Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs
Find the best online associate in fire science degree programs for students who want to qualify to work as firefighters, forest fire inspectors, wildland fire ecologists, and more.
Top 10 Online Fire Science Bachelor's Degrees
- St. Petersburg College
- Keiser University
- University of Akron
- Idaho State University
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Cape Fear Community College
- Volunteer State Community College
- North Shore Community College
- Johnson County Community College
- Gaston College
- University of Akron
- Idaho State University
- St. Petersburg College
- Keiser University
- Purdue University Global
- Hillsborough Community College
- Schoolcraft College
- College of Southern Idaho
- Bucks County Community College
- Gaston College
- Purdue University Global 26 to 1
- Cape Fear Community College 24 to 1
- Volunteer State Community College 24 to 1
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College 23 to 1
- Hillsborough Community College 23 to 1
- St. Petersburg College 22 to 1
- College of Southern Idaho 22 to 1
- Virginia Peninsula Community College 21 to 1
- Schoolcraft College 21 to 1
- Arizona Western College 20 to 1
- Keiser University $23,248
- University of Akron $10,097
- Purdue University Global $10,080
- Bucks County Community College $7,920
- Idaho State University $5,928
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College $5,088
- Schoolcraft College $4,888
- Virginia Peninsula Community College $4,680
- Tidewater Community College $4,680
- College of Southern Idaho $4,560
- Keiser University $30,032
- Purdue University Global $9,472
- Idaho State University $8,601
- University of Akron $7,958
- Davidson-Davie Community College
- Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College
- West Georgia Technical College
- Purdue University Global
- Tidewater Community College
- Lakeland Community College
- Albany Technical College
- Coastal Carolina Community College
- Lanier Technical College
- Davidson-Davie Community College
- Virginia Peninsula Community College
- Coastal Carolina Community College
- North Shore Community College
- Lanier Technical College
- Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College
- Albany Technical College
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Paradise Valley Community College
- Lakeland Community College 10 to 1
- Paradise Valley Community College 11 to 1
- Sandhills Community College 12 to 1
- Mount Wachusett Community College 12 to 1
- North Shore Community College 12 to 1
- Albany Technical College 12 to 1
- Idaho State University 13 to 1
- Bucks County Community College 13 to 1
- Gaston College 13 to 1
- Wiregrass Georgia Technical College 14 to 1
- Mount Wachusett Community College $600
- North Shore Community College $600
- Hillsborough Community College $1,931
- St. Petersburg College $1,943
- Paradise Valley Community College $2,040
- Davidson-Davie Community College $2,054
- West Georgia Technical College $2,400
- Wiregrass Georgia Technical College $2,400
- Johnson County Community College $2,400
- Albany Technical College $2,400
- University of Akron $7,958
- Idaho State University $8,601
- Purdue University Global $9,472
- Keiser University $30,032
Key Takeaways
- The associate degree in fire science 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 fire science.
- Earning an online associate degree in fire science can prepare you for a variety of entry level jobs in your field. Many students also continue into a bachelor’s degree program in fire science or a related area.
Featured Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Science Degrees
Students who earn an associate degree in fire science will learn how to battle fires and help the community while simultaneously earning a comprehensive general education. Fire science programs can also prepare students to work as fire science professionals in a variety of entry level roles for fire departments, emergency services, and other first-responder units.
The online fire science associate degree is an excellent starting point both for prospective students with an interest in fire behavior, fire investigation, fire safety, emergency management, and more. Fire science professionals may also benefit from the online fire science degree program. The best online fire science programs will typically provide leadership skills and practical knowledge for fire science professionals seeking to enhance their skills while still working in the field.
Back to TopStudents can complete the roughly 60-credit fire science degree degree program in about two years. The online fire science associate will include the same basic curriculum and content as the traditional fire science degree program.
Back to TopMost online fire science programs will include both general education courses and core courses in fire sciences. Students will take courses on hazardous materials, emergency medical technology, fire department operations, fundamentals of fire prevention, wildfires, and fire dynamics. Whether pursuing your degree in fire science online or in person, your associate’s degree will likely prepare your to sit for the fire science certification and professional licensure in your state.
Back to TopGraduates will qualify to work as firefighters, forest fire inspectors, wildland fire ecologists, and more. In order to work in a leadership role as a fire chief or in fire administration or emergency services management, you would likely need to earn a bachelor’s degree in fire sciences or a closely related area.
