Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice
Find top-ranked online associate in administration of justice degree programs to help develop students problem-solving skills, refine communication techniques, learn strategies for community engagement, and more.
Top 10 Online Associate in Criminal Justice Degrees
- Roger Williams University
- Chaminade University of Honolulu
- Blinn College
- Lone Star College System
- Tallahassee Community College
- St. Petersburg College
- Monroe Community College
- Albany State University
- Generations College
- Central Texas College
- Liberty University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Northern Michigan University
- Lone Star College System
- Tallahassee Community College
- Roger Williams University
- St. Petersburg College
- Keiser University
- Albany State University
- Chaminade University of Honolulu
- Liberty University 99%
- Keiser University 97%
- Southern New Hampshire University 96%
- Chaminade University of Honolulu 93%
- Franklin Pierce University 93%
- Roger Williams University 91%
- University of the Cumberlands 83%
- North Greenville University 76%
- Northern Michigan University 71%
- Madonna University 65%
- Blinn College 35 to 1
- Generations College 25 to 1
- Florida State College at Jacksonville 23 to 1
- Tallahassee Community College 23 to 1
- Campbellsville University 23 to 1
- Camden County College 23 to 1
- Southern New Hampshire University 22 to 1
- St. Petersburg College 22 to 1
- Lone Star College System 21 to 1
- Albany State University 20 to 1
- Franklin Pierce University $43,155
- Roger Williams University $40,962
- Chaminade University of Honolulu $28,544
- Madonna University $26,100
- Campbellsville University $26,100
- North Greenville University $23,590
- Keiser University $23,248
- Liberty University $22,511
- Point University $22,300
- Southern New Hampshire University $15,380
- Franklin Pierce University $37,200
- Keiser University $30,032
- Chaminade University of Honolulu $25,200
- Southern New Hampshire University $18,900
- Roger Williams University $18,565
- Madonna University $16,830
- Point University $13,014
- North Greenville University $12,220
- Northern Michigan University $10,176
- Campbellsville University $8,904
- Camden County College
- North Greenville University
- Franklin Pierce University
- University of the Cumberlands
- Keiser University
- Campbellsville University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Trinity Valley Community College
- Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Liberty University
- Generations College
- Point University
- Community College of Aurora
- Trinity Valley Community College
- North Greenville University
- Monroe Community College
- Central Texas College
- University of the Cumberlands
- Campbellsville University
- Community College of Denver
- Point University 24%
- Madonna University 65%
- Northern Michigan University 71%
- North Greenville University 76%
- University of the Cumberlands 83%
- Roger Williams University 91%
- Franklin Pierce University 93%
- Chaminade University of Honolulu 93%
- Southern New Hampshire University 96%
- Keiser University 97%
- Chaminade University of Honolulu 11 to 1
- Madonna University 12 to 1
- Franklin Pierce University 12 to 1
- North Greenville University 13 to 1
- Community College of Aurora 13 to 1
- Central Texas College 13 to 1
- Point University 13 to 1
- Roger Williams University 14 to 1
- Keiser University 15 to 1
- Trinity Valley Community College 16 to 1
- Trinity Valley Community College $1,170
- St. Petersburg College $1,943
- Tallahassee Community College $2,002
- Florida State College at Jacksonville $2,095
- Camden County College $2,856
- Blinn College $3,600
- Central Texas College $3,720
- Community College of Denver $3,754
- Community College of Aurora $3,754
- Albany State University $4,064
- Albany State University $3,438
- University of the Cumberlands $4,282
- Liberty University $7,893
- Campbellsville University $8,904
- Northern Michigan University $10,176
- North Greenville University $12,220
- Point University $13,014
- Madonna University $16,830
- Roger Williams University $18,565
- Southern New Hampshire University $18,900
Key Takeaways
- The associate degree in criminal justice is an affordable way to get started on your college education. The typical associate degree will take about two years to complete.
- Many community colleges and two-year schools offer both traditional and online degree programs for students pursuing their associate degree in criminal justice.
- Earning an online associate degree in criminal justice can prepare you for a variety of entry level jobs in your field. Many students also continue into a bachelor’s degree program in criminal justice or a related area.
Featured Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Degrees
As an associate in the criminal justice or administration of justice, you’ll gain the training and knowledge required to enter a career in the criminal justice field in an area such as law enforcement, court administration, or corrections. The online associate degree is a great way for working law enforcement and corrections professionals to advance in their careers.
