Knowing how to choose the best online program
There is as much variety in school options as there are reasons to continue studying
Scott Kilgore was frustrated. He had been a registered nurse for 18 years, specializing in oncology and emergency care, but every time he tried to advance his career in nursing administration he hit a wall.
“After three years of interviewing and being told by recruiters that I was going to have to get a master’s-level degree in order to progress further, I finally took their advice,” the 44-year-old said.
He enrolled in George Washington University’s online master of science in nursing program.
“The flexibility was key for me,” he said. “Two crosscountry moves for my husband’s job and the adoption of our daughter, Parker, never disrupted my education.”
After graduating with his master’s degree in 2016, he enrolled in the university’s online doctor of nursing practice program and graduated in May.
This year, millions of adult students will enroll in online courses ranging from those that are part of an advanced degree curriculum like Kilgore’s to a professional certificate program to a single course to acquire a specific new expertise. The impetus for heading back to school is often a desire to change jobs, or to add skills. But sifting through the slew of online offerings can be puzzling.
Here are steps to help sort through the options.
Interview schools and professors
Louanne Saraga-Walters, 50, who runs a video production company in St. Petersburg, Fla., spent months researching an online program to select for her master’s of science degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. “I have a full-time business and knew I wanted an online program, but I really got lost in a quagmire of what’s offered,” she said.
She discovered she had an interest in functional medicine, or a holistic approach to health and wellness. Then she began to drill down and ask questions of the program directors. The program she chose was offered at the University of Western States in Portland, Ore.
Important questions: Are career services available to help online students find internships or jobs after graduation? Does the program or school have an alumni network of prospective employers? Will graduates be prepared to pass a certification or licensing exam in their field?
Calculating the cost
The range of virtual offerings provided by public, private and for-profit institutions is extensive and eclectic, and the tuition per course is varied.
“You can take an online class for anywhere from $25 to $700, or enroll in a full-online program, where you will generally pay the same tuition as a face-to-face program,” said Karen Miner-Romanoff, the assistant dean for academic excellence at New York University’s school of professional studies. “Some courses are a blend — part online, part faceto-face. It’s important to understand exactly what you’re buying and what you’ll be able to do at the end of the course.”
Look for accreditation
If you’re paying to take a course for credit, make sure the institution is accredited, Miner-Romanoff said. There are about 75 regional, national and specialized accrediting agencies that serve as overseers for postsecondary institutions that have access to federal student aid.
The agencies regularly appraise the quality of institutions to certify they comply with federal education law. Most public, private and nonprofit higher education institutions are regionally accredited, while national and specialized accreditors review for-profit and trade schools.
Quality Matters, a nonprofit organization providing standards for courses and program review, is another indicator of worth in the online universe, according to MinerRomanoff.