect from an online degree program, start to contact some of your top schools, colleges and universities to inquire about specific online courses. Compile a list of questions to ask the admissions counselors, including the rate of graduation and course completion statistics. Even though distance learning means studying at home, many students need some outside motivation and interaction with professors and peer students to keep apace. If an online school cannot prove at least an 80 percent graduation rate, that should raise a big red flag. Ask if you can count on the cooperation of the faculty and counselors to evaluate your progress and to provide a needed push if you are lagging behind.

The last step is to make a personal commitment to follow through and fully complete the online course you have chosen. Once you have done your homework and found a good, accredited online degree program, the only barrier to successful completion lies within yourself. Do some soul searching and be realistic about your dedication to home study. If you are someone who is characteristically a procrastinator and not very motivated, perhaps you are more suited for a traditional college setting. But, if you are determined to make a better life for yourself and your family, online colleges can provide you with a bright and rewarding future. Good luck!

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on our website.

Copyright 2008 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

To learn more about options for higher education, please visit SchoolsGalore.com where you will find thousands of accredited colleges, universities and online schools to contact for more information to help you succeed in life.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Get a list of great online schools and accredited online degree programs as well as Colleges, Universities, Natural Healing Schools and Vocational Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

How to Find a Legitimate Online School

Online universities are become more and more popular in recent times. It is estimated that 50% of schools offer some sort of online program, with approximately 4 million students enrolled. Unfortunately, there are some scams that you need to be mindful of. Below are some tips on how to find a legitimate online school.

First and foremost, be leery of schools that offer you a degree solely on your life experiences. While, you should be rewarded by what you've accomplished in your career thus far, that should not be the only basis for your degree program. To date, no legitimate institution is offering a degree based on life experience alone.

Next, you should research the accreditation of the university and the program. Bear in mind that although the program may be accredited, the school may not be and vice versa. You should look for the following accreditation agencies: Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), Middle States Association (MSA), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCASC), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southwest Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). There may be some other agencies, but these are the primary ones that will ensure your degree is worthwhile and legitimate.

While attending classes online can be beneficial to you, you need to make sure that your time, money and energy are well spent. If you find that you are uncertain as to a colleges legitimacy, the it's important to dig a little deeper in your research.

As an author for Online PhD Degree, the author reviews cutting-edge universities and PhD degrees such as Online DBA Programs and Online DBA Business Program.

High School Accreditation and College Acceptance

Graduates from online and private high school programs may face additional challenges when applying to colleges and universities. These hurdles are caused by a difference in the high schools' level of accreditation, or the lack thereof. The most universal form is Regional Accreditation, which is accepted nationwide by colleges, universities, public high schools, and other educational institutions. All public schools are regionally accredited, and as part of their accreditation they are required to accept credits from other regionally accredited schools. The second standard is a National Accreditation, a much looser standard that isn't always accepted. It's important to note that while Nationally Accredited may seem like it is more valued than Regional Accreditation, it's actually much less valuable. Regional is a much better option than National, and the regionally accredited diplomas go much further.

How Universities in Oklahoma Process Applications

There is even a difference between universities in Oklahoma based on what accreditation they will accept. Here's what we've found:

Oklahoma Christian University

Admission requirements for OCU allow students to apply with any diploma, as long as it was awarded from an accredited institution. Students could use either a Regionally, or Nationally Accredited diploma, as long as the accreditation was current at the time of issuing.

Oklahoma State University

OSU accepts all diplomas from Regionally Accredited high schools, and only accepts Nationally accredited diplomas on a case-by-case basis after evaluating the high school curriculum. Diplomas from non-accredited schools aren't accepted at all, so a student who graduated from a non-accredited school will need to complete a GED before being accepted. If a student has a Nationally Accredited diploma, their acceptance will be tied heavily to their scores on the ACT or SAT exams.

University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma accepts all diplomas from Regionally Accredited high schools, but they won't accept any diplomas from Nationally Accredited schools.

The Regional Accreditation Agencies

It's important to check your schools accreditation status with the regional agencies. Here is a list of the 6 regional agencies and the states that they service.

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Oklahoma
Arkansas
Arizona
Colorado
Iowa
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Mexico
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Wyoming

Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC)

Alaska
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Washington

New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges

Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
and Vermont

Middle States Association Secondary

Delaware
Maryland
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
District of Columbia

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

California
Hawaii

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia

When it comes to private high schools, you want to carefully evaluate the different high school programs. Make sure to check that your private school or online high school is regionally accredited,

Bryce Bertola is the Director of Marketing at Park City Independent, a regionally accredited online high school with current students in Oklahoma, the United States, and throughout the World.

How To Find Top Online Schools

Search the Internet for top online schools and a veritable tsunami of results floods across the screen, each vying for your hard-earned tuition money. To have so many choices of online colleges and universities can look pretty appealing at first; but take a closer look at some of those results and things might start to blur. Just because a college claims to be a top contender does not necessarily mean it is the right online school for you.

If you want to know if you are someone who could benefit from distance learning, search inside yourself first. What are your goals for the future? How many months or years are you willing to devote to your online studies? Are you an undisciplined person who constantly needs prompting and consistent supervision to succeed; or are you the type of person who is determined to succeed and self-motivated? With a bit of realistic soul-searching you should be able to bring it all into focus. After that, if you still think online education is right for you, then you are ready to search for top online schools.

But, which online schools are really considered "top"? To be sure, there are some unscrupulous "educators" who would be more than happy to conjure up a fake diploma for a few hundred dollars. And, while that kind of "degree" takes just a few minutes to obtain, it won't take you very far at all. No employer worth his salt would consider a credential from an unaccredited diploma mill. No, you will do much better to apply the real elbow grease and brain power that is necessary to get a legitimate college degree from an accredited online school.

To help consumers sort the wheat from the chaff, the US Department of Education established a system for approving online colleges and universities. The USDE website provides an extensive list of accrediting agencies that are officially approved to grant accreditation to colleges and universities, both online and campus-based. If your choice of schools is accredited by one of these USDE-approved agencies, that is half the battle.

The next step is for you to select a few top choices of accredited online schools and make direct contact with individual admissions departments. Every good college will have accessible administrators who are eager to assist you in finding the degree program that will suit your aspirations and personal lifestyle. Since you have already done some honest soul-searching, you can now the take time to compare in-depth information from each of your selections, and you can trust your instincts to help you make the right decision.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on our website.

Copyright 2008 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

If you are searching for top online schools, we invite you to visit SchoolsGalore.com where you can request in-depth information from hundreds of fully-accredited online colleges and universities to help you make the right decision.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find Top Online Schools, as well as Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource for higher education. Click here to Learn More About Top Online Schools.