Top Online Colleges for Higher Education

The benefits of pursuing higher education online are many. Online colleges allow students to finish classes around their own schedule rather than that of an institution’s. This makes it possible for individuals who have families or full-time jobs to pursue the dream of higher education when it might previously have been impossible.

But once you have decided to use an online college to complete your degree, you have to choose from the many online schools available. It is important to take this task very seriously as not every online school lives up to the same standards. You might, for instance, be tempted to choose a school based on pricing alone. This would be a grave mistake, as many companies claiming to be online colleges are often unaccredited or even completely phony.

ACCREDITATION AND YOUR ONLINE SCHOOL

Accreditation is the first thing to look for when choosing an online school for higher education. Accreditation is a rigorous process in which online colleges and universities are observed over the course of several years by an outside agency. The online college must conform to a number of different guidelines to prove their commitment to education. If a online school is not accredited, don’t even waste your time reviewing it.

TOP ONLINE COLLEGES

There are many, many colleges available, but a sampling of some top reviewed institutions include the following:

  • Kaplan University Online. One of the largest online universities with ample campus locations to supplement your online education.
  • University of Phoenix. Perhaps the most widely recognized name in online schools; this quality institution has both campus and online learning programs.
  • Capella University Online. A quality online school that offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral degrees. They are best known for their Psychology, Business, Accounting, Finance, Education and Technology degrees.
  • Westwood College. This accredited online school is a best bet for degrees in the arts/humanities, computers/IT and social sciences/criminal justice.
  • AIU Online. With more than 35 years of educating students, this online school has proven its worth and its ability to provide students with the skills needed to compete in the fastest growing jobs and industries.
  • Virginia College. An established online school with a high degree of popularity, this institution has an impressive reserve of degree programs to choose from.