Best online colleges for your education

Online colleges have become a go-to option for students seeking a rewarding academic experience without the additional pressure of having to attend a land-based institution. However, choosing an online college has also become somewhat of a challenge for working professionals, parents, and younger people alike. Just as you would ask a professional essay service to write my paper and take care of their academic performance, students similarly expect their needs to be taken care of when applying to accredited online establishments. 

However, colleges with online programs are not strictly limited to accepting tech-savvy learners who know their way around academic websites and archives. Such programs are often aimed at diverse backgrounds and levels. Someone who works nine to five would appreciate an upgrade to their skills, while busy parents would find top online colleges helpful if that means balancing the responsibilities of a family member with earning a degree. Traditional students would be willing to trade the classic education paired with relocation with a safer and cheaper option that does not involve relocation or paying for rent. Moreover, legal businesses have started to recognize the importance of online education, with the stigma surrounding online education being dismantled. 

Today’s online colleges are just as rigorous in terms of curriculum and methods as traditional establishments, which helps reduce the perception of online education as being a lesser counterpart of its on-campus rival. The best online colleges are no longer perceived as useless. Instead, the number of applicants is increasing each year.

Best online college: making a conscious choice

Selecting the best online colleges is a decision that can shape your academic future. To make the most informed choice on the subject, you have to consider a number of factors that can impact the selection process and tip the scales in favor of a particular establishment:

Accreditation

Think of the best online colleges that have valid accreditation as a seal of quality that guarantees the institution has a reputation to uphold and is not a shady establishment that conceals its origins or the credentials of the people working there. Just as you would seek college paper help from tried and tested online professionals, the same can be said about the process of choosing a college. Picking one without accreditation is like playing with fire: you might be stranded with a diploma the companies refuse to recognize or a degree that doesn’t hold any weight in the business world. However, there is always a solution: you can check the list of the best online colleges using relevant databases.

Program offerings

The best online college will have a wide range of subjects available to its applicants. The most common online degrees you can pursue with a flexible schedule and a powerful job prospect are psychology, sociology, business administration, computer science, and education. Online colleges wanting a steady stream of applicants pursuing a degree will also ensure specialized certifications for working professionals are available. Whether you are more aligned with liberal arts or science, the colleges will allow you to select a course that matches your ambitions.

Affordability

The cost of online education at accredited online colleges tends to be lower compared to classic universities. However, this doesn’t always mean that you can easily neglect the hidden costs at online institutions or ignore the financial aid options existing for multiple college students. It is recommended to compare the tuition fees in online colleges you are applying for to know the approximate pricing range and the budget you are operating with. Moreover, finding an institution that is both credible and budget-friendly will save you considerable funds in the near future, making the process of ordering and writing a college paper a walk in the park. 

Technology and resources

The best online colleges are perfectly equipped to take care of your academic needs, whether it is the colleges having a 24/7 support team you can communicate with or featuring access to the most advanced educational resources and platforms you can utilize for free. A seamless educational journey will depend on the establishment’s willingness to provide you with unrestricted access to e-libraries and educational materials needed for your lectures. To ensure the online college has a range of resources available in a few clicks, read student reviews on trusted platforms.

Career opportunities 

If you have selected the best online college as your primary learning source, you need to know whether the college alumni have had success while searching for job opportunities and if the establishment’s certificates indeed open doors to career advancements. Some online colleges you will encounter have established a catalog of online career services that include resume-building courses, smart techniques for your job interview preparation, and paid internships to apply your skills in real life.

Best online colleges: a comprehensive list to consider

Below, you will find the list of the best online colleges for you to consider:

University of Florida Online 

UF Online is one of the best online colleges known to students who seek advanced education in the fields of healthcare, medicine, education, business administration, and management. At the moment, the university has over 20 undergraduate and graduate programs for learners, with the average annual cost never exceeding 15,000 USD. The establishment also features an extensive financial aid program for students who need to improve their budgets.

Penn Foster College

Penn Foster is an institution that offers bachelor’s degrees in science, criminal justice, business, and IT disciplines. It is internationally famous mainly because of its self-paced schedule that you can regulate according to your current commitment and working capacity. The college is focused on career-oriented approaches that would fit seasoned learners who need an affordable payment plan. Penn Foster is ranked as one of the online colleges with fees varying from 1,500 USD to 8,000 per program and a monthly installment plan.

Independence University

One of the best online colleges for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in graphic design, healthcare, and business, Independence University has a unique feature that sets it apart from other online institutions, and that is a fast-track completion program for those who are reluctant to waste precious time learning how to write an application essay or craft lengthy admission letters. Here, the students will have access to a support team that operates 24/7 and a team of dedicated instructors sharing success stories and career advice with seasoned learners.