Back to TopThis roughly 60-credit degree provides students with the foundational and job-specific knowledge needed to enter the workforce as police officers, security guards, paralegals, victim advocates, and sheriff patrol officers. Though it may be possible to become a police officer with a high school diploma, earning a criminal justice associate degree can improve your chances of advancing to a leadership role in law enforcement. The online associate degree can also allow you to advance into other areas of the criminal justice field just as private sector security and Homeland Security.
You may be required to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field in order to advance into certain leadership roles. The associate degree in the administration of justice is an affordable first step on the way to a four-year criminal justice program.
Back to TopWhether you earn your associate degree in criminal justice online or on-campus, this 60-credit degree typically takes about two years to complete. Some schools offer an accelerated option where prospective students can earn an online associate degree in criminal justice in as little as 18 months.
Back to TopThe typical associate-level criminal justice program will include both general education courses and core courses in subjects specific to criminal law. Criminal justice students will typically also take courses in areas such as corrections, Constitutional law and juvenile justice.
Back to TopLearn more about how to major in criminal justice.
An associate degree is a great way for many to start their educational journey, but you may want to also consider an online bachelor’s in criminal justice.
25 Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice Degree Programs
- #3 Best Small Colleges in Rhode Island 2025 #4 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island 2025 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Rhode Island 2025 #6 Best Colleges in Rhode Island 2025
Tuition + fees
$41K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
66%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/28
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Roger Williams University
Cost of Degree: $42,666Expenses: $20,940Starting Salary: $43,569Salary after 4 years: $50,976Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #23 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #2 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii 2025 #4 Best Colleges in Hawaii 2025
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
66%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Chaminade University of Honolulu
Cost of Degree: $29,970Expenses: $20,962Starting Salary: $31,899Salary after 4 years: $37,322Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminology And Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #22 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #3 Best Community Colleges in Texas 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in American Sign Language (ASL) Degree Programs #1 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design 2025
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
10%
Student body
33K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Blinn College
Cost of Degree: $6,350Expenses: $18,274Starting Salary: $42,920Salary after 4 years: $48,966Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Criminal Justice Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
AA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #7 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Texas 2025 #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Texas 2024 #3 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
18%
Student body
103K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Lone Star College System
Cost of Degree: $5,544Starting Salary: $39,351Salary after 4 years: $44,895Online Degrees
AA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Florida 2025 #6 Best Online Associate in Paralegal Studies #15 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education #16 Best Online Colleges in Florida 2025
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
37%
Student body
16K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Tallahassee Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,026Starting Salary: $33,853Salary after 4 years: $38,623Online Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs #2 Best Online Associate in Web Design #3 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Florida 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
38%
Student body
33K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at St. Petersburg College
Cost of Degree: $2,682Starting Salary: $35,397Salary after 4 years: $40,383Online Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Community Colleges in New York 2025 #3 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies #10 Best Online Associate Degrees in New York 2025
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
21%
Student body
20K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Monroe Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,856Expenses: $12,880Starting Salary: $34,239Salary after 4 years: $39,063Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Criminal Justice
Concentrations
- Institutional Corrections
- Required Credits: 60-62
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Hybrid
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #17 Best HBCU Online Master's Programs #8 Best Public Colleges in Georgia 2025 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Georgia 2025 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia Ranked for Students in 2024
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
28%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Albany State University
Cost of Degree: $5,484Expenses: $13,686Starting Salary: $33,371Salary after 4 years: $38,072Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Associate Of Science
Concentrations
- Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$13K
Graduation
14%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Generations College
Cost of Degree: $12,700Starting Salary: $24,741Salary after 4 years: $28,947Online Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity #7 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #7 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025 #8 Most Affordable Online Associate Degree Programs Ranked for 2025
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
17%
Student body
17K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Central Texas College
Cost of Degree: $3,900Expenses: $13,021Starting Salary: $33,661Salary after 4 years: $38,403Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Criminal Justice
Concentrations
- Corrections Specialization
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Georgia #4 Best Online Associate in Education #6 Best Online Associate in Psychology #6 Best Online Associate in Marketing
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
24%
Graduation
26%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
975/18
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Point University
Cost of Degree: $22,300Expenses: $13,100Starting Salary: $26,997Salary after 4 years: $31,587Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Social Science
Concentrations
- Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 24 months
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Community Colleges in Colorado 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Anthropology #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2025 #6 Best Online Associate in Economics
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
25%
Student body
11K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Community College of Aurora
Cost of Degree: $4,030Starting Salary: $37,036Salary after 4 years: $42,254Online Degrees
