How to Find a High Quality Online Degree Program

More students than ever are choosing to complete their degrees online, with the economy and culture placing a heightened emphasis on highly-qualified candidates. High demand has driven a large number of competitors into the marketplace, and for the potential student the choice of where to complete your degree is perhaps the most difficult hurdle to overcome.

Knowing What You Want
For me, it was particularly frustrating because I knew I wanted an online degree from an established public or private university with academic clout. I knew from the beginning that I didn't want to go with any of the recent, highly commercialized entrants to the degree market. The drawback to searching for this type of online degree is that the established universities don't invest anywhere near the same amount of advertising of their online programs as do the commercial options.

With that in mind, I'd like to provide some resources to other degree-seeking candidates to help them connect to online degree programs that are associated with established brick-and-mortar universities. By utilizing these search methods I was able to find a program through Colorado State University (CSU) that perfectly suited my needs.

Check Your Favorite Universities
Start your search by visiting the websites for the universities you would most want to physically attend if you had the time available to do so. It's surprising how many of them offer a limited sample of their degree programs in an online format. For example, Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU), Regent University, and Colorado Christian University all offer liberal arts degrees online that might be a good fit for the Christian student wanting a broad-based education. They also offer ministry degrees for a more classical religious education.

Go Local
If there are no specific universities to spark your search, the second option is to check out local community colleges and state universities. The advantage to this type of search is two-fold. First, your education dollars will most likely go farther, as in-state tuition is often far less than the tuition at the privatized, online degree granting institutions like Kaplan and College of America. Second, your tuition money stays in state and helps the economy of your local community. Through this type of search I was able to match myself to a degree through Colorado State University's Global Campus.

Search By Degree Program
Finally, if none of these searches reveal the online degree that suits you best, try a web search through Google, Yahoo, or the engine of your choice. But limit the search results by including terms that specify your needs. For instance, very few institutions offer online English degrees. So if you are searching for it, you should include the term "English" in the search.

Seek Recommendations
It's always a good idea to look for recommendations from people you know and trust. Put out a query on your social networking sites, or send a text message out that you want some unbiased reviews from people who have already obtained their bachelor's or master's degree through an online program. When you get responses, be sure to ask questions related to the helpfulness and qualifications of their instructors, the financial aid process, and the value of the degree to their careers. You are looking to invest a lot in this process, and you deserve to get the best experience possible.