Posts Tagged ‘online colleges’
Posted by Dan on July 9th, 2009
With over 100 online universities and colleges featured on the site, AchieveYourCareer.com offers a variety of resources for adults interested in continuing their education online. The Top 5 Online Alternatives to Summer School is a collection of tips written by online education experts to help promote the awareness of online degree programs. For years, Summer School served as the only opportunity for students to study during the summer months, now thanks to online education, eager students can log in and attend classes with ease and greater flexibility. Many working adults juggle 40 hour work weeks with other personal obligations like family, working out, a second job, the last thing they want to do during the summer is drive to a campus and sit in a classroom. It’s inconvenient and not appealing. That is why we have created the Top 5 Online Alternatives to Summer School.
Number 5: Explore Online Certificates
Why should you explore an online certificate program? Two reasons really; the cost and the selection. Online certificates offer adults the widest variety of programs in all of online learning. From culinary arts to computer animation training, you will find what you are looking for, if you choose to pursue an online certificate program. For example, a Marketing Manager, can choose to enroll in an online certificate program for Internet Marketing to help broaden their skills and learn new techniques. Meanwhile, a single mom can study Entrepreneurship and learn the necessary skills to build a successful home based business. The best part is that both the Marketing Manager and the single mom share the same experience of learning online and at their convenience. This is something a summer school session can not offer.
Number 4: Take An Online Class
Everyone loves to “try before you buy” and with an education it is no different. By enrolling in an online class this summer, you can experience online learning first hand without committing to an entire degree program. Online Classes are available at accredited colleges across the country. Courses can be taken on a “For-Credit” basis and a “Non-Credit” basis. Taking an online class will allow you to understand the necessary dedication and requirements you need to continue your education online. You will gain important knowledge about online lectures, homework assignments, and testing procedures. It also allows you to not sacrifice an entire summer to earn college credit. Taking an online class is a great way to find out if online education is right for you.
Number 3. Save Money & Time - Get Information from Online Colleges for Fall
Let’s face it, saving money during a recession is important. A college education can be a very worthwhile investment, but its still an investment of your time and money. By enrolling in Summer School, you sacrifice your summer months, time, and money. Visiting sites like www.AchieveYOurCareer.com, allow you to review 100’s of accredited online colleges that offer online degree programs in almost every career category available. It takes literally,1 minute, to fill out an information form for these colleges. You can receive informaton about cost, current scholarships avaialble, demo an online class, and current student testimonials. As we approach “Back to School” in late summer, you may even find some special promotions avialable for a limited time. Enjoy the summer and research your degree of interest. Then, find 3 online schools that offer that program and compare each of them. It will be time well spent, and its FREE!.
Number 2. Stay Local - Find Online Programs offered by Local Colleges.
Online learning can be a fantastic opportunity for many working adults. However, it is not the conventional method of learning for most Americans. We are taught in a classroom setting for most of our lives. What most people don’t know is that many local colleges, both community and full 4 year insititutions, offer online education. Students can choose to pursue their online degree, yet still take advantages of a physical campus location if they so choose. It really personalizes the entire experience of online education. Summer school sessions will force you to attend classes at a physical campus location. Why not give yourself the flexiblity of choosing to stay at home and log into a live online session or visiting a local campus. Boston University, Harvard, USC, and Stanford are just 4 well known colleges and universities that offer this convenience to their online students. It’s a great opportunity for working adults and single parents who want to succeed but need to balance other responsibilities.
Number 1. Superior flexibility allows you to earn a degree in less time.
Most students who attend Summer School are interested in obtaining their degree in less time. Unfortunately for many summer school students, they must sacrifice time and money to do so. With an online degree, students balance their hectic schedules with their education requirements. Parents can stay home with their children and attend an online lecture. Working adults can take night classes without driving to a campus afer an 8 hour work day. A Bachelor’s Degree typically can take upwards of 4 years or more to complete. An online bachelor’s degree can be completed in as little as 2 years with dedication and hard work. Education is important for your career and for your life. A college education is the key to a better life for many Americans. Utilize the tools available and find an online college that fits your life. It will be worth the time you invest.
Posted by admin on June 29th, 2009
Two schools — the University of Phoenix and Bryant & Stratton College — handed out degrees to more than 400 students this month at the Richmond Convention Center.
A third school — South University — will open in Henrico County on Oct. 5 behind the Whole Foods Market on West Broad Street. It is now enrolling students for its local campus and online classes.
The three schools offer classes at a traditional campus as well as online-only.
Online learning is gaining credibility and gaining ground in the higher-education field.
About 12.2 million consumers enrolled in roughly 11,200 college-level distance-education programs during the 2006-07 academic year, the latest figures available, according to the U.S. Department of Education. That’s up from the 3 million consumers enrolled in 2,320 distance-learning programs in 2000-01.
