Top 10 Best Online Colleges
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AIU Online
For 30 years, AIU has been helping students acquire the education necessary to help them gain confidence to enter the work force and push their professional life to the next level. AIU understands the needs of working professionals. Therefore, AIU has created degrees that gives complete control to it's students. Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs have been specifically created for students to choose where, when, and how they complete their programs. AIU is there to help students from the first day of class to career placement. With their award-winning Virtual Campus of AIU Online, and campuses across the nation, support is just a click away. Students are able to enter the professional work force with the confidence and degree they need to be successful.
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University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix prides itself on understanding the demands that many of their students are facing. They know that many of their students are those that are trying to balance the demands of a family and professional life. This is why the University of Phoenix strives to make education all about individual students. They want to help you every step of the way. Technology is key to keeping students connected to the University of Phoenix. The technology such as the online library, e books, and computer simulations helps students at over 200 locations and online get the education that they need. Since 1976, the University of Phoenix has offered Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and even PhD programs tailored to individual students. With these options available to students, graduates of the University of Phoenix will have real-world and academic experience to be successful in their chosen profession.
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Kaplan University Online
Since 1937, Kaplan has been ahead of the educational world. Kaplan does this by understanding the needs of employers and quickly taking the steps to implement these demands in teaching methods. Kaplan University is dedicated to providing educational resources to those seeking Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees. Kaplan University strives to provide students with learning opportunities to start, further, and even change careers. Students searching for a university that offers education, student-centered services, large support networks and cost-effective programs, should look no further. Kaplan is serious about education. Kaplan University is a part of Kaplan Higher Education Corporation—a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. Kaplan brings in about 50% of Post Company’s revenue. It is also the fastest growing division of the company. This means that Kaplan is the world's leading providers of education. They have educational programs for almost any age. Kaplan is the leader of education for test preparation for schools, children, professional training and post-secondary education. Those that enroll in Kaplan will be confident that they are enrolling in a top online institution.
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Liberty University Online
One of the top Christian universities, Liberty Online is devoted to educating representatives for Christ around the world. They educate those representatives in areas such as: nursing, criminal justice, education, Christian ministry, business, and many other fields. As a Christian university, Liberty has strived to instil the importance of training students in areas that God has called them to. They want their students to be the best in whatever field that they choose. Liberty is rated on of the best distance learning educators in the nation. With over 60,000 that have decided to pursue their education through Liberty, it has shown that it is one of the best in online education. It is also known for it's affordability and excellent student support. Liberty offers over 45 degrees for associate, bachelor's, master's and doctorate levels in convenient online formats. If students would like to learn more about Liberty University, they are welcome to visit the campus, or students can wait until they go to commencement and have their degree in hand.
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Ashford University Online
Ashford University is strongly committed to providing high-quality, accessible, affordable and innovative education that meets to many needs of individual students that are looking for an online education that can help them reach their career goals. Ashford University offers Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees in more than 50 degree programs on campus and online. Their goal is to create a high level of student learning at every level supported by technology. Their degree program is based strongly on online technology. Over 99% of their enrolled students are enrolled online. A degree that is earned at Ashford university will lead to personal and intellectual growth, effective leadership skills and a love for life long learning. Ashford University strives to combine a traditional liberal arts education with an accelerated online degree program. When a student enrolls in Ashford University, the should be confident in knowing that they will be getting a traditional college education by modern technology. Graduates will be able to enter the workforce confident that they have valuable skills.
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Everest University Online
Everest College provides a vast network of resources and tools to help students earn an online degree. These services include national accreditation, career-focused education, supportive learning environment, flexible classes, live student support 24/7, and career placement services. Everest college has received accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, allowing them to award associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees. Students and graduates of Everest college are located all over the United States and have a national influence. The most fundamental goal of each course is to train students to work in actual careers. Professors come to the school with years of experience, as well as the skills and background necessary to give students a practical education. Everest prides itself on providing opportunities for students to interact directly with each other, work on group projects, and have individual time with instructors.
