| The advantages of Online degrees are not black and | | | | at other online universities. Most schools disclose |
| white, but shades of grey. Companies and | | | | tuition, courses and admission requirements on the |
| departments that are not allowing employees to be | | | | website. |
| reimbursed for online degrees are missing out on a | | | | The above are negatives about some online |
| popular and convenient education format. | | | | programs. There are other, more serious attempts to |
| They are many good reasons to support online | | | | lure students into signing up for less than acceptable |
| learning. Some of the positives are: More Degree | | | | means.o School reps say they are "accredited" but |
| Options; More School Options; Save on Travel Time; | | | | the accreditation bureau may be owned by the |
| Meeting with Learners and Professors from all over | | | | school's owner or stock holders. Most companies |
| the Country. | | | | require their employees to attend Regionally |
| We don't see articles that list lots of negatives about | | | | Accredited universities and colleges. The Council of |
| online degree and online schools. Some of the | | | | Higher Education Accreditation (chea.org) has the |
| negatives are problems and concerns and some are | | | | listings of regionally accredited schools.o The online |
| outright deceptions. There are suggestions below to | | | | school may be a Diploma Mill (also known as Degree |
| check out each of these problems.o Some | | | | Mill) with a name similar to an established school. |
| universities overload classes and professors are paid | | | | CHEA offers information on Diploma Mills at: chea.org |
| per student. The results are less time with a | | | | degreemills/frmPaper.htmo School demands most of |
| professor. Ask the college representative what is the | | | | the year's tuition upfront and is non-refundable if |
| average number of students per online instructor.o | | | | student quits or does not like the program. |
| School may have accreditation problems or financial | | | | Remember that reputable schools do not ask for |
| aid issues. These problems do not show up in your | | | | program costs up front and always have a Drop |
| local newspaper because the online school is at the | | | | Schedule that allows you to get tuition back within a |
| other end of the country. Do an Internet search for | | | | certain time. |
| the school name to read about any problems or | | | | You and other working professionals may spend |
| irregularities.o Online schools may ask for personal | | | | thousand on an online degree, or your company will |
| information before giving out tuition costs, listing of | | | | reimburse the costs. Spending some time researching |
| courses or answering questions. If the information is | | | | the school to make sure the school meets with the |
| not on the website and representatives will not | | | | company's criteria, as well as your own, is an |
| answer questions before gaining your personal | | | | important first step to take. |
| information (even the Social Security number), look | | | | |