Article Written By: Michelle Conner
For busy students who wish to earn an Associate's degree while continuing to care for their families or work full-time, an online degree often seems like the best solution. An online degree can be earned in your spare time from the convenience of your personal computer. This is a great flexible option for those who would otherwise not be able to find the time for a traditional two-year degree program. Some students are rightfully skeptical, however, as not all online programs are created equally. Check out some of the resources that are available to help you decide whether an online Associate's degree program is reputable before enrolling.The most important piece of information to determine about your prospective online degree program is whether or not it is accredited. A non-accredited program is of little use to you, as it likely won't be recognized by future employers. An accredited program is proven to have high academic standards, as determined by many accreditation organizations that you can refer to. Learning more about accredited online universities will increase your chances of finding the best program!Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs organization uses accreditation to determine if federal financial aid funds are being used for courses and programs that meet certain standards of excellence. USDE looks for rigorous academic programs, quality instruction, and good administrative and student retention tactics. You can search for your prospective school in a handy online index.The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, is another resource to help you do a background check on your prospective school. CHEA lists programs that are accredited by itself, USDE, and other accreditation programs. CHEA bases its accreditation on an institution's academics and overall quality as well as its commitment to improvement. You can view a database of over 7,800 institutions and more than 20,000 programs that are recognized by CHEA.Contact representatives of your prospective program if you have specific questions or concerns. Before enrolling in a program, it is important to be completely comfortable with the institution that will be awarding your degree.
This Article Has Been Published on Tue, 1 Nov 2011 and Read 63 Times