Best Online Colleges In Ohio Of 2024 – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

Online students deserve to have the same level of academic and personal support as on-campus learners. As you evaluate a school’s accreditation and degree options, look into its distance education services. Many schools on our list support online learners through career services, tutoring, library services and even online counseling.

As you research schools, account for factors like the following:

Consider Your Future Goals

It helps to clarify your long-term career goals before committing to a college. Understanding your objectives is especially important if you’re considering a school with limited options for online degrees. This way, you’ll avoid completing your general education courses and realizing you need to transfer to another four-year school to earn your desired degree.

You should also consider your budget and timeline. Completing your general education courses at a community college can reduce your expenses, especially if you attend a school that partners with four-year universities to offer guaranteed credit transfers or lower tuition. Many schools on our list allow you to transfer a significant portion of your total credits toward their degrees, meaning you can complete your upper-level coursework more quickly.

Additionally, many online programs provide flexible or part-time enrollment options. Enrolling part time allows you to balance other responsibilities, but it can lengthen your graduation timeline. Some programs also offer accelerated options for learners who want to graduate more quickly.

Make sure prospective programs meet industry standards. For example, if you want to become a teacher, make sure you enroll in a degree that meets licensure criteria. These field-specific stipulations may include programmatic accreditation, clinical hours or residencies.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

The total cost of your degree varies depending on whether you attend a public or private college, qualify for in-state tuition and enroll full or part time. The schools on our list charge between $7,546 and $24,203 per year in tuition, which means four years of education can cost between $30,000 and $100,000.

Many of the institutions on our list charge lower-than-average tuition: Data from the National Center for Education Statistics reveals that, in the 2022–23 academic year, public school undergrads paid an average of $9,750 in tuition and fees. Students at nonprofit private schools paid $38,421. Across a typical four-year degree, this totals $39,000 to $153,684.

Investigate financial aid to help lower your costs. Start by filling out the FAFSA® to determine your eligibility for federal loans and grants. Schools also use your FAFSA information to check if you qualify for need-based scholarships. Make sure you search for merit- or demographics-based scholarships from colleges and nonprofit groups. Finally, private loans can help you fund your degree, but you must repay them with interest, so borrow sparingly.