Consumer Maxim Holds True When Choosing An Online Degree - Compare Before You Buy

As a nation of consumers, we have become more educated...about consumption. We know to compare before we buy. We compare gas prices, grocery prices, automobile makes and models, all before we commit to buying.

Unfortunately, this understanding of comparing products or services to get the best doesn't necessarily seem to translate into comparing online colleges before we commit to one. Many people, when they decide to pursue their education online because of the speed and convenience the format offers, pick one, get information from it, apply, and take the courses. This is an unwise choice.

If we apply the same consumer maxim - compare before you buy - to online colleges we end up with a much better decision. If you are thinking of pursuing an online education, the wise way to proceed, is to gather as much information as you can from each college that offers the degree you're interested in. Then you can compare the colleges to each other, ask the right questions, and choose the one that is best for you.

Here are a few of the criteria you should consider when comparing online colleges before you come to a conclusion as to which one is best suited to you.

Accreditation

Is the college accredited? Does the US Department of Education or a State Department of Education recognize the agency that accredited the college?

Admission and Registration

What are the admission and registration requirements? Some colleges have limitations in these respects: age, academic qualifications, required testing, transfer of credits, and other academic policies.

Reputability and Reliability

Check if the college has been around for a considerable length of time. That will give you an indication of how well established it is. It will also tell you if you can count on them to provide technology that is relatively free of bugs.

Check if the college has a list of alumni. If possible, contact some of them and ask about their experiences. If you're unsuccessful contacting them, ask the college to provide you with their updated e-mail addresses so you can find out first hand.

Technology

Find out all the computer hardware and software requirements for the program you're interested in. Also find out how frequently technical support is available? Try to choose a college that has technical support 24/7. Also, is the entire course offered online or do you have to attend some sessions on campus?

There are other issues that should factor into your comparison, but these four are a few of the most important. The absolute most important thing to understand is this: Before you start earning your online degree, if you do some initial comparison work, you will have a much better experience throughout the process.

This release was published on openPR.