Most traditional colleges and universities now offer online courses as part of their regular degree programs, as well. Some, such as the University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies, offer a few specialized degree programs entirely online.
Are you thinking of earning an online degree? If so, here are some things you need to know:
* You need the right stuff in order to succeed. “Because there’s no structured class schedule, it takes a lot of self-discipline,” said James Campbell, director of marketing at the University of Richmond’s School of Continuing Studies.
Students who fail at online learning do so for the same reasons as those in a normal class setting, said Walter Green, chairman of the Emergency Services Management degree program in UR’s School of Continuing Studies.
“They just don’t do the work.”
Those diligently engaged in their coursework who regularly interact with other students and the instructor usually succeed, he said.
* Be certain that the school is certified and accredited.
It should be certified by the State Council of Higher Education in Richmond and accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
“Institutions that are approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education will be of high quality,” said Terry Hartle, an official at the American Council on Education, a trade organization.
The North Central Association of Colleges & Schools is the recognized accreditation board in the region that includes Virginia.
* Be sure the school offers financial aid. Title IV funding from the federal government — including student loans and grants — should be available, said Susan S. Whisenhunt, director of academic affairs at the University of Phoenix in Richmond.
* Tuition varies. Expect to pay $365 per credit hour for an online undergraduate degree at the University of Richmond and $361 per credit hour online at South University. The average annual tuition and fees at the University of Phoenix is about $12,000.
* Don’t assume that online learning is a piece of cake. Course loads are normally just as rigorous as classroom learning.
* You’ll find it convenient. Some of the students enrolled in UR’s online Emergency Services Management or Disaster Science programs are shift workers — firefighters, EMS technicians, even emergency-room physicians. They log in when they can grab the time, maybe even at 3 a.m., UR Program Coordinator Bo Harris said.
“You can study anywhere and anytime,” Hartle said.
* You will communicate electronically with your instructors. But you may not meet them face to face until graduation.
* You won’t feel isolated from classmates. “The students typically are very connected to their colleagues” through online forums and a chat room, Whisenhunt said.
“I see great friendships developing.” It’s like social networking, she said.
TimesDispatch.com
Posted by Dan on April 7th, 2009
AchieveYourCareer.com, a leading website featuring news and information on accredited online schools responds to the recent BusinessWeek article For-Profit Colleges: Scooping Up the Stimulus.
AchieveYourCareer.com is dedicated to combating the stigmatism that an online education is less than adequate. In a recent article published by Business Week, the magazine criticizes “For-Profit” online colleges such as the University of Phoenix and DeVry University for questionable recruiting tactics and below standard graduation rates. AchieveYourCareer.com feels the article attacks not only the colleges themselves but the actual online college students working towards their degree. “Our web presence reaches one million users a month interested in pursuing a college degree. Our audience includes working parents struggling to juggle careers and family, recently laid off employees looking to add credentials to their resumes and potential students unable to incur the large debt that traditional college degrees currently carry. Is it wrong for them to want to earn an online college degree that fits their lifestyle? From online schools accredited by state boards across the county?” stated AchieveYourCareer.com President, Michael Speicher. “Furthermore, the BusinessWeek article completely failed to directly compare graduation rates of online schools versus other colleges and universities, or career institutes, and segment those findings by the same demographic or life stage segments across the institutes.”
Across the nation, millions of Americans share a common goal; a college education. For so many, a college education represents the key to a better life, a better career and unlimited potential. While traditional colleges and universities continue to raise admission costs that are out of reach for so many, online schools have created an affordable opportunity for those who wish to earn a college degree. “No one should be denied the opportunity to go to college and pursue an education.” Speicher added. “Whether you are learning in a classroom, or at home on your personal computer, you are earning your college degree. You’re bettering yourself with an education. That’s what matters.”
Traditional colleges such as Harvard and Boston University currently offer online classes and the trend is set to continue. As more and more online programs become available it will create a fantastic opportunity to reach new students, reduce costs, and help educate more Americans to foster our country’s growth. In addition, with the new White House Administration’s focus on improving our education system, AchieveYourCareer.com believes that online schools will become a major element of the American higher education system and will finally be viewed as a viable and respected option for a college education – as it should be.
Posted by admin on October 13th, 2008
As Internet users become more savvy and social media sites dominate, colleges are taking a second look at the structure of online courses.
Just two years ago the typical online degree course involved mostly reading assignments. Students were able to interact with each other through discussion posts and chat rooms, but now that is all changing.
Several colleges offering online coursework are now incorporating the assets of social media into their platforms. Widgets, interactive programs, and digital media are helping engage students with different learning styles and allowing them to network with other students and instructors.