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Argosy University Online
Argosy University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, is a dynamic educational system that offers courses to students both on campus and online. With campuses across the country, and online services reaching anyone, anywhere, they are able support thousands of students in completing their education. In fact, Argosy has the largest community of graduate school students of any school in the country. Some additional things the school prides itself on is being able to provide academic support, well-trained professors, and the option of attending either their Phoenix campus or an online school. Argosy believes that online courses make online degrees accessible to those with busy schedules and don't have time for formal classroom training. Interactive classrooms provide the same interaction with fellow students and teachers that a traditional campus-based course would. This also includes being able to communicate with mentors, careers services, student advisors, and other peers.
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Strayer University Online
Strayer University has spent over a century, since 1892, in helping adults complete their college education. Since it is difficult for adults with full-time jobs to find time to return to school and better their lives, Strayer offers another option with their online courses and degree programs. The ultimate goal is to make it possible for these busy adults adults to find time to earn a degree that is affordable and fits into their schedule. In fact, the average age of students at Strayer is 34, most of whom also hold down full-time jobs. With a total of over 60,000 students from around the country, and even internationally, as well as 91 actual campus locations, it's easy to see why so many adults are taking advantage of the educational services offered by Strayer University.
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Walden University Online
Walden University Online offers students a distinct online learning community that was designed for people in all walks of life. Founded in 1970 by two teachers, Bernie and Rita Turner, and a professor, Harold Hodgkinson, Walden University is committed to helping adults complete their education, regardless of their circumstances in life. Harold Hodgkinson, a teacher at the University of California, Berkeley published a paper called, “Walden U.: A working paper” that discussed his idea for a university that is centered around the students and their needs. Bernie and Rita Turner, impressed with Hodgkinson's work, joined forces to create what is now Walden University. The focus of all their efforts is to effect positive social change by providing online degree programs for working professionals. Ideally this will allow students to continue to work full time while simultaneously earning their college degree. By joining forces with the team of professors, students, national experts, scholars, as well as academic, government, and corporate partners who all support adult education, students will be able to compete their education and fulfill career goals through Walden University Online programs.
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CTU Online
Colorado Technical University (CTU) Online uses technological tools to bring distance education to students all over the world. With their system of advanced online campuses, CTU is able to give students the opportunity to gain practical, industry-current experience in their degree field. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and recognized by the US Department of Education, CTU is able to award creditable associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. CTU was founded in 1895, giving them over a century of experience in providing quality education, flexibility, and support for students. Their goal is to provide education and training that will help students not just get a degree, but have the potential to progress in their career for years to come.
Best Online Universities Ranking
You can interpret the best online universities ranking in numerous ways. Each ranking means different things to different people. If you are seeking to graduate with a degree from one of the best online universities, you should also consider which factors are most important to your career goals.
Determining Factors
What are the determining factors used when establishing the best online universities ranking? Each ranking list you read uses different comparison points. Some rankings may compare tuition costs, while other rankings may compare graduation rates. Prior to beginning to research rankings, you should establish which factors mean most to you. Are you looking for top schools that have associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs? Are you looking for rankings comparing online schools that offer both virtual and physical classrooms? You only benefit from ranking when you determine your ranking categories.
Now that you are thinking about what is important to you, it is time to look a bit further into the costs. Tuition costs are one of the most influential factors when choosing a higher education institution. Everyone creates prior to entering an online program. While some schools may be more expensive than other schools, it is important to look at the reasons why they there is a cost difference. If two schools are vastly different in their per credit costs, a strong possibility exists that one is regionally accredited and the other is nationally accredited. Nationally accredited schools are often less expensive, because their accreditation standards are often far less vigorous than a regionally accredited learning institution. Most employers prefer employees who have graduated from a regionally accredited online program. The additional cost you incur to attend the more prestigious program will return to you a higher salary once you graduate.
Tuition cost differences can occur for many reasons. Many online colleges are now offering incentives to attend their schools. They may offer a free laptop. This reflects in the price of tuition. In many cases, the tuition will only be slightly more. The school may not increase tuition rates offer you a free laptop. Another reason distance education providers may be slightly more expensive than other schools is that they offer physical classrooms, in addition to their virtual classrooms. Physical classrooms are more expensive due to higher overhead costs. These reasons may contribute to the additional costs you find at some of the top programs.
Degree Offerings
It is also important to look at degree offerings from the best online universities ranking. Not all of these universities will offer the degree program you want to take. If you seek a career in criminal justice, you should find the top schools with degree programs in criminal justice. You should also look at degree levels. If you are seeking to complete a master’s degree in computer science, be certain the rankings represent your needs.
