Welcome to Top5OnlineColleges.org – a resource for learning about educational technology and finding accredited online degree programs. We started the site to help answer commonly asked questions about what to expect from an online degree program. You can also follow Andrea Hart, our site blogger, who is a faculty mentor at Southern New Hampshire University.
As an introduction, click on each question below to jump to a detailed answer:
- How are the best online colleges determined?
- How are online colleges different from traditional colleges?
- What degree paths can be pursued online?
- What is accreditation?
- How do prospective employers view online degrees?
How are the best online colleges determined?
To help us find some of the best colleges and universities that cater to distance learners, we turned to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The list below features a collection of the top accredited schools from all over the country that give students the option to pursue a variety of certificate, undergraduate, or graduate degree programs entirely online (source: NCES.ED.gov: CollegeNavigator, data 2018).
| School | Description |
|---|---|
 American Intercontinental UniversityAccreditation
| "American Intercontinental University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting, acquisition and contract management, business, criminal justice, economics, education, health services administration, information systems, marketing, and public administration. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, AIU graduates have the opportunity to apply their new knowledge in the workforce." |
 Antioch UniversityAccreditation
| "Antioch University provides learner-centered education to empower students with the knowledge and skills to lead meaningful lives and to advance social, economic, and environmental justice. We aspire to be a leading university, offering learners and communities transformative education in a global context that fosters innovation and inspires social action." |
 Colorado State University - Global CampusAccreditation
| "CSU-Global Campus is committed to advancing student success in a global society, investing in human capital, expanding the state economy, and enhancing the quality of life for citizens in the state of Colorado and beyond by providing access to dynamic degree programs characterized by academic excellence, innovative delivery technologies, and strong stakeholder engagement." |
 Florida Institute of TechnologyAccreditation
| "Florida Tech’s mission is to provide high-quality education to a culturally diverse student body in order to prepare students for entering the global workforce, seeking higher-education opportunities, and serving within their communities. The university also seeks to expand knowledge through research and to serve the diverse economic, cultural, and societal needs of our constituencies." |
 Grantham UniversityAccreditation
| "As a 100% online university serving a highly diverse student population, Grantham believes education should enhance your life – not get in the way of it. That’s why everything we do, every single day, is centered on our students – minimizing potential obstacles and maximizing quality learning. You do your part by working hard to earn your degree. And we do ours by providing you an exceptional Grantham experience that leads to an even more amazing career." |
 Johnson & Wales UniversityAccreditation
| "Our university mission is to deliver an exceptional education that inspires professional success and lifelong personal and intellectual growth – the JWU College of Online Education gives us another way to deliver on that promise. Graduates will leave with professional competence, a foundation for lifelong learning, and respect for global and community citizenship." |
 Northcentral UniversityAccreditation
| "As a regionally accredited, private, online and graduate-focused university, NCU offers doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business and technology management, education, and psychology, as well as doctoral and master’s degrees in marriage and family therapy. NCU utilizes a one-to-one learning model to create a more personalized, individual experience for students enhanced by their professors’ real-world experience." |
 South UniversityAccreditation
| "Believing that qualified individuals should have the privilege of formal academic training, South University welcomes those who seek educational challenges. To this end, the University provides a learning environment, both on campus and online, that helps students identify goals and the means to achieve them. Students learn by interacting with a community of faculty, staff, and administration dedicated to the university’s academic purpose." |
 University of Wisconsin CollegesAccreditation
| "Designed for working adults with some college credit or on-the-job experience, UW Flexible Option breaks free from rigid semester schedules. Start any month, move at your own pace, and test whenever you’re ready. You can also use your current knowledge and prior experience to progress toward your degree, which may help save you time and money." |
 Walden UniversityAccreditation
| "Walden University provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change. Through programs that reflect current market trends and promote positive social change, Walden is committed to helping you achieve your goals, enabling you to make a difference in your career and community as a Walden graduate." |
Click here to search for other popular online colleges
How are online colleges different from traditional colleges?
Before online colleges, students hoping to finish a degree while working had to create a schedule that coincided with both classes and work. This can be difficult for students who work full time or have family commitments.
