U.S. News Starts Collecting Data on Online Bachelor's Degree Programs

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This is the wave of the future. Online students get as much or perhaps more experience in researching and writing, I feel. I am at American Public University. They have a fully accredited (regional and national) set of programs in a wide variety of fields. The one downside is that you lack the face to face relationship building that is so vital to a career. It is not for lack of dedication, just proximity. The teachers are all great, helpful, and willing to foster and mentor students of any age. Issues of older folks returning to college really blossomed in the 1980s, and this trend continues, aided by online education. Many professional organizations have delivered training content via the web for years, but the online school is a true school experience because a strict schedule for completion is standard. It is not self paced, it is school. Most of the students I interact with are already working in a professional capacity in their course of study (mine is Environmental Science). A true rating will look at the ancillary support a school offers by way of the new web media available and networking with job opportunities, etc.

Henry of OH 9:44PM January 04, 2012

I am currently finishing my online degree with Kaplan University online. I am a travel nurse, which means that I am in different parts of the country for four to thirteen week contracts in hospitals that have temporary needs for staff. My original nursing degree is from a two year program. Soon after graduation, I realized that most hospitals required a BSN as a minimum requirement, so I began to look at programs that would fit the need and my diverse work schedule. I chose Kaplan because they offered a bridge program (RN to BSN to MSN), classes were in 10 week terms, the price was competitive, and the admissions were rolling. I have found that the online programs are user friendly, even for those less than computer literate, and the classes are set up for student success, given that you do the work and put the time into it. This is not to say that the classes are easy, but that you are provided the tools for success. I expect to finish the BSN by October, nineteen months after starting, and I will have completed 3 master's courses at that time. I advise my colleagues to consider this option when looking into programs for continuing education.

Suzanne Casey of PA 1:53PM August 07, 2011

The average online studentcannot go to regular classes due to their work, disabilty, or military status.Who cares how people learn. Just as long as they learn. There are many ways to catch a fish. I think it's a good thing. Online degree programs provide an educational opportunity to working adults, people with disability, and people serving in the military. Many skeptics tend to forget about the purpose of online education. The purpose is to assist those that cannot make it on campus. Not to lower the standards. In fact, I just read a newspaper article about the higher dropout rate amongst online students. That shows that the accredited schools is not lowering their standards to create online degree options. And no did I not go to school online or in person. I didn't even go college. I am person that can see the true purpose of online learning. Please open your eyes to the world around you and realize that everyone is not in the same situation. It is easy for a healthy non working or serving student from a successful family to go to a brick and mortar school without worrying about keeping a roof over their family head.

Kev of IL 12:40AM July 26, 2011

The prosecution rests. :-)

Math Guy of CA 9:42PM July 25, 2011

I didn't my schooling online and finished with better grades then i would have if i when't to a on campus school i have public anxiety disorder so a teacher asking me a question freaks me out and makes it hard for me to concentrate and being in a big class room with lots of other people make it even worse so it was perfect for me i was able to do my school at home behind my computer where i could concentrate and just think about my work not weather or not i would be called on to answer a question of he we would have to do a group project.

jess of IN 12:57PM July 25, 2011

I just have to comment here. What about those of us who spent 10 years or more earning their four-year degree in University classrooms? Those of us who spent too much time doing charity work, Student Government Directing, as well as leading various student organizations...and lived on campus most of the time. After getting out of college, this person (could be me) finds out that a Bachelor of Arts in [Name of Field] is worthless?
People like us, who already have an accredited BA degree from a highly-accredited, in-person only university, deserve a second chance that only an online degree can provide. School is expensive, but not if you go to the right places for online education. For example, part of the University of [a state] offers an online degree completion program in Mathematics. There is a catch, though...you must have completed all of your lower-division credits, 3 levels of Calculus, and take a cumulative (everything they expect you to know up to this point) entrance exam. This degree will get you into top-ranked on ground schools (the likes of Ivy-league, for example).
So what is so bad about online degree completion programs from prestigious institutions? For those of us who have done our time (and then some) behind a desk, lab goggles, dry erase boards, etc., in university classrooms, we should be the first to say that for-profit schools are not reputable (unless you like hanging worthless paper on your wall). For lifelong learning, it may be good; but as for getting a job, go to a real school (online or not)!
That was my piece on this issue; but as for US News, I would say to try ranking on-ground specific Undergraduate programs. That would really make a difference in education. :-)

Math Guy of CA 8:35AM July 25, 2011

Who cares how people learn. Just as long as they learn. There are many ways to catch a fish. I think it's a good thing. Online degree programs provide an educational opportunity to working adults, people with disability, and people serving in the military. Many skeptics tend to forget about the purpose of online education. The purpose is to assist those that cannot make it on campus. Not to lower the standards. In fact, I just read newspaper article about the higher dropout rate amongst online students. That shows that the accredited schools is not lowering their standards to create online degree options. And no did I not go to a school online or in person. I didn't even go college.

Kev of IL 5:25AM July 23, 2011

How can anyone be certain that some of these entirely online degree recipients did their own work when it is entirely ONLINE?
In traditional programs, you take exams under the nose of a professor, and your papers are screened for plagiarism. Can anyone seriously tell that an all-online bachelor's degree recipient did all of his or her own work?
If anyone working in HR is not a skeptic about this, then they should become one very soon!
Hire from the traditional non-profit programs first and pay those grads premium salaries. Why? Because they can better prove that they honestly EARNED IT.

Big Skeptic of IL 12:50AM July 22, 2011

It will be exciting to finally get an understanding of how successful online education is. There can be a lot done with it and there is a lot of potential in its reach. This data compilation will be extremely useful in making changes and tweaking the programs. In our online Master's degree program we have seen a lot of sucess and satisfaction in the program. It will also be interesting to see how online high school will do.
http://education.cu-portland.edu

Education4All of CA 4:03PM July 21, 2011