Colorado Technical University

When it comes to online colleges/universities which are the best?

Choose from the list and tell me any experience you may have or know. I'd also like to know how was the curriculum, professors, fin. aid, were you able to transfer to another university with ease, and were you able to find a position within your field of study. Thanks. Drexel University Post University University of Phoenix Strayer University Keiser University Everest University Grand Canyon University Kaplan University South University ITT Tech American Intercontinenatl University Capella University Lynn University Argosy University American Public University Bellevue University Ashford University Westwood College Colorado Technical University Devry University Florida National College Hodges University University of Maryland University College Walden University Virginia College Mountain State University St. Leo University South University Herzing University

Public Comments

1. Most of the colleges on your list are worthless. Exceptions (reputable colleges) include: Drexel DeVry (Engineering Technology only) U Maryland—UC Mountain State Some pure online universities which should be on your list include: Athabasca U Western Governors U Excelsior College How did you get this list? Is someone trying to scam you?
2. The first priority in identifying the credibility of any college is regional accreditation , and "technical schools" (e.g., ITT Tech) are less likely to be accredited. The US has six legitimate recognized regional accreditation agencies accreditors: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement(NCA) Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA) Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS) Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU) “If you earn a degree from an online school that is accredited by one of these associations, you can be assured that it will be as valid as a degree from any regular university. Most employers and other universities will automatically accept your degree. National Accreditation vs. Regional Accreditation Alternatively, some online schools are accredited by the Distance Education Training Council. The DETC is also recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. DETC accreditation is considered valid by many employers. However, many regionally accredited schools will not accept course credits from DETC accredited schools and some employers may be leery of these degrees. … You can find out instantly if an online school is accredited by a regional accreditor, the DETC, or another legitimate accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education by searching the United States Department of Education database. You may use the CHEA website to search for both CHEA and USDE recognized accreditors (off-site link) or to view a chart comparing CHEA and USDE recognition (off-site PDF chart). Note that "recognition" of an accrediting agency does not guarantee a particular degree will be accepted by schools and employers. Ultimately, regional accreditation remains the most widely accepted form of accreditation for degrees earned both online and at brick-and-mortar universities.” (http://distancelearn.about.com/od/accreditationinfo/a/regional.htm) I have a PhD from Walden and found it to be a professional institution. I work for the Am Public Univ System, and the graduate courses I teach are exceptional, that's all I'm willing to say. Base purely on rumor involving one individual, the U of Phoenix may not be the best. But, I know of several graduates of public universities who were less than competent. As far as transfering credits, doing it with ease may not be that easy from online schools to brick and mortar schools (easier the other way).
3. More than a few of those are not "online colleges" in the strict sense - they have campuses as well. If you're going to include colleges that have a campus AND teach online, there are a lot more colleges to pick from. In fact, that would be just about all of the 4000+ colleges in the US. Adding to PE2008 American Public Univ. (aka American Military University) if you happen to be in the military or federal service. And they're relatively inexpensive. Outside of government people get confused about who they are and think they're a military service school like the War College. Thomas Edison State College Charter Oak State College SUNY-Empire State Honestly though - why not pick from the likes of Harvard, UC-Berkeley, UTexas, UMass, Berklee Music, Cornell, Columbia, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, and 1000's of other fine colleges and universities that also teach online? Some of these are ranked by USNews for you. Mt State Univ, for example, is a tier 4 master's-south. Very much of your list (Not all of them, I don't know them all. Just most of them) could start out with "and in last place we have a tie between....." If a "last place" college is the best you can do (and I understand it is for some people) then just pick the one that is cheapest, the end result will be the same. "find a position in your field of study" - right now there are people graduating from the top 10 that can't find a position in their field of study or any position at all for that matter. Graduating from the bottom 10 isn't going to help your effort there very much. Honestly though - There are many employers that could care less where you graduated from as long as you can check off the box "has a degree" and the school is on the list of "accredited". If you already have an employer and some experience and just need to "check off the box" then one of these may do fine for you. If you need to actually learn a bunch of stuff so that you can be marketable in a career that you'd like to enter then go to a USNWR "top school" (50% of the ranked colleges) most have online programs, it's 2009. If you're looking for "cheap", "easy", or "fast" and think these are any of those - read again. They are none of those. Your local state college probably gets that spot. These are generally expensive, hard to graduate from, and can set you back a few years of coursework if you pick one nobody will accept for transfer. If you're looking for "just about anyone can get in" and "may graduate with a degree if they don't quit" you found the list. Most employers aren't actively looking for those people though. Some of your choices may not belong in this list. I suspect that's what you're looking for here. I can note that UMUC is a public college (state owned) which separates it from the others. Add: all of the schools on your list (and the additions of PE2008 and myself) are regionally accredited except: Everest, ITT, Virginia, and Westwood. Transferring those to an RA college would be nearly impossible. (I just verified the entire list)