How to choose Good Distance Learning Colleges

Distance learning colleges vary significantly in their approach to delivering online programs.

Before committing to any program from a distance learning college, be sure to use this checklist of questions to get to the truth about their online programs. We’re talking about your future and many hours invested in bettering yourself, so be thorough in your investigating different learning colleges of interest.

• Is the School Accredited?

  This is the single most important question to ask. There are six regional accrediting agencies that complete a thorough evaluation of the quality of teaching delivered at the college or university and grant accreditation or not. If one of the colleges is not accredited, check with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education to determine if they will be receiving accreditation soon.




• How many years has the school been offering courses online?

  For any college or university to offer classes online, there is a trial-and-error process involved. The more the number of years the school has been offering online classes, the greater confidence you can have that the challenges of putting a class online are worked out.




• What’s the instructor-to-student ratio in the program you are interested in?

  Keeping this ratio in the 1 to 10 ratio is best online, especially if you are interested in getting a graduate degree online. When this ratio gets over 30, there is little if any time for the instructor to spend in-depth time with you. For many programs, a 1 to 20 ratio is average and allows time for instructors to work with you. Many distance learning colleges strive for this goal.




• What is the refund policy in the event you have to drop a class?

  Schedules change quickly and if you are working full time and are a parent, your time is tight. If your job workload increases and requiring travel it may not be possible to finish a class. Get to the bottom of the refund policy before ever signing up for a program.

All distance learning colleges are not created equal. Here are some distance learning colleges that meet all of the above criteria and are worth considering for your choice of distance education program. You can view the list of all of them to request for free information, compare program offerings and costs to help you make a better judgement.