I issued a new release today:
Ottawa (Tuesday, November 6, 2007) - OnlineDegreeReviews.org has recently awarded its annual Top Five Best Online Degrees and Top Five Worst Online Degrees as rated by current and former students at www.OnlineDegreeReviews.org.
Dubbed the Student Choice Awards, for the all time top five best online degrees, and Academic Probation Awards, for the top five worst online degrees, OnlineDegreeReviews.org has compiled the data based on student reviews over the past year to help prospective students choose an online degree.
When asked why he created the online degree awards, Steve Rawlinson, the Site Administrator responded, “The idea behind the awards is to help students find the best, and avoid the worst online degrees. Also to see if there are any trends, or generalizations that can be made.”
OnlineDegreeReviews.org gives the ability to current and former students to post reviews of online degree programs, and rate the program based on several criteria, including the professors, educational materials, use of technology, and overall value.
Potential students also have a place to voice their concerns and to get advice from their peers regarding online degree education in OnlineDegreeReviews.org's interactive community forums. It’s a place where people can share their knowledge of online degrees, experiences, and steps they took when considering distance learning as a viable way to further their education.
To view all the awards, or for more information please visit:
Student Choice and Academic Probation Awards
Today the $5 review writing campaign came to and end when the 100th review was written. I want to thank everyone that wrote a review. So, “Thank you!”
The campaign has been a great success. It seeded the website with enough reviews to make it a valuable resource and really helped to get the ball rolling so to speak. We also raised a total of $235 for charity, which I had the pleasure of donating today. For those interested here is a breakdown in how the 100 reviewers allocated their $5:
Cancer Society 17 x $5 = $85
Red Cross 20 x $5 = $100
World Wildlife Fund 10 x $5 = $50
PayPal 18 x $5 = $90
Total 65 x $5 = $325 (with the remaining 35 reviewers declining the $5)
Of course just because the campaign is over doesn’t mean people should stop writing reviews. There are still lots of colleges that don’t even have one review yet! So keep the reviews coming because I know they’re helping a lot of people that are considering an online degree.
Several people have asked me if unaccredited schools should be listed on this website. I have struggled to come up with a policy that is fair.
On the one side I think that any degree (accredited or not) that has value should be listed. I also trust that the reviews and comments by users of the site will help people decide for themselves if a particular unaccredited program is worth it or not.
On the other side of the argument, I don’t want unaccredited schools that sell fake degrees or offer little value to be allowed on the website (aka “Diploma Mills”). Listing such programs would open the website to spam and could mislead people into thinking the programs are legitimate.
For now I am only approving unaccredited schools on a case-by-case basis. They need to prove that they offer significant educational value.
However, let me be clear that Diploma Mills are not a gray area and will never be listed on OnlineDegreeReviews.org. In the USA alone there are more than 200 fake online colleges offering degrees for sale. Purchasing a degree from a Diploma Mill is dishonest, and I doubt that there are many people that would debate this. The implications of Diploma Mills go beyond individual purchasers. These fake degrees degrade the value of legitimate online degrees that honest students work very hard to earn since employers may have difficulty telling the difference. Not to mention all the spam emails these organizations send out.
I applaud any effort to combat the serious problem created by Diploma Mills. That’s why I am excited that GetEducated.com has created the Diploma Mill Police (SM). It is a free online college accreditation service that allows anyone to submit the name and location of any online university in the USA to find out if that college is a valid institution or a scam operation.
If you have the slightest doubt about a college then I encourage you to use this free service. You will learn if the school is accredited by a recognized agency (most degree mills are accredited but by fake agencies). You will also receive information about the schools accreditation status and reputation.
I’m not aware of any other efforts to combat Diploma Mills. Every little bit helps, so tell anyone you know that is considering an online degree about the Diploma Mill Police (SM) and why they should look for programs that are accredited by a recognized agency. You may save them or yourself a lot of money and frustration.
Today I made some minor updates to the website. Probably the most noticeable is the new "Most Reviewed" college list on the front page. It didn't seem fair to me that a college could have just one review (which could be unreliable) that rated it very highly and was therefore ranked higher then other colleges that had many reviews. At the moment Norwich University is the most reviewed with 14 people having reviewed the college.
The rest of the changes are all cosmetic and are probably so minor that no one will notice but me 
Review Writing Campaign
It's been approximately 6 weeks since the campaign launched and we're over 75% of the way to reaching the 100 review goal. If you do the math, that means we have raised almost $400! I don't have exact number, but most people have opted to donate their $5 so almost all of that will be going to the various charities. Great work everyone.
If you were thinking about writing a review but where putting it off, you better hurry up because the $5 campaign is nearing its goal of 100 reviews.
