Online Graduate Schools: What You Should Look For in an Online Grad School

Would you like to pursue a postgraduate degree, but you do not have the time to attend classes at a college or university? Many graduate degrees can be obtained online these days, but you need to ask some questions before you pick a program.

So you'd like to earn a master's degree? In the past you'd often have to quit your job in order to do this, and in some circumstances even relocate to the site of the college or university where you planned to study. These days, however, there is a cheaper, simpler option - you can pursue a graduate degree online! Before you enroll in the first degree program you find, though, there are a few factors you need to consider.

Is the program accredited?

Always look for accreditation - regional accreditation is fine in some cases, but certain professional degree programs require additional certification - if you plan to sit for the bar, you'll have to make sure your law degree is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) . Likewise, a degree in library science will be much more likely to land you a job if your program has been accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).

Does the program require any resident time?

Some online programs nevertheless require a certain amount of time spent on site at the college or university - this time can range from a few days per year to a number of weeks or even months (usually during the summer). Be sure you can commit to the time and travel involved before choosing such a program.

What is the cost of the program compared to similar online programs?

Online degrees are not necessarily inexpensive, and can cost as much as the tuition were you to attend classes on site. The savings to you comes in the fact that many classes are scheduled during night and weekend hours, permitting you to keep your day job, and of course there are no commuting costs, nor do you have to relocate. This being said, the fact that you are not limited by geography as a factor may allow you to choose between a wider range of programs, some of which may be less costly than others. If you find a program which is much, much cheaper than all other similar programs, though, beware - and check carefully into the cause of the lower price. Do they save on faculty salaries by having less-qualified instructors do online teaching? Or is the program in some way subsidized by a grant, in which case the lower price might be entirely legitimate? Just do your homework - before as well as after you enroll in a graduate degree program!