Want to go back to school or are considering it? Finding that the schedules of traditional colleges don’t fit into your life right now?

Interested in online college, but hesitant to move forward because you heard that “online college doesn’t count”? Many of these answers can be found in How to Master Online Learning and help you find the path that is right for you.

Is online college right for you? It all depends on you particular needs, lifestyle, and learning style. There are different styles of online classes. Synchronous classes take place on a set day and at a set time. For these types of classes, class participants must be logged in at the same time, in real time. This works best for those who can commit to a set schedule. In these types of classes, there is direction between students and instructors in real time. So, a student may ask for feedback and a more instantaneous response. There are more set deadlines and students are expected to move at a similar pace.

There are also asynchronous classes, these don’t have as many set deadlines. Although classes are self-paced, students are expected to be more self-motivated and complete their work within the general time frame of the course. Many online courses are a blend of these two types. To determine whether online college is right for you, you may try taking free classes online to see if it they are right in order to get a feel for them:

• EdX
• Khan Academy
• The Open Education Consortium
• Open Education Database
• Open Culture

There are also websites that contain lists of free online courses by subject. Other staff members have also written blog posts that touch upon online learning.

Some websites may require you to register to use their website. Many times, you would just have to enter an e-mail address. You may have to create a username and password. It won’t require you to enter your credit card or payment information. If would like to get a feel for what an SUNY online course would be like, check out the SUNY online demo course, Open SUNY website, or the FAQ page.

Is Online College as Good as a Traditional College?

It depends on your chosen field of study. They are not exactly the same in terms of class styles. You won’t get direct and instantaneous real time interactions with your professors or your fellow students. However, if you are looking to complete college or if you are looking to acquire for advancement in the workplace and you don’t have the time or money to go to a traditional college, this may be a good alternative. Check out "How Online Colleges Schools Stack Up to Traditional Colleges" on the Open Education Database.

Find Ratings of Online Colleges

There are some places that just rate online schools. If you want to see the ratings of different colleges throughout the United States, you can see where they stand on the College Scorecard published by the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

You can also look for ratings through Peterson. There are many useful articles that provide advice regarding online schools. Alternatively, you can search 100 Best Online Colleges on The Best Schools website.

How do you know if an online college is legitimate?

First, it is important to make sure the school that you are interested in going to is accredited. Accreditation is the periodic screening of both traditional and online colleges and universities by regional and national accrediting bodies to ensure that they meet certification standards.

The federal government does not accredit schools, accreditation associations do. The U.S. Department of Education and CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) both monitor regional and national associations that grant accreditation. They also monitor the colleges that have been accredited under these regional and national associations. The U.S. Department of Education website has information about accreditation. If it is accredited, it will also tell you which organization it was accredited by and when. For more information about accreditation and how it works, visit CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation).

Types of Accreditation

There are two types of accreditation: regional and national. Regional organizations focus on schools in different areas of the country and the world. Up until about 25 years ago, regional accreditors were the only agencies that accredited degree-granting schools. National accreditors were only known for accrediting specialized trade or vacation schools. National accreditors were known for accrediting specialized trade or vacation schools. However, today many national accreditors have expanded their reach and offer accreditation for degree-granting schools.

Check to make sure your school that you are interested in attending is accredited. One of the most popular national accrediting organizations, the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), is recognized as a legitimate accrediting organization by both CHEA and the U.S. Department of Education.

• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC): Accredits schools in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA): Accredits schools in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS): Accredits schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Latin America.
• Higher Learning Commission: Accredits schools in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU): Accredits schools in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): Accredits schools in California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Palau, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Marshall Islands, and other Australasian locations.

If you earn an degree from an online school that is accredited by one of these associations, it will be considered as valid as a degree from any traditional college or university.

For more information about the accreditation process, check out "Accreditation of Colleges and Universities: Who’s Accrediting the Accreditors?" This handy chart about accreditation makes it easier to picture:

Why Does Accredidation Matter?

If you receive an online degree from a school that is not accredited, you may have wasted your money. You might not qualify for a professional license, or you might not be able to meet transfer requirements for higher-level programs. You might even end up losing your job because you lack the required educational qualifications.

In addition, students can only receive federal financial aid if the institution they are attending has been accredited from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Taking the time to find out if your school is legitimately accredited will save a great deal of trouble in the long run.

If the school that you receive a degree from a school that is not accredited, then it does not count.

What should I watch out for?

Beware of scam schools. These are fake schools offering fake degrees that are out there to take advantage of people. Here are some signs of scam schools according to College Degree Scams. All in all, take time to make your decisions and use your own best judgement. 

Books and E-books

• Back to School: Why Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Education 
• How to Master Online Learning; ebook version 
• Peterson’s educational and test taking guides
• Online Learning: A User-Friendly Approach for High School and College Students 
• Traditional Degrees for Nontraditional Students: How to Earn a Top Diploma from America's Great Colleges at Any Age 

Staff Blog Posts With Information About Online Learning

• 11 Free Websites to Practice English at Home 
• Learning Express Library: Practice Exams
• The Floating University and Other Online Learning Tools 

Also, check out our Adult Education page for information on our various free classes and events for adults at our various branches throughout Staten Island, Manhattan and the Bronx.