When I started this blog a few months ago I didn't know of any other blogs that followed online education. I've since found a few and I thought they would make a great addition to my last post about online resources. In no particular order:
OnlineUniversityLowDown.com - Lots of relevant posts about online degree programs with new entries posted frequently.
OnlineCollegeAndDegrees.com - Only a few months old, and maybe a few too many ads, but it has good information.
OnlineUniversities-Weblog.com - Over two years old, lots of great content contributed by several authors and frequent updates.
MyLearning-Online.info - Topics are a bit more general (online education, education technology) than the others, but gives a lot of insight into upcoming trends/chagnes in education.
If you know of any other online degree related blogs please share them by posting a comment.
Education.ZDNet.com - Also a bit general, but it is the only blog by a large commercial entity (ZDNet) on online education that I know about. They have been publishing on technology topics for a long time and have a good reputation.
Online learning has become a big business, at the close of 2005 approximately 1.2 million students were taking 100% online higher education programs and the number is expected to climb by 18.2% by the end of 2006, according to Eduventures, a leading education market research firm.
With such a growth it may no longer be as easy to distinguish between the credible unbiased resources and the cleverly disguised marketing of online institutions. The popularity of online learning and the virtual classroom has raised the stakes for colleges, which increases the competition for your money. So be wary of information provided directly from the colleges, always back up your decision with research.
The best place to begin would be with someone you know that has already taken an online degree, however you may not know anyone in your close circle of family, friends and acquaintances that has furthered their education through online learning. With the millions of sites and WebPages out there, where do you begin? Listed below are three of the best resources for online degree information (besides OnlineDegreeReviews.org of course!).
1. DegreeInfo.com is dedicated to the dissemination of accurate information regarding quality distance-based higher education programs and is a place where people genuinely interested in quality distance learning programs can come to discuss, learn, share, and help one another. The online discussion forum is probably the largest and best around.
2. GetEducated.com designed and directed America’s first online counselling center for adult learners seeking accredited online college degrees. They operate the only clearinghouse in the USA dedicated exclusively to showcasing accredited online degrees.
3. In our increasingly technological world, good books still have a place. Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning is one such example. The 16th edition walks the reader through the academic labyrinth of degree requirements, transcripts, scholarships, accreditation, equivalency exams, credentials, diplomas, degree mills, and includes more than 2,500 listings.
Guideline to Avoiding Scams, Costs, and Disappointments when deciding to earn an Online Degree
Too often people leap into registering for an online degree without doing all their research, which often leads to wasted time, excessive costs, and disappointments. Will employers recognize my degree locally? Is there anyway to shorten the length of time it will take me to complete an online degree? Will my credits be transferable? Is it really an accredited school or is it a degree mill? Has anyone else taken this online degree before me? If these have been some of your unanswered concerns, then you need to read this first.
1. Recognizable Online Degrees
If you have done your research and have earned a degree from a reputable, accredited online school your online degree will have the same standing as a degree earned from a typical campus-based one. In fact, for colleges that offer both online and campus-based learning, an online degree is exactly the same as one earned on campus. Nowhere on your degree will it be listed that you received your education online.
Before you decide on the college where you want to earn your online degree, you may want to consider where you will eventually be working and where your earned degree will have a better name recognition. Publicly funded and state schools, local to the area of your future employment searches are worth investigating, as they can be less expensive in the long run. This will offer the name recognition that your future employers may be looking for.
2. Equivalency Testing
Equivalency testing is an excellent way to complete your online degree efficiently and affordably. They require some studying, but you can significantly reduce the time it will take to get your degree. There are numerous colleges that will grant credit and/or advanced standing for successful completion of equivalency exams. The three most common equivalency tests are:
It is highly recommended that you first check with the school where you have chosen to earn your online degree about the tests you intend to take.
3. Transferable Credits
Transferring credits is a great way to shorten the length of time it will take to complete your online degree. Many potential students find that they can transfer previously earned credits and in some cases get credit for life experience. You should always check the transfer policies at the college you are considering by consulting with the school’s admissions or registrar office.
If you are planning to transfer credits earned from your online education to another school be sure to check the school’s transfer policies and pick your online degree accordingly. Regardless of whether you are taking online or campus-based learning some schools will not allow you to transfer certain courses, or will only allow a certain number of transfer credits to be applied.
4. Accreditation
With so many Online Degree e-mails entering your in-box you need to ensure that the online degree program you choose is reputable. But which one is right for you? If you want to earn a degree from home you need to know what you're getting into before you lose time and money. It comes down to accreditation.
Accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution or program that meets or exceeds predetermined criteria of educational quality. Basically, it's an academic stamp of approval. Of course it's not as simple as just finding an online degree program that is simply accredited.
Accreditation can be broken down into two major areas: Institutional and Specialized accreditation.
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation looks at the college as a whole, to make sure the college meets certain standards. Institutional accreditation can also be broken down into two areas: National and Regional accreditation.
National Accreditation
National accreditation, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), is required for institutions that seek eligibility for federal student financial aid. For employment purposes and credit transferability, you will want to ensure that the school where you plan to earn your online degree also has regional and/or specialized accreditation status.
Regional Accreditation
Also recognized by the USDE, however, accreditation by a regional body ensures your online degree will be recognized throughout the U.S. You will want to investigate to confirm if your school is accredited by one of the following six regional accrediting associations:
If you earn a degree from an online school that is accredited by one of these associations, you can be assured that it will be as valid as a degree from any campus-based school.
Specialized Accreditation
Specialized accreditation looks at a specific program and makes sure it meets certain industry standards. Most employers do not posses the time, money or manpower to look into the policies, ethics, and courses of every college. They rely on accreditation institutions to verify the overall academic quality of a college and whether or not the college holds up to that industry's standards. If you are planning to use your online degree into furthering your education, or acquiring employment into a specific industry (education, medicine, or engineering for example), you will need to certify that the online degree is approved by that industry.
There is no set of universal standards for accrediting a college; therefore, it is important to make sure the college you choose is properly accredited. Who accredits the college is also very important.
"Schools will advertise that they're accredited, which is what everyone's looking for,” says Steven Shapiro, VP of Marketing and Communications at Jones International University (JIU, Englewood, Colorado).
But some colleges may claim to be accredited; yet they haven't been properly reviewed. They may have just paid a yearly membership fee to receive accreditation status, or such as the ‘degree mills’, are accredited by organizations they create themselves. These are the colleges you want to avoid.
Verifying accreditation takes time, but in the long run it is worth every minute you put into it.
5. Independent Research
There are many other steps you can take to ensure you are making the right decision with your online degree. You can research to find out how long the school has been offering online degree programs. Some of the best online education is available from institutions that are solely distance learning colleges. You can also investigate the school with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints. And probably the easiest of all; go to where students congregate online and ask questions in online forums or read reviews of former students here at OnlineDegreeReviews.org.
In all there is a great deal of information available to make certain you are getting an Online Degree from a reputable and accredited school, a degree that will support you in furthering your professional and personal goals. Ultimately it is up to you to decide on the amount of time and effort you will put into researching schools that offer online degree programs that best meet your needs.
Today OnlineDegreeReviews.org is featured on the front page of a popular online education news website, eSchool News. Laura Ascione, the Assistant Editor, wrote a great two page article that talks about why I created this website and some of the challenges the website faces.
Article: Students grade online ed programs
Digg.com users can digg the story.
Today the website officially launched. Here is the news release:
Ottawa (Tuesday, July 25, 2006) - Steve Rawlinson, a software and web developer from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada created Online DegreeReviews.org in his spare time in response to the lack of information about online degree programs available on the Internet. The website officially launched on Tuesday, July 25, 2006.
OnlineDegreeReviews.org gives the ability to current and former students to post reviews of online education programs, and rate the program based on several criteria, including the professors, educational materials, use of technology, and overall value.
When asked why he developed this website, Mr. Rawlinson responded, "There are lots of websites that list online degrees. But none help you decide which colleges are good or worth your time and money. In my own search for an online degree, I was frustrated by the lack of information, so I created this site where people can share their experiences."
Current and former students to online education now have a place to offer their knowledge of online degree programs to potential students. OnlineDegreeReviews.org allows the user to easily add to its every growing list of colleges and programs. The biggest challenge will be to receive contributions from students and have them write a review, but as the website states "How valuable would a review of your program have been to you before you enrolled? What costly mistakes might you have avoided?"
Potential students also have a place to voice their concerns and to get advice from their peers regarding online education in OnlineDegreeReviews.org's interactive community forums. It’s a place where people can share their knowledge of online degrees, experiences, and steps they took when considering distance learning as a viable way to further their education.
"The site is still relatively new,” explains Mr. Rawlinson “but I think even a small number of quality reviews are very useful. As time goes on I hope this site becomes the place for trusted online degree information."
There are many aspects to keep in mind when deciding on the best online paralegal degree for you. What are your main goals to earning your degree; are you looking for a program that fits into your busy schedule or is affordability your main concern? What type of degree are you looking for? Are you flexible with relocation or do you plan on searching for employment in a specific area? What will your future employers be looking for from your education with an Online Paralegal Degree?
While lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work they often delegate many of their tasks to Paralegals. Since Paralegals continue to assume a growing range of responsibilities and perform many of the same tasks as a lawyer the demand for qualified Paralegals is continuously increasing. With the increased demand for paralegals you will need to ask yourself what your goals are when it comes to earning an online paralegal degree, and keep those goals in mind to help guide your decisions.
Many online paralegal degrees offer incredible convenience and flexibility. You can complete your assignments essentially anywhere there is a computer with Internet access. Some programs may require you to perform cooperative assignments that will require you to schedule some time away from your computer. So if a busy schedule does not afford you the luxury of attending a session in court during business hours, you may want to consider a program that offers alternatives.
The affordability of a paralegal degree may be your top concern when investing your options. Online degree programs typically cost less per course than traditional campus-based learning, and have been known to be on average up to $100 to $150 less per credit hour. You can earn a paralegal degree through online learning that will save you money, and at the same time is able to facilitate a substantial growth in your income.
There are two types of online paralegal degrees you can earn: an Associate’s Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree. The type of associate or bachelor degree you receive will depend upon the online school you have chosen to earn you degree from. One of the most practical ways to determine what degree that will be required is to contact the employers in your area and inquire what their paralegal degree requirements are.
Career Opportunities for Online Paralegal Degree Graduates
With an online paralegal degree you have the opportunity to search for employment in a variety of industries including:
- Private law firms
- Title companies
- Local, state, and federal government agencies
- Corporate law departments
- Law enforcement agencies
- Banks
- Prosecutors
- Private and Corporate Business
- Community Agencies
When registering for an online paralegal degree program you must ensure that the school you have chosen has Specialized Accreditation status. In order to assure future employers that your degree can comply with the most current guidelines for professional conduct they will require that the online school where you earned your paralegal degree has been accredited by the American Bar Association (http://www.abanet.org/index.cfm). So make sure you do your research and investigate multiple programs and schools.
To obtain a list of programs and schools to research, go to the Paralegal section, under the Law and Criminal Justice on the OnlineDegreeReviews.org homepage.
New US law prevents students from using federal financial aid from taking foreign distance education:
From the Chronicle of Higher Education, June 30, 2006:
"American students who enrol in online-education programs offered by foreign institutions may no longer use federal financial aid to pay their tuition, under a new law that takes effect on Saturday. The law, known as the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005, bans colleges outside the United States from participating in federal financial-aid programs if they offer courses through "telecommunications," which include television, satellite, videocassettes, or computer transmissions."
"Congress included that provision in the law to make sure that American students receive a full international experience when they enrol at a foreign institution..."
Read the letter sent to foreign schools.
There are a number of reasons why this is a bad all around. The argument that it is to "make sure that American students receive a full international experience" doesn't cut it for me. Using the same argument students shouldn't be able to take programs in another state because they aren't getting the full out-of-state experience.
The fact that the law only applies to online colleges is also telling. You can still use financial aid to attend a foreign college in person. It seems to me the real reason behind this new law is that several of the big online schools don't want the competition, and that's a bad thing for students.
There is some rational that using federal tax money should not be used to support foreign colleges, however the money is not given to students it is loaned and that makes a big difference. Since students have to re-pay their loans, they should be free to spend their money however they want, and not be limited.
If you think about it, what this law does is force the less financial able students to go to a limited set of colleges (just in the US), but wealthy students can go to any college in the world. This smacks as form of educational discrimination if you ask me.
If laws have to be in place to get students to attend US online colleges then
1) US Online colleges need to improve themselves so students choose to enrol in them rather then the foreign competitors
2) We are preventing students from making the best choices and degrading their ability to get the best education possible, which will hurt the US in the long run.
In short, it's a bad law made for the wrong reasons.
The benefits of getting a college degree online are well documented. They're more convenient, flexible and accessible, especially to older students that may be trying to juggle a full-time job and family life. However, there are also negative aspects to an online degree that should be considered by both individuals and society.
For students, trying to learning over the Internet is the biggest down-side. Humans learn best when they are physically in the presence of other people and get immediate feedback. Teaching in person is a proven technique and has been successful for centuries.
Distance education started with the correspondence course, but the Internet hasn't really improved upon it much. It might be faster and easier to use, but fundamentally it's not that much different. It's is a good tool to get one or two credits, but not an entire degree.
For society, the online degree is transforming our public colleges dramatically. Market pressure from for-profit institutions (businesses) are forcing public colleges to move from traditional classrooms to online education or face losing students (customers) becoming irrelevant.
