A: Accredited online universities require high school verification that applicants have earned a high school diploma or the equivalent.

A number of online institutions differ from traditional schools in that they do not require you to have taken a standardized test such as the SAT or ACT. Check with an Admissions Counselor at the school you’re considering.

Tests such as CLEP, AP, and DANTES allow you to earn college credit for independent study, on-the-job training and military training. This provides you with the opportunity to have advanced standing without ever having taken a college course.

Finally, depending on the university, you may have the ability to apply and enroll for classes anytime whether online and/or by phone. Admissions information is typically posted on the university’s website.

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A: College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP)
The CLEP program offers exams to earn college credit for what has already been learned from independent study, training or military experience. General education requirements in Math, English, Business, Science, Foreign Languages and many others can often be met through successful completion of CLEP exams.

Approximately 2,900 colleges grant credit or advanced standing for CLEP exams. The cost of a CLEP test is free for military personnel and veterans and usually $60 for traditional students. Many people take CLEP exams to earn college credits faster. To learn more about the program or to get study guides and practice tests, visit the College Board website.

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A: Advanced Placement® Program
The AP Program offers high school students the opportunity to experience college-level academic studies. Thousands of colleges award credit or advanced placement to students who receive qualifying grades on the AP exam. The cost of the test is about $60, and a qualifying grade can make you eligible for advanced standing at over 1,400 institutions across the United States. For more information, visit College Board website.

DSST Exams
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) sponsors a variety of programs to help qualifying individuals meet their educational goals. The exams are given on more than 560 military installations by the DANTES Test Control Officer (TCO). Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs) were originally designed for the military, but they are now available to civilian students as well. The DSST program allows you to obtain college credit for what you have learned in non-traditional ways by demonstrating your knowledge in commonly taught college courses such as Business, Physical Science, Humanities, Social Science and Applied Technology. College credits are awarded based upon test scores. Visit the DSST website for more information.

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A: You may have the ability to receive credit for corporate training courses. The dean of the college in which you wish to earn a degree will determine whether or not the course(s) you’ve taken are eligible for college transfer credit.

You may also receive credit for relevant work experience in a professional field that meets the institution’s experiential learning requirements. Again, check with your dean to understand your university’s policy on experiential learning.

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A: According to the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid programs are the largest source of student aid in America, providing over 70% of all student financial aid.

Source: U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Website.

There are private sources of aid too, such as loans from non-governmental organizations, and scholarships from companies, civic organizations and universities. The majority of students today receive some form of aid, so it’s worth your while to investigate all options. The U.S. Department of Education has the following major Student Financial Assistance (SFA) Programs:

Grants
This is assistance you do not repay.

Federal Pell Grants
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs)

Loans
Loans are assistance you must repay with interest.

Stafford Loans are low-interest loans that can be repaid after graduation. Interest rates are low compared to a typical consumer loan.

PLUS Loans (PLUS) are government guaranteed loans that are not based on financial need that help parents pay for their children’s undergraduate education.

Federal Perkins Loans are low-interest loans (5%) supplied by your university for students (undergraduate and graduate) with significant financial need.

Consolidation Loans enable borrowers to combine several types of federal student loans with various repayment schedules into one loan.

Work Study Programs
This allows you to work to earn money to reduce education expenses.

Federal Work-Study programs allow undergraduates and graduates to work in their field of study or perform community service work in order to earn money to defray education expenses this is in the form of campus-based employment.

Undergraduates may receive grants, loans, and Federal Work-Study.

Source: The U.S. Department of Education website

Learn More about Financial Aid programs.

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A: Listed below are four easy steps to applying for Financial Aid:

Four Steps to Financial Aid

1. Sign-Up for Your Federal Personal Identification Number (PIN)
   To do this, access the website, www.pin.ed.gov. Follow the instructions on the site to apply. If you are a dependent, one of your parents must apply for the PIN. The PIN is used to sign all documents needed in the financial aid process. It takes three days to get your PIN, so apply for yours right away.
   
