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5 Things to Look For in an Online Degree Program

How to quickly narrow down which online degree program is right for you.

Pursuing a degree online can be a fantastic way to advance your career or successfully begin a new employment path. And doing it online offers benefits you may not find through a more traditional, in-person college experience. Those include more flexibility in your schedule, lower tuition costs and the ability to learn from anywhere you have an internet connection.

But not all online programs are created equal. 

Here are five things to keep top of mind while determining which online program is right for you.

On Your Schedule

One of the hallmarks of online learning is the benefit of being able to pursue your educational goals while still fulfilling your life, work and family responsibilities.

As you look deeper into programs and determine whether they’re right for you, the details matter. Many online programs promise scheduling flexibility, but then require students to be in front of their screens at a set time each week. With this model, while you’re able to avoid travel and in-person class time, you’re still beholden to the school’s schedule throughout the week.

Asynchronous programs, which effectively means “on demand,” allow you to learn on your own time. Instead of set class times, you can learn when it works for you; learning and engaging on your own schedule while still having access to faculty and meeting regular deadlines throughout your course.

Flexible Course Load

Similar to scheduling concerns, course load flexibility is also a big consideration when you’re looking for an online program.

While some degree programs offer the flexibility you need in terms of both workload and the number of credit hours you can take each semester, many are much more rigid in their requirements. Finding the right program for you includes doing your due diligence in determining the level of flexibility offered by any given program. 

If you’re looking to learn on your own time, it’s critical to find a program that will truly allow you to do just that.

Individualized Attention

With any degree program, what truly takes a good experience and elevates it to a great one is the amount of individual attention available from the university faculty and staff. The online learning structure shouldn’t remove the human element. Instead, it should enhance it.

Find a program, then, that provides built-in opportunities to engage directly with the faculty. Individualized attention is a key part of the learning process and finding a program that values this critical educational component can make or break your full online learning experience.

Affordability

Online learning can be more affordable than traditional models. But it’s also important, as you search for the right online program for you, to look at what each prospective institution is able to offer in terms of financial support. 

Don’t be afraid to contact the financial aid department of the institution you’re investigating and have a conversation about your financial needs. You’ll be able to tell a lot about the school by how helpful the administrative staff is in terms of working with you, within your particular circumstances, and finding ways to ensure you’re able to reach your individual goals.

Design, Design, Design

In your search for the right online program for you, look for programs designed to be online programs first. Many online programs simply take the traditional, in-person classroom experience, digitize it somewhat, and present it online. Hallmarks of this approach may include set lecture schedules, lack of individual attention from faculty, a general sense of disorganization, use of materials and online platforms that don’t work well together, and more. 

Instead, find a program that’s been built from the ground up in ways that prioritize the online educational experience and make your learning experience as smooth and convenient as taking online classes ought to be.

Choosing the right online degree program can be daunting. But by keeping these five considerations in mind during the selection process, you will be able to find the program best suited to helping you achieve your goals.

If you’re looking for an online program that prioritizes your experience and is committed to helping you get from where you are to where you want to be, request more information from Ashland University by clicking the button below.