“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

– Benjamin Franklin

Going to college is a big investment — not just of money, but also of time, effort and hope. That’s why do your research before signing up for any online degree program.

The total cost of college is based on a very wide variety of factors. Locating the cheapest online college per credit hour, in fact, does not necessarily mean you’ve found the best bargain. That’s because book or lab fees, travel and living expenses (in the case of a traditional campus school) and various “hidden fees” can drastically affect the total cost of your degree program. Financial aid can also be a major factor in making your degree far more affordable.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Bachelor’s Degree Online?

An online degree can offer great cost savings and flexible scheduling. That’s why they’ve become so popular with adult learners, particularly in the current economic environment. This year, over one million adults are taking degree or certificate programs delivered 100% online in the U.S., according to Eduventures, and the University of Phoenix reports that its average student is now 34 years of age. If you’re a working adult who needs a realistic way to increase your salary, an online program is particularly attractive.

The major you choose can have an effect on your cost. A school will seldom charge the same for bachelor’s or master’s degrees across all subject areas. Tuition for a quarter credit hour in most programs at Purdue Global University, for example, is $371. But it’s $315. for a nursing BSN and $305. for students in technology or business programs. Those small-sounding differences can add up over the course of a 180 degree program. If you’re a military veteran, you may be able to take these programs for just $230. per quarter credit hour. There are also price variations at the graduate level. While master’s programs in education, criminal justice and other popular specialties cost $420. per quarter credit at Purdue, the number for business and health care administration degree fees is $485.

What are the best accredited online colleges?

You need to be clear about not only at the cost of an online degree. It’s also extremely important to understand a school’s accreditation status. Getting a degree from an accredited school is key if you want employers to take your education seriously.

The accreditation system in the U.S. is quite confusing, because it’s based on a very old system where several different organizations do accreditation on a regional basis. You can get a quick overview, however, by going to the U.S. Department of Education’s “Database for Accredited Postsecondary Institutions & Programs” page. It’s possible to search this database in several ways: by entering the name of a school you’re interested in, by searching for all schools in a state or by finding schools that have been approved by a specific accreditation agency.

If you enter the name of a school into the search box and hit “search,” you may get several schools that have similar names (particularly if your school has a state in its name). Click on the name of the school you want to find out about, and you’ll get a page listing its accreditation status. You will also find specialized accreditation info in this page, where accreditation for specific academic programs will be listed. Keep in mind that some schools have different programs accredited by different agencies, or have only some of their programs accredited . If the school doesn’t have overall accreditation, make sure that the specific program of study you want to sign up for does. Another good way to search for schools is by using the drop down box that searches by accreditation agencies. You can find colleges that are accredited by specialty groups like the Council on Occupational Education, the Association for Biblical Higher Education or the Distance Education Training Council (a good one if you’re looking for an online degree program). It’s a good way to turn up more narrowly-focused accredited schools you may not be aware of.

Yet another highly respected group that has a good site for accreditation search is the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Its accreditation database lists over 7,500 schools that give degrees or certificates, as well as 17,000 plus specific education programs that have been accredited by CHEA, the U.S. Department of Education, or both.

Top Online Degrees For Careers

SuccessDegrees.com is designed to help you be a smart shopper, not just for cheap online degrees but for the right schools and academic programs that can help you improve your career earnings and satisfaction over the long run. We look in-depth at colleges and universities in career categories like:

You’ll also find articles here on how to:

In addition to our bachelor degree coverage, we look closely at:

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Schools Specializing In Online Degrees

Sponsored Schools

Purdue University Global

A very large and well-known school with over 40,000 students on 11 campuses and in a large online degree program, and top quality accreditation. Offers a very wide range of degrees in:

– Criminal Justice

– Education

– Health Care

– Nursing

– Computer Technology

– Information Systems

– Legal Studies

Learn more about Purdue’s degree programs

Ashford University

San Diego, CA-based school, Ashford University offers a vast array of degrees online across the range from associate to bachelor and masters. Degrees available in:

– Business Management – BA & MBA in 19 different specialties

– Early Childhood Education

– Marketing

– Health Care Studies

– Homeland Security

– Psychology

– Sports Management

Get information on Ashford’s online programs

(Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission, 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001, www.wascsenior.org.) Certain degree programs may not be available in all states. For more information about on-time completion rates, the median loan debt of students who completed each program, and other important information, please visit: http://ashforddisclosures.com.

Colorado Technical University

CTU is a large institution based on Colorado Springs with over 25,000 students. It has solid regional accreditation (the best kind) and has been ranked #1 Best for Vets in the category for online and non-traditional universities by Military Times Magazine.

Offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees online in

– Criminal Justice (multiple specialties)

– Business

– Accounting

– Project Management

– Information Systems (multiple specialties)

– Logistics

– Psychology

Learn more about Colorado Tech’s degree programs