| If you're an older adult who's always wanted to | | | | can also ask the school itself for references and find |
| continue your education and you just haven't had time | | | | other students who have attended a particular |
| to, or if you want to go back to school for that | | | | distance-learning program, to make sure that it |
| advanced degree but a full-time job keeps you from | | | | provides the quality education you want. Of course, |
| signing up for classes, you're in luck. Today, online | | | | you'll also want to check your field of study and find a |
| universities afford nontraditional students, parents, | | | | distance-learning institution that specializes in that. |
| those with full-time jobs, and others not able to go | | | | Another consideration for many students is financial |
| back to school full time in a traditional university setting | | | | aid. Previously, students attending distance-learning |
| the opportunity to continue their educations on their | | | | programs were not offered financial aid unless at least |
| own schedules. | | | | 50% of their education was completed on a physical |
| It used to be that if you wanted to go back to school, | | | | campus. This is no longer true, which is perhaps as a |
| you had to go to school part-time, at night, or | | | | result of both the improvement of distance learning |
| otherwise arrange your schedule inconveniently, so | | | | education programs and the recognition that this type |
| that you could attend classes on campus. Alternatively, | | | | of education is, some say, the wave of the future. |
| of course, you could quit your job if you had the | | | | Today, it is often considered a luxury to be able to go |
| means to do so and go back to school full time. | | | | to school full time as a student, and these types of |
| However, today, you can keep your full-time job and | | | | programs recognize that no longer can many people |
| your regular schedule intact and still get that degree | | | | simply drop their lives and go to school full time. Many |
| you want. Got kids you need to be home for? No | | | | students these days are nontraditional students with |
| problem. An online university lets you attend classes on | | | | other responsibilities beyond their own lives, so that |
| your own schedule, be home for your kids and | | | | they do not have the luxury to devote three or four |
| anything else you need to be there for -- and | | | | years' time exclusively to an education. |
| oftentimes, you won't have to step foot outside your | | | | Perhaps the best place to help you determine your |
| door to do so until the latter part of your education, at | | | | potential school's accreditation is to look at the regional |
| least. It's likely that you'll need some hands-on fieldwork | | | | accreditation board in your school's area. If your school |
| study eventually outside your home, but you can get | | | | is accredited by this board, it will be fully accepted by |
| the early parts of your degree done completely at | | | | employers and other professional organizations as a |
| home and on your own schedule. | | | | legitimate school. This, in turn, makes it much easier to |
| One of the first things you need to do is to look for a | | | | get employment and recognition. In fact, many |
| university that is fully accredited. For this, check the | | | | organizations and employers will not recognize a |
| school and make sure it has accreditation from the | | | | degree unless it is from Best Online Colleges However, |
| Department of Education and the Council for Higher | | | | if you take the time to make sure your university is |
| Education; the Distance Education and Training Council | | | | accredited, your online education is every bit as valid |
| is the accrediting organization for these types of | | | | as one you would obtain on campus. |
| schools, also called "distance learning" institutions. You | | | | |