How to Find the Best Online University for You (and Your Major)

Top University

Searching for a great online college isn’t much different from doing a typical college search. There are a few peculiarities, but at the end of the day, your goals as an online student are the same as they would be if you were going to school at a campus college – to receive the best education for you and your major. Let’s take a look at how, step by step, you can go through the online college hunt process to determine which program is right for you.

Check Out College Rankings

While college rankings shouldn’t be the most important characteristic to you, it does make sense to check out what the experts, like the ones at OEDb, have to say about schools offering your major. Some schools rank only online colleges while others rank all schools together, online or campus. If possible, look for a ranking for your specific major, as this will give you more specific information. Remember, with any publication’s ranking system, it helps to know methodology (i.e., how the rankings were determined).

Make a List of Characteristics Important to You

Before you investigate any colleges beyond looking at rankings, sit down and make a list of the characteristics that are important to you in a college program. Do you want a program that offers tons of student independence? Are you interested in an online college that offers an in-person component during every semester? Is it important to you that their is financial aid available? As you think about what is most important to you, start to rank these characteristics. What do you need in a college program versus what do you want?

Go for Virtual Tours

Just because you aren’t flying around the country to visit campuses doesn’t mean that you can’t “tour” a college to get a feel for the program you’d be attending. Most virtual schools offer tours that include chatting with professors or staff members, attending an online class as a guest, and checking out the systems the school uses to submit work. Tour as many schools as possible and ask a lot of questions. If possible, make sure the tour is specific to your major, and if possible, talk to the head of your potential future department to get a feel for what the program is like. At the end of each tour, remember to get a phone number and name for the person you should contact if you need more information. You may think of questions later as you tour other schools.

Talk to Current or Past Students

Often, the most honest reviews of a college come from students, either current or past, who have studied there. If the college doesn’t provide contact information, social media is a great way to find students and ask for their opinion. Check out alumni groups on Facebook, pose your questions on Twitter, and connect with alumni on LinkedIn. Talking to someone who’s been in your shoes can really help to make up your mind.

Check Accreditation

If it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Any online college that is offering a bachelor’s degree in three months or seems to have lots of perks but no real information about your educational program is likely a scam – and you don’t want to lose your money just because something sounds good! Check with national or regional accrediting agencies to see if the school is listed, and if you’re going into a specific field (typically, one that requires a license to work, like nursing) check with major-specific organizations that accredit schools. Accreditation is extremely important.

Apply to Several

Believe it or not, the application process is part of deciding process. You don’t have to be sure you want to go to a school in order to apply. Many colleges offer vouchers to waive your application fee if you took a virtual tour, but even if they don’t, the money is well spent to apply to at least three schools. Once you apply, you’ll receive additional information about the schools if you are accepted, including information about cost, which is a big factor for most students. If your number one school doesn’t offer financial aid but your number two school offers a nearly free tuition, the latter might be the better option! In any case, apply to a number of schools before deciding which school to attend. Although many online colleges accept nearly 100% of the students who apply, you have time to make a decision before you have to respond to any letter of acceptance.

The Top Online Universities in America

The Internet has revolutionized education so that now you can earn a degree entirely online from the comfort of your home. This is perfect for working professionals or anyone who wants to get ahead in a career without having to go to a physical campus everyday.

	The University of Phoenix is world-renowned for being the largest online university. Phoenix boasts dozens of different degrees at all levels that students can choose from. In the last four years alone, the university produced 80,000 graduates in high-demand fields as nursing, health care, teaching and IT. In addition to its online access, the school has campus locations within 10 miles of 87 million Americans. Learn More About University of Phoenix
	In addition to a host of options for students needing to transfer existing bachelor's and master's coursework into one of its more-than three dozen degree programs, Post University also welcomes military personnel to join its student body. Post offers detailed opportunities for veterans, those participating in active duty, as well as military dependent students. Learn More About Post University
	Kaplan is organized into ten different academic schools, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, IS & Technology, Legal Studies, Nursing, Continuing Education, and Concord Law School. All told, Kaplan offers more than 125 degrees and programs both off- and online, with more than 70 campus-based locations nationwide. Learn More About Kaplan University
	Ashford is a private liberal arts university based in Clinton, Iowa. But thanks to the World Wide Web, students from all over the world can access their online coursework. Originally founded in 1918 as Mount St. Clare College, Ashford has Catholic roots and today its NAIA-level athletic teams are known as The Saints, which compete in the Midwest Collegiate Conference in over a dozen sports. Learn More About Ashford University
	Liberty University has the reputation of being the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation. Founded in 1971 by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell, Liberty's original name was Lynchburg Baptist College. Liberty obtained university status in 1984. In athletics, Liberty is a member of the Big South Conference for 18 sports, including football, hockey, and basketball. Academically, Liberty offers majors in over 70 subjects, including aeronautics, business, nursing, and more. Learn More About Liberty University
	For students looking for flexible and affordable online education, Walden University offers both. As a leading accredited online university for more than 40 years, Walden has more than 42,500 students, from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nearly 85 percent of Walden students are satisfied with their university, and would be likely to recommend Walden to others. Learn More About Walden University
	DeVry has dozens of campuses nationwide and delivers its coursework via the Web to thousands of online students studying for their degrees. At DeVry University, all degree programs are career-focused to ensure that proper training is given to students pursuing a specific job or career path. Learn More About DeVry University
	American InterContinental University, also known as AIU, is a private school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Founded in 1970 as the American College of Applied Arts, AIU today has seven campuses in the US and UK and runs its online program out of its Chicago offices. AIU offers degree programs in several subjects, including healthcare, business, education, criminal justice, and more. Learn More About American InterContinental University
	Founded in 1839, Boston University is one of the oldest and most trusted universities that offers online education. At Boston Online, students can study liberal arts, business, science, criminal justice, health, music, nursing, and more to become well-rounded and productive individuals. Moreover, online programs offer a better sense of flexibility and convenience. Learn More About Boston University
	Capella University was founded in 1991 by Stephen Shank, the former CEO of Tonka, who felt that working adults were underserved by traditional brick-and-mortar universities. While their offices are located in downtown Minneapolis, being an online university, the majority of learning takes place outside of campus and instead via the Internet. Their motto: "Knowledge is solving problems no one else can." Learn More About Capella University
	In 1892, S. Irving Strayer founded Strayer's Business College. Today, this is known as Strayer University and has over 70 non-residential campuses with more than 50,000 students nationwide. Strayer is highly regarded as producing as many students with computer science degrees as any other school in the country. Learn More About Strayer University
	Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 as Grand Canyon College, an Arizona Southern Baptist school. (It reached university status in 1989.) Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, GCU is typically featured among the Top 10 online colleges as ranked by The Online Education Database (OEDb). Learn More About Grand Canyon University