Rasmussen College, a private, regionally accredited college with campuses across the Midwest and Southeast and online college, is one of these schools.
“Students have different learning styles,” Rasmussen College Director for Online Course Development Steve Wettergren said. “By providing these cool new tools, students can learn by interacting with the media, by watching videos and listening to audio samples, by observing digital lectures, and much more. We are making the courses a more engaging experience.”
For the past twelve months, Rasmussen College has increased its focus on delivering these new tools for online classes. Some of the additions have come from working with the publishers who provide supplemental media. Rasmussen College also has an instructional design team and a development team that has been able to build its own custom media pieces based on the needs of faculty and students.
“To provide a more realistic approach to learning, the development team has built widgets, which enable students to take practice quizzes and perform exercises to help them learn,” Wettergren said.
“One of the coolest things we have done for our online Medical Administration students recently is that we built a virtual hospital. They can do through the hospital and look through patient files, meet financial personnel, and get a realistic view of what working in a health care facility is like.”
So far student feedback about the new interactive elements has been positive. Faculty has appreciated the new addition as it gives them a new way to present material and a better method for networking with students.
Many online colleges are now moving away from curriculum that is too text heavy. Utilizing the new technologies allows them to engage students in a dynamic manner.
“Online coursework is evolving rapidly,” Wettergren said. “More colleges are offering online programs, and to stay ahead of the game we have to continue to invest focused attention on providing the latest developments in online learning to our students. We are just getting started.”
Posted by admin on October 6th, 2008
The Online Education Database released its second annual Online College Rankings of the top 41 undergraduate online degree programs in the country. The OEDb rated online programs in eight categories, including acceptance rate, student-faculty ratio, and availability of financial aid.
Upper Iowa University ranked number one on the OEDb’s list, followed by LeTourneau University at number two and Liberty University at number three.
Best Online Colleges for Availability of Financial Aid
In addition to its overall rankings, the OEDb provided rankings in each of the eight individual categories that make up the overall rankings. In the financial aid category, the OEDb ranked schools based on the percentage of the schools’ students who receive financial aid.
Of the top ten schools in the financial aid availability category, nine schools offer financial aid to at least 95 percent of their students, with three schools offering financial aid to a full 100 percent:
1.?? Salem International University 100%
2. Upper Iowa University 100%
3. Westwood College 100%
4. Fisher College 99%
5. LeTourneau University 99%
6. Liberty University 99%
7. Post University 97%
8. Tiffin University 96%
9. Florida National College 95%
10. Nova Southeastern University 94%
Posted by admin on September 16th, 2008
The following ranking list was generated by the Online Education Database and lists the top 41 online colleges for 2008.
Overall Rank College Average Rank
1 Upper Iowa University 10.813
2 LeTourneau University 11.960
3 Liberty University 12.540
4 Nova Southeastern University 13.323
5 California University of Pennsylvania 14.232
6 Grand Canyon University 14.709
7 Regent University 14.742
8 Champlain College 14.960
9 Westwood College 15.428
10 Tiffin University 16.700
11 Dickinson State University 17.111
12 Walden University 17.500
13 National University 17.758
14 Fisher College 19.887
15 Colorado Technical University 20.165
16 ITT Technical Institute 20.186
17 Kaplan University 20.418
18 Post University 20.467
19 Franklin University 20.547
20 Peirce College Online 20.765
21 Western International University 20.891
22 Florida Metropolitan University * 21.223
23 Bellevue University 21.335
24 Capella University 21.712
25 University of Phoenix 22.722
26 Berkeley College 23.268
27 Granite State College 23.929
28 City University 23.956
29 York Technical College 24.047
30 Salem International University 24.504
31 South University 25.342
32 American InterContinental University 25.382
33 Florida National College 25.553
34 Darton College 25.584
35 Grantham University 25.636
36 Everglades University 26.771
37 National American University 27.175
38 Jones International University 27.554
39 Western Governors University 28.087
40 Herzing College 28.305
41 Ellis College 30.962
Posted by admin on September 4th, 2008
Looking for financial aid to earn your college degree online, all you need to do is apply for federal aid. For 2008, University of Phoenix ranked as the top college to receive federal student aid from the US Government. In addition to UOP, 9 other online colleges ranked in the top 100. The US Government is providing financial aid for people to go to school online and earn the degree they need to succeed. You can find out more information on these online colleges today and speak to an admissions representative about applying and enrolling for the upcoming term.
Top Online Colleges Accepting Federal Tuition Assistance
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX INC
STRAYER UNIVERSITY INC
DEVRY UNIVERSITY INC
AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIV
CAPELLA EDUCATION COMPANY INC
ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INC
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
ARGOSY EDUCATION GROUP INC
STRAYER UNIVERSITY, INC
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY INC