Normally, competition is a good thing, however in this case it is not because what is good for business and individual students is not good for our larger society. Students want a quick and easy degree so they can get a job. For our society to succeed we need two things from colleges: a well educated public and research to drive innovation and economic growth. Traditional colleges provide a good balance between the individual student and society, but the online degree revolution is quickly shifting that balance.
As new technologies are embraces and traditional institutions are transformed, especially ones as vitally important as higher education, we need to take a step back to think about the impact we are having. What the benefits, what the the costs, and for who?
You can now leave comments about colleges and programs. There is a form located at the bottom of each college and program page. I hope that it will lead to more discussion about particular colleges or programs. You can ask questions, talk about your impressions, or whatever else may be relevant. The thing I really like about comments is that the discussion takes place on the same page as reviews and other information. Of course there is also the Discussion Forum where you can talk also about online degree topics, but now you have some choice. I would encourage everyone to start using the comments and let me know what you think.
Take the first step towards professional and personal advancement with an Online Bachelor Degree.
So you’re looking for that promotion at work, or deciding on a career change but just don’t have all the necessary time or money to go back to school fulltime. An online bachelor degree program could be for you.
Online degree programs offer incredible convenience and flexibility. You can complete your class assignments essentially anywhere there is a computer with Internet access; at home, at work, or on a laptop during a business trip or even on vacation. Ideally, online learning will fit any schedule that suits the demands of your life.
"Institutions are embracing online learning, and a lot of our students have been promoted since getting an online degree," - Dr. Pamela Pease, president of Jones International University, Englewood, Colorodo.
The affordability of online courses is another benefit that encourages students in getting a degree online. Online bachelor degree programs typically cost less per course than traditional campus-based learning, and have been known to be on average up to $100 to $150 less per credit hour.
Start saving money now through online learning and earn a bachelor degree that is able to facilitate a substantial growth in your income.
"Because so many organizations are seeing the value of online training, it's becoming more widely accepted in the workforce," - Dr. Julia A. Teahen, president of Baker College Online, Baker, Michighan.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, bachelor's degree holders earn 68 percent more than those with only a high school diploma. Those with a master's degree earn 90 percent more. Over your lifetime, this translates into a significant increase in income. For example, bachelor degree holders earn about one million dollars more over their lifetime than someone with just a high school diploma.
US Census (2002) stats on lifetime earnings by degrees (high school, bachelor, masters, PhD)
- High school $1.2 (million)
- Some college $1.5
- Associate $1.6
- Bachelor’s $2.1
- Masters $2.5
- Professional Degree $4.4
- Doctoral $3.4
Research Degree Programs Online
Now that you’ve just found a simple, affordable route to advancing your career and making more money, while keeping work and school in balance, what do you do next?
Research, research, research.
Recent studies by the U.S. Department of Education show an increasing rate for adults to participate in continuing education, up from 40% in 1995 to 46% in 2001 (of which 38% participated through online learning). This trend validates that the increasing efforts to empower adult learners with accessible online research opportunities is a step in the right direction.
Aspiring students can now utilize resources such as OnlineDegreeReviews.org to locate and compare information on online bachelor degree and other certificate programs best suited to advancing their professional goals. The website offers the unique opportunity to compare online degree and certificate programs by reading the reviews posted by former and current students that have already taken the step to furthering their education with online learning.
Now is the time for you to take that step into furthering your education with the convenience, flexibility and affordability that online learning is known for. Allow yourself that opportunity to significantly increase your income by earning an Online Bachelor Degree. Begin the research towards your professional and personal advancement today.
Welcome to the new blog! I haven't found any other blogs about online degrees and distance education, so I thought I'd start one. Some of the topics I would like to talk about here are:
- helpful articles, advice and tips for students
- industry news
- trends, predictions
- website news
- anything else that is interesting or related to online degrees and education
At the moment I still have a lot of work to do to get the word out about OnlineDegreeReviews.org. Maybe this blog will help? If anyone has any suggestions feel free to post them in the comments.
I'm also working on improving the site and plan to have some new features ready soon. Actually, the first one is ready now, it's this blog
My goal for OnlineDegreeReviews is for it to be very different from the hundreds (thousounds?) of online education directories that you find on the internet. How you ask? First, the reviews will give people a lot more useful information other then just telling them what programs a college offers. Second, my hope is that a community can develop where people share and can learn from one another. That's my grand vision in a nutshell.
In the next few days I plan to issue a news release announcing the website to the world. I'm eager to see what type of response it generates.
Over the next few weeks I'm also planning to write a few articles about online degrees. I haven't decided where they will be published yet, maybe in this blog, or I'll create a new "Articles" section for the website.
Thanks for reading and welcome to the new blog!
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