An online degree can cost as little as $3,000 – or over $100,000. More than 12,000 online degrees and certificates – and no two charge the same tuition. Our affordability rankings reveal who offers the best – and worst – buys in online degrees.
Enrolled in an online degree program? Alumni of an online college? Visit your college or degree program in our directory and "grade" – rate and rank – its performance. Your opinion will help others "get educated" about the real-life ratings of thousands of online college programs.
Not all online colleges rate the same in the eyes of the public or potential employers. How does the public rate your online degree? Do they rank it high – or rate it low? Help rate and rank all the choices. Your opinion will help others "get educated" about the real-life reputation of thousands of online colleges.
"Anybody who's thinking of enrolling in an online degree ... take a good look at GetEducated.com . Go ... get a free download of a detailed guide ."
Searching for an Online MBA?: "Several websites can help .. first, GetEducated.com offers free rankings of distance-learning MBA programs."
"Beware diploma mills... Go to GetEducated.com and ask the Diploma Mill Police."
"For a distance MBA you can pay from $6,000 to $120,000. To get the most bang for your buck ... check out GetEducated.com"
GetEducated.com – "a great source for weeding out phonies" (among online colleges).
"Thanks much for your wonderful site! I've recommended it to my students and entered a program I found at GetEducated.com." --Charles Balch, MBA, Ph.D. --Professor, Arizona Western College
Articles
Browse Articles by Category
Online Education Facts & Statistics
Latest Online Learning News
Distance Education Primer
+ View All Categories in Online Education Facts & Statistics
Online Education Jobs & Resources
Online Education Careers
Resources for Online Educators
+ View All Categories in Online Education Jobs & Resources
Here is a list of 30-plus agencies that claim to accredit a variety of online and distance learning college degree programs.
NONE of these accrediting agencies are recognized as college accreditors in the U.S. by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education. As such, colleges claiming “accreditation” by these agencies are not widely accepted as valid providers of higher education online and should be approached with great caution if online college credibility is important to you.
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst | February 13, 2009
What Is College Accreditation?
Accreditation provides for the independent review of education programs for the purpose of determining if that education is of uniform and sound quality.
Why Is Accreditation Important?
College accreditation is important if you want to have a public record of your learning that will be widely accepted by employers, professional associations and other colleges and universities.
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst | February 02, 2009
Question:
Help! Choosing an online college is an overwhelming task. I have a list of more than twenty possible colleges. I’m favoring one online college that is accredited by the Distance Education & Training Council (DETC). Is the DETC a valid accreditor? Will my degree be widely recognized? My career counselor told me national accreditation (like the DETC) is not as good as regional accreditation. Which is better when it comes to online colleges: regional accreditation or national accreditation? And does it really make any difference?
—Michael Atlanta, Georgia
Answer:
The truth? One type of online college accreditation is not necessarily “better” than another if you take “better” to mean “better academically.” However, there are real benefits to attending a regionally accredited college versus a nationally accredited college.
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst | February 02, 2009
Question:
I have a friend who claims he earned his college degree online by “testing out" of courses and by putting together a portfolio of all his work and military training over the last two decades. Is it really possible to earn an entire online degree based on career and life experience, or has my friend been scammed big time?
—Todd Modesto, California
Answer:
Input “college credit for career experience” into any search engine and you’ll be swamped with hundreds of websites that promise to review your resume and convert your career experience and training into a college degree.
Most of these websites are indeed scams.
However, a few are the real deal. A select handful of these online colleges represent solid opportunities for seasoned professionals to jump-start a college degree.
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst | February 02, 2009
Diploma mills, also known as degree mills, are bogus universities that sell college diplomas—the piece of paper itself—rather than the educational experience. Diploma mills literally crank out paper diplomas to anyone who pays the requested "tuition.”
Don’t be fooled by online degree mills.
Many maintain impressive-looking websites. All of them advertise heavily online.
To protect yourself, you need to look behind the curtain. In other words, flip past the flashy graphics on the fancy website for the name of the school’s accreditation agency.
I’m looking for an online MBA. I’ve found several that fit my budget but none are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them?
—Roberta, Gary, IN
The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation. But not every student needs an AACSB-accredited MBA...
I was laid off from my job as a real estate agent and want to be a high school math teacher, but my bachelor’s degree is in psychology. Do I need a new degree in education? Will an online bachelor’s in education qualify me to become a licensed teacher?
—Willis, Houston, Texas
If you didn’t earn a bachelor’s degree in education years ago and you now want to teach in the public schools, don’t fret. Every state maintains what are termed “alternative teacher certification” programs...
Champlain College’s 42-credit, unique MSL program educates non-lawyer working professionals about the law. This regionally accredited program delivered by our experienced faculty of attorneys was designed to help you build a greater understanding of the law. This distinct degree will help you become an objective thinker and equip you with the tools you need to appraise and evaluate real-life legal situations. Navigate the law with confidence! Contact us at 1.866.441.0427 Ext. 3517.
CTU Online brings innovative, career-relevant degrees completely online, so students can learn anywhere, any time, on any computer with Internet-access. Degrees are offered in Business and IT at the Bachelor's and Master's levels. Students can earn multiple CTU Academic Certificates in each degree program without taking additional classes or adding tuition cost. Colorado Technical University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
For active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and military families.
More than half of military students use online education. What do you need to know to find schools that best fit your needs? How can you find the best financial aid and scholarship package at your online school? Answers are here.
The field of online education is growing and so is the need for teachers who can teach online. Check out our regularly updated list of online job opportunities, post your job availability, and visit our Online Resource Center, with tips, advice and free downloads for online educators.
Facts from GetEducated's National Survey of Online MBAs. Who offers the cheapest online MBA? Do you need an AACSB-accredited distance MBA? Online MBA rankings and ratings. Everything you need to know to compare 390 accredited online MBAs from 168 online business schools.
I’m looking for an online MBA. I’ve found several that fit my budget but none are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them?
—Roberta, Gary, IN 
The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation. But not every student needs an AACSB-accredited MBA... 