   
2. Next, as soon as you receive your PIN, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will need your Social Security Number, Drivers License, and a copy of your last year’s Federal Income Taxes or W-2s. If you are a dependent, your parents will need to provide their Federal Income Tax information from last year. The website to complete the FAFSA is: www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will need the school code for your University.
   *Please note that it should take approximately 30 minutes to complete the FAFSA.
   
   
3. Your Financial Aid Advisor should contact you and assist you with additional documentation and answer your questions. Please note that it’s important to respond to requests for information as soon as possible.
   
   
4. That’s it! In order to prepare for starting school we encourage you to successfully complete all of your necessary documentation well in advance of your first day of class.

For more information on Financial Aid, please click here.

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A: Distance learning allows you to earn your degree at the times and places that work best for you—at home, from your office, even while traveling! You complete your education in the way that is most efficient and convenient for you. There is no commuting, there are no crowded classrooms and no schedule conflicts. You simply click into class and start learning. There is also enrollment flexibility. Many courses start when you are ready, not just in September and January.

Other advantages of online learning include savings of both time and money. Most online degree programs take less time to complete than in traditional institutions. The average distance learner completes a Bachelor’s degree in only two or three years. The cost savings of taking less time to complete a degree alone can make it economical, but when you factor in the savings on living expenses or commuting distance learning becomes a real value.

Both people who prefer to study alone and those who enjoy group learning can find classes online, but distance education is not for everyone. For the most part, distance learners must be self-motivated, disciplined and fairly computer literate. Students without these qualities may prefer a traditional classroom where there is more structure. And although online instructors and others (such as help desks) are available to the student, there is no face-to-face interaction.

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A: In general, course content is comparable—not more or less difficult. But there are other factors that go into the 'difficulty' perception.

One is involvement. Today’s eLearning can be pretty exciting with multi-media courses, real-time group interaction, and dynamic, online tutorials. Outside of class, students may interact on group projects through email, message boards, chat rooms and conferencing.

Like traditional college courses, some of the learning takes place during classroom experiences and some takes place while studying on your own. Many students feel that they can achieve better focus online because the material (or exercise) is on the screen, right in front of them, without the distraction of a room full of other students.

Another issue is the pace at which learning takes place. Online courses may run for 5 to 16 weeks, depending on the institution. A five week course may seem like a quicker timeline than some courses, but in some cases, you’ll be taking just one course at a time. And, you can view most class lectures at your own pace—even stopping and restarting when you need to—and studying when and where it’s most convenient.

When one-on-one interaction with an instructor is what you need, take advantage of more technologically advanced universities regularly scheduled 'live' office hours. Get to know the online resources that your university provides. Some universities have extensive research and study resources including research links that save time and effort. Free programs may even be available to make you a better writer or even a stronger student!

While the courses aren’t more difficult, the learning process is certainly different than traditional classroom learning. For many, online learning fits like a glove. Be honest with yourself about your learning style and preferences. How much do you get out of the social aspects of being physically present in a classroom? How focused and motivated can you be on your own?

If you’re a self-driven individual, committed to getting your degree on your own terms, you should be right at home with the eLearning lifestyle!

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A: At some online universities, you can listen to your professor’s lecture during live classes. Some courses require students to login at specific times and other classes allow you to view archived lectures for later viewing at your convenience.

Outside of class, you may be able to confer with professors during designated office hours or via email.

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A: Online universities can be the perfect choice for community college students. Many degree programs have been designed to help you graduate faster than at a traditional college. For students who have had some college or military experience, some universities offer a baccalaureate degree completion program to allow you to earn your degree faster. Under this program, students who have earned an Associate Degree at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education may be accepted for block transfer into a Bachelor’s degree program and to apply their credits toward their Bachelor degree requirements.

Research comparing distance education to face-to-face schooling shows that studying at a distance can be as effective as traditional instruction, when there is student-to-student interaction, and when there is good teacher-to-student feedback. Based on your academic experiences, you should realize how important being proactive about this type of interaction can be.

The course content at most accredited online universities is very similar to that at brick and mortar colleges. Many online universities boast instructors with advanced degrees and prominence in their fields. Some would argue that there are more hands-on learning opportunities and real-world application in online classes than the large lecture halls of traditional schools.