Ashworth College

Ashworth College offers associate and bachelor’s degrees in business and tech - a lifesaver for students who are unwilling to engage in liberal arts programs and feel the need to venture off the beaten track with a tech degree of their own. It’s also one of the best online colleges for applicants who prefer to study at their own pace without spending a fortune on tuition. You can expect to pay a maximum of 5,000 USD per program, which is a ridiculously small amount for a college having zero government aid.

Columbia Southern University

Ready to get your bachelor’s degrees in business, criminal justice, healthcare, and emergency management? Columbia Southern has decent regional accreditation, which is more than enough to give your degree the necessary credibility. Plus, they are mainly focused on catering to adult learners who have full-time jobs they need to tend to, so you will never feel pressured to squeeze into the establishment’s tight schedule or enroll for a start date in September. The enrollment is open all year round, with payment plans at one of the best online universities out there starting at 5.655 USD per year.

Bryant & Stratton College Online

This is the best online college for people who are solely career-oriented and need a steady income in the healthcare, business, or legal field. Bryant & Stratton has a unique selling point in offering career-focused support from professional consultants, meaning you will receive detailed instructions on how to apply for your dream job and pursue your passions after you graduate. The college has scholarships available for advanced learners, with the cost ranging from 9,000 USD to 18,000. 

Grantham University

Being one of the best online colleges for business and computer science degrees, Grantham is known for its extreme flexibility in terms of student curriculum. It is also a veteran-oriented institution, ensuring former military personnel get VIP treatment as well as a specialized accelerated course that will last eight weeks and guarantee your employment afterward. The cost does not go beyond the standard amount for an online college program (7,000 annually).

Lakewood University

Lakewood features bachelor’s degrees in legal studies, business, and healthcare. It is one of the top online universities for adult learners who are familiar with the selected field and need our collection of college essay samples and an accelerated, self-paced university course to get them back on track. The establishment issues certificates that are highly accredited in the business community and allows you to tap into its monthly payment installment plan without federal aid. The tuition fees are flexible and reach 8,000 USD annually at most.

Purdue University Global

Purdue features programs in criminal justice and IT, with financial aid options that reduce tuition costs by half. The institution promotes a self-paced approach to learning and is strictly career-oriented. If you are a working adult trying to balance your daily responsibilities with educational goals, you can use a personalized learning option with a fast degree completion feature. The fees are around 300 USD for an undergraduate program and 400 USD for graduate courses.

Rasmussen College

Rasmussen is the best online college for students aspiring to earn a degree in business, tech, and education. It’s also highly acknowledged for its considerable contributions to the healthcare educational field as well as various business programs. The college has specialized scholarships available to dedicated learners, a fast course completion program, and a tuition fee ranging from 11,000 USD to 22,000 USD per year.

How to achieve success in an online college program

Being a part of an online college program comes with its own set of challenges. Here is what you can do to maintain a proactive mindset while learning:

• Use available resources. Use the resources available to you through university databases. This can include utilizing the university’s e-library, customer support, and counseling services that can be accessed in multiple online institutions. 
• Build a support system. Feel free to share your accomplishments with family members or friends to create a healthy learning environment. Celebrate small victories and connect with peers who have applied for the same course.
• Manage your time effectively. If you are a working professional who needs a perfect time balance to thrive in an online college environment, try combining your personal duties with academic assignments daily. Creating a schedule and a solid routine can be just as helpful as setting reminders on your phone or using Google Calendars for time management.
• Stay aligned with your objectives. Staying motivated is no easy feat, especially when it comes to the best online college program and its own rigorous requirements. The trick is to divide your goals into short-term achievable accomplishments and long-term objectives that require more hard work and resilience. This helps build your stamina without burning out.

Online degrees perception 

Most dedicated learners are worried about the employer’s perception of their education mode when applying for an online college program. In the past, getting an online degree was akin to wasting your time on meaningless tasks that had little to no accreditation in the workplace. In recent years, however, the employment offices have shifted their perspective and started viewing online education as a hub for tech-savvy learners with team management skills and a penchant for self-discipline. An online degree from an accredited institution is just as valuable as an academic degree issued by a traditional establishment. The college’s accreditation is the key aspect for determining whether the online degree is an asset for the job market.

Conclusion

The rise of online colleges is not a coincidence but rather an effective tool for making education more democratic. The online college program is no longer defined by the rigid societal standards of traditional learning. Instead, an online degree became available to students worldwide. Working professionals and high school graduates are equally welcome to enroll in accelerated educational courses without having to compromise their routine responsibilities or neglect their duties in favor of online education and a degree from an accredited institution.