Prospective students have many options when choosing an online school

Prospective students have many options when choosing an online school

Currently, more than 2.5 million students are taking distance learning classes, according to U.S. News and World Report. As more Americans demand affordable and convenient higher education, online universities will continue to grow.

Individuals who are seeking an online degree may not know where to begin. One of the first decisions prospective students make is what level of education they would like to pursue. Online schools offer associates, bachelors, masters and doctorate degree programs.

Adult learners may also want to consider what type of school is right for their needs. Most community colleges and almost half of all four-year universities offer distance learning programs, the news source reports. For-profit online schools are also growing in popularity.

Price is another important factor to consider. Online courses can cost less than $500 or as much as $3000 each, although many schools offer financial aid for qualifying students.

Adults interested in web-based learning may also want to research school credentials.

Over 3.9 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2007 term, which is a 12 percent increase over the number reported the previous year, according to data from the Sloan Consortium.

By Mark Danson