There are many college options out there, and one of them includes online schooling. But if you’re looking to get a remote degree, it’s important to know how to find an accredited college online. Many traditional universities offer online-only programs along with on-campus learning, and some colleges are mostly or even 100% online. And while lesser-known online college programs can get a bad rap, there are good programs out there that don’t have marquee names. However, it’s important to avoid the poor programs and scams that do exist. Let’s see how do you know if an online college is legit?
Do your research
Look for both institutional and programmatic accreditations. Remember that the former can be regional or national. Even if an online college seems to be accredited, you need to ensure that the accrediting agency is recognized by CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) or the United States Department of Education.
Look for the school’s location
Even if it is an online college, it should have a physical campus location or address for students to visit. Also, no accrediting agency will offer legitimacy to a fake university, so location is a big plus. Sometimes, a school’s website promises students a lot which sounds too good to be true. In most cases, these are scams students should stay away from.
Look out for admission scams
Some fraudulent colleges ask for tuition upfront without elaborating the details of the admission process or the academic rotation. If the admission criteria are too simple, then double-check the school’s reputation. Most universities ask for tuition payments to be in installments and also offer aid. If a school is not doing that, they warrant the question: are online colleges legit?
Look for corresponding traditional campuses
One easy way to ensure legitimacy is to opt for online programs managed by reputable brick-and-mortar institutions. They offer online students the same quality and academic rigor as their traditional programs, and the faculty remains the same. What can be a better way than this to ensure that you are enrolling in an accredited college.
Find out the student support system
Accredited online universities offer varied resources to set students up for success. This includes student services and student support systems that offer students everything from library services and tutorials to advisors who guide students until they complete their education and get their online degrees. They should also provide information about placements and jobs and related career information.
Look for student reviews and feedback.
Many students post reviews on the college websites as well as on related educational websites and study portals. These will give you a good idea of the school, its programs and what studying there feels like. If getting a degree seems too fast and easy, then step back and double-check the school’s reputation and ranking. Online degrees may be flexible but require the same amount of effort to be completed, and any website telling you otherwise is not to be trusted.
7 Signs that show that an online college is not a legit one
If you are researching for an online college that this process can be very stupendous especially if you have no idea what you are looking for. There are some ways following which you will be able to spot scams. So you need to be alert if you notice any of the following signs in the online college you are applying for.
Not being able to prove accreditation
You need to cross-check all accreditations before signing up for any online college. You also need to understand the fact that a scam college can show any fake agency. So, you need to ensure that its accreditation is legitimate. Now, if you notice that a college says that is it internationally accredited, then you can be sure that something is fish because no genuine college in the US is internationally accredited.
They are money-minded
If you are forced into paying for the classes which haven’t started yet, it can be a sign that the college is after your money and it is not a legit one.
Quick Degrees
An illegitimate online college would promise of providing quick degrees. Even if you complete your course at the fastest possible pace, you are not supposed to get a degree so quickly. The process of receiving a degree can never be instantaneous.
Familiar Names
If you notice that the name of the college sounds very familiar and resembles a university you have heard of, but it looks a bit off, then it’s time to be alert.
No students services
A legit college always provides academic counseling or tech support. If you don’t see any sign of student services then this is enough to blocklist the college.
Strange or No physical address
Even if a college is fully online, it should have a physical address for its headquarters. If you don’t find out the address and see a P.O. box or some weird address then you need to be cautious. Besides this, it should also have some legitimate contact information. Make sure the college URL has a .edu extension. If not then it’s not a legitimate one.
No transfer of credits
If you are planning to move to another college or university later, try to check if your future college is accepting credits from the online college you are opting for. If they deny it, it is high time you reconsider your decision.
Conclusion
Online degree programs can be valuable and rewarding. However, if you haven’t verified whether an online school is legitimate, you might be setting yourself up to get scammed. That means you’ll be out of a degree — and money. Stay cautious but optimistic when you’re combing through accredited online colleges. The more research you do in the beginning, the less likely you are to encounter fraudulent or lower-quality schools.