AA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Michigan 2024 #8 Best Public Colleges in Michigan 2024 #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024 #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Construction Management Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
53%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Northern Michigan University
Cost of Degree: $13,622Expenses: $15,620Starting Salary: $38,386Salary after 4 years: $43,794Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Christian Colleges in Michigan 2025 #9 Best Small Colleges in Michigan 2024 #9 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 2024 #9 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Michigan 2024
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
49%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Madonna University
Cost of Degree: $27,360Expenses: $16,590Starting Salary: $34,544Salary after 4 years: $40,417Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Colorado 2025 #10 Best Public Colleges in Colorado 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Anthropology #1 Best Online Associate in French Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
18%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Community College of Denver
Cost of Degree: $4,902Starting Salary: $35,107Salary after 4 years: $40,053Online Degrees
AA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #6 15 Best Self-paced Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #9 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #10 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #11 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
66%
Student body
131K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Liberty University
Cost of Degree: $15,822Expenses: $21,458Starting Salary: $32,210Salary after 4 years: $37,686Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 1.5 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Online Associate Degree Programs That Can Be Completed in 1 Year #6 Most Affordable Early Childhood Education Bachelor's (Online, On-Campus) 2025 #7 Best Online Associate Degrees in Florida 2025 #10 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
37%
Student body
32K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Florida State College at Jacksonville
Cost of Degree: $2,657Expenses: $11,711Starting Salary: $34,529Salary after 4 years: $39,393Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Online Associate in Biology #6 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025 #9 Best Online Associate in Economics #13 Best Online Associate Degrees in Texas 2024
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
25%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Trinity Valley Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,920Expenses: $14,760Starting Salary: $34,336Salary after 4 years: $39,173Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #11 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #2 Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in New Hampshire 2024
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
41%
Student body
224K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Southern New Hampshire University
Cost of Degree: $16,450Expenses: $24,000Starting Salary: $39,056Salary after 4 years: $45,697Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Christian Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #7 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #10 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2024
Tuition + fees
$26K
Graduation
41%
Student body
17K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Campbellsville University
Cost of Degree: $26,990Expenses: $15,742Starting Salary: $27,542Salary after 4 years: $32,224Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 62
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Online Doctorate in Business Administration Degree Programs #2 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Florida 2025 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Florida 2025
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
58%
Student body
32K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Keiser University
Cost of Degree: $24,136Expenses: $26,450Starting Salary: $27,308Salary after 4 years: $31,951Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #6 Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025 #6 Best Christian Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #7 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
44%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1060/19
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at University of the Cumberlands
Cost of Degree: $9,875Expenses: $16,268Starting Salary: $29,720Salary after 4 years: $34,773Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 61
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #5 Best Small Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #8 Best Colleges in New Hampshire 2025
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
52%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/20
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Franklin Pierce University
Cost of Degree: $44,963Expenses: $19,222Starting Salary: $35,011Salary after 4 years: $40,963Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Grad Schools in South Carolina 2025 #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in South Carolina #15 Best Online Associate in Psychology #16 Best Online Associate in Education
Tuition + fees
$24K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
54%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at North Greenville University
Cost of Degree: $24,650Expenses: $18,680Starting Salary: $28,164Salary after 4 years: $32,953Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Community Colleges in New Jersey 2025 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in New Jersey 2024 #15 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #17 Best Online Associate in Psychology
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
22%
Student body
16K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Camden County College
Cost of Degree: $4,056Starting Salary: $35,686Salary after 4 years: $40,713Online Degrees
AS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Hybrid
Career Outlook for Students with Criminal Justice Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
Degree Level: Associate's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $2,845
- Avg. Expenses*: $15,028
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $35,050
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $39,988
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 6 years
- Job Growth: 5.52%
- Number of Jobs: 1,443,100
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
Career Salaries
Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Managers, All Other | 5.75% | $133,560 |
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 3.81% | $101,750 |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 2.29% | $91,100 |
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 3.92% | $72,280 |
Transit and Railroad Police | 4.17% | $72,250 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
Managers, All Other | $133,560 |
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $101,750 |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $91,100 |
Online Criminal Justice Programs Looking for You
Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?
If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.
In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.
Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.
Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.
As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).
While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
Resources for Online College-Bound Students
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.