The chart below outlines a few notable differences between online and traditional colleges:
| Online Colleges: | Traditional Colleges: | Delivery Format: | Instruction takes place synchronously (all participants in the course log in at the same time) or asynchronously (participants log on and participate as their schedule permits), or some combination of the two. | In an offline setting, the instruction takes place in a traditional, face-to-face classroom or lecture hall. |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility: | Depending on the program, online schools offer students the flexibility to engage in coursework whenever and wherever it’s more convenient for the student. | Traditional schools require students to physically attend classes at a specific time and often at a campus location. |
| Interaction: | Online learners communicate with faculty and fellow students through discussion forums or chat rooms to replicate traditional classroom engagement. | Traditional learners communicate with faculty and fellow students via face-to-face interaction in a campus-based setting. |
| Cost: | Online students can save money on transportation and other school expenses such as student activity fees and classroom supplies. | Traditional schools often charge students miscellaneous fees, ranging from student activity fees to a healthcare fee, in addition to room and board and transportation expensives. |
| Resources: | Online students are often offered access to an online library or database or a catalog of Internet-based resources. | Traditional schools typically have on-campus libraries and computer labs for students to use before, between, and after classes. |
What degree paths can be pursued online?
Distance learning provides a convenient and cost-efficient alternative to commuting to a physical campus, and your options are numerous. More and more school now offer online courses and programs, either exclusively or to complement their traditional curriculum.
The chart below offers useful information about your options and possible career opportunities post graduation:
| Degree Path: | Overview: | Career Options: | Online Business Programs: | Online business degrees are available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels. General and specialized business degrees types are also available in areas such as business management, administration, and marketing. |
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Online Computers & IT Programs: | Online computer and information technology degree programs offer the skills and training necessary to secure jobs in many markets including business, medicine, science, and design. Degrees in this field are available at all levels, including doctorate and certificate programs. |
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|---|---|---|
| Online Education Programs: | Online education programs offer degree options that focus on child and adolescent development, curriculum design, administration, teaching methods, instructional strategies, and literacy development at every level including certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs. |
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| Online Healthcare Programs: | Online healthcare programs often include programs in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, and other social and behavioral sciences. Many schools offer these programs at the associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral level. |
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| Online Liberal Arts and Design Programs: | Liberal arts and design programs cover a broad range of disciplines, from English literature to graphic design. You can also study history, political science, or anthropology. Design programs also cover a wide variety of topics, including digital design and photography. |
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| Online Management Programs: | Online management degree programs are available at all levels from associate’s to doctoral degrees in a variety of in-demand fields, including accounting, project management, business law, and computer applications. |
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| Online Nursing Programs: | Online nursing programs are growing in popularity due the increased need for trained healthcare professionals. For currently registered nurses, graduate-level programs are also available for advanced training in a specific area of nursing. |
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| Online Psychology Programs: | Online psychology programs allow students to earn the credentials necessary to work in this field in a variety of different settings. Online psychology degrees are available at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels. |
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| Online Science & Engineering Programs: | Science and engineering are two fields with excellent career potential and a variety of specializations to choose from. Many schools offer degree programs starting at the associate’s level up to a PhD. |
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| Online Social Sciences & Criminal Justice Programs: | Online social science criminal justice degrees are available at all levels, ranging from associate to PhD as well as certificate programs for those seeking to develop and enhance their skills and expertise. |
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What is accreditation?
Accreditation ensures the program is valid in the academic world and by employers. Schools without this accreditation typically do not have well-developed programs and are lacking in integral areas. Programs must meet certain requirements in order to be accredited. Finding an accredited program is the first thing you should look for when researching online schools.
There are many websites that promise a degree with little or no admissions process. For master’s and PhD degrees these are usually diploma mills and are not credible. Verify a school’s accreditation status as well as other useful information by visiting the sites listed below, provided by the U.S. Department of Education:
- Overview of Accredidation: For more information about accreditation and what is involved, here you’ll find a detailed explanation with helpful links.
- The Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs: This database is a comprehensive list of accredited educational institutions and/or programs.
- Accreditation Agency List: Here you’ll find a list of recognized accrediting bodies with links to their respective sites.
How do prospective employers view online degrees?
A common concern of prospective online students is if employers look at an online degree as favorably as a traditional one. Educational opportunities offered by online schools have grown tremendously in recent years, and these schools provide students the same high-quality educational standards and learning opportunities as their traditional counterparts. As interest and participation in online degree programs continues to rise, many employers now view online degrees and traditional degrees equally, when the following criteria are met:
- Verify accreditation: Make sure you enroll in an accredited college trusted by employers. This is the number one factor that can ultimately kick start your career.
- Attend an online school with an established brand: According to U.S. News and World Report, an online degree from an established school with an excellent reputation is a must.
- Be direct about your online degree: Be sure to highlight how your online education will bring value to the workplace, emphasizing your independent learning and time-management skills.
A degree earned from a fully recognized and accredited online university will help you earn you a higher position and more money. More education leads to higher earnings, lower unemployment. Just look at this chart below from The Bureau of Labor Statistics:
In today’s job market what you know determines what you earn. And the more you know the more you make! Whether you earned a degree online, partially online, or at a traditional college or university, a diploma will help increase the chances of getting that interview, and ultimately, the job.
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