Prospective students who plan to continue their emergency services higher education at the bachelor’s degree level should pay close attention to the accreditation status of their their online associate degree. Getting a fire sciences associate degree online is a great option as long as it has received accreditation from the colleges and schools commission in your region. Any online associate fire sciences programs you’re considering should have this stamp of approval if you hope to transfer into an accredited four-year college.
Back to TopBest 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 #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Florida 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
38%
Student body
33K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at St. Petersburg College
Cost of Degree: $2,682Starting Salary: $58,898Salary after 4 years: $63,703Online Degrees
AS in Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Online Doctorate in Business Administration Degree Programs #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Florida 2025 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Florida 2025 #5 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
58%
Student body
32K
Online Degrees
AS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2025 #6 Best Public Colleges in Ohio 2025 #7 Best Grad Schools in Ohio 2025 #8 Best Research Universities in Ohio 2024
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
48%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1105/21
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at University of Akron
Cost of Degree: $12,799Expenses: $15,866Starting Salary: $67,083Salary after 4 years: $72,556Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Fire Protection Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Idaho 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Idaho 2024 #3 Best Research Universities in Idaho 2025 #3 Best Public Colleges in Idaho 2024
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
37%
Student body
15K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Idaho State University
Cost of Degree: $8,356Expenses: $14,854Starting Salary: $70,453Salary after 4 years: $76,201Cost Recoup Time: 4 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Fire Services Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Accredited Online Trade Schools for Vocational Skills #6 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #13 Most Affordable Online Associate Degree Programs Ranked for 2025 #15 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
16%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,628Starting Salary: $49,269Salary after 4 years: $53,288Online Degrees
AA in Fire Protection Technology
- Required Credits: 65
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Community Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #7 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2025 #14 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025 #22 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
30%
Student body
23K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Cape Fear Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,748Starting Salary: $50,713Salary after 4 years: $54,851Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Protection Technology
- Required Credits: 65
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #7 Best Community Colleges in Tennessee 2025 #6 Best Online Associate Degrees in Tennessee 2024 #6 Best Online Associate in Sociology #7 Best Online Associate in Finance
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
23%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Volunteer State Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,524Starting Salary: $55,849Salary after 4 years: $60,405Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 60-61
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
21%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at North Shore Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,352Starting Salary: $61,947Salary after 4 years: $67,001Online Degrees
AS in Fire Protection and Safety Technology
- Required Credits: 63
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Community Colleges in Kansas 2024 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kansas 2025 #12 Best Online Associate in Marketing #20 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
27%
Student body
25K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Johnson County Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,784Starting Salary: $66,120Salary after 4 years: $71,514Online Degrees
AA in Fire Services Administration
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Community Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2025 #10 Best Online Associate in Software Development #22 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
43%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Gaston College
Cost of Degree: $3,186Starting Salary: $46,380Salary after 4 years: $50,164Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Protection Technology
- Required Credits: 67
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in Florida 2025 #14 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025 #16 Best Online Associate in Paralegal Studies
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
33%
Student body
37K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Hillsborough Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,489Expenses: $15,702Starting Salary: $59,059Salary after 4 years: $63,877Cost Recoup Time: 4 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania 2025 #6 Best Online Associate in Communications #8 Best Online Associate Degrees in Pennsylvania 2024 #11 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
25%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Bucks County Community College
Cost of Degree: $9,184Starting Salary: $67,885Salary after 4 years: $73,424Online Degrees
AA in Fire Science
Concentrations
- Occupational Major
- Required Credits: 61-63
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Online Associate Degrees in Virginia 2024 #17 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs #25 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
31%
Student body
9K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Virginia Peninsula Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,944Starting Salary: $53,281Salary after 4 years: $57,628Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Community Colleges in Wyoming 2025 #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Wyoming 2025 #2 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #3 Best Online Associate in Agribusiness Degree Programs 2025
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
42%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Casper College
Cost of Degree: $4,410Expenses: $12,102Starting Salary: $66,281Salary after 4 years: $71,688Cost Recoup Time: 3 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
33%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Alamance Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,498Starting Salary: $45,899Salary after 4 years: $49,643Online Degrees
AAS in Associate In Applied Science In Fire Protection
- Required Credits: 63
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
50%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Blue Ridge Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,660Starting Salary: $47,504Salary after 4 years: $51,379Online Degrees
AS in Fire Protection Technology
- Required Credits: 67-69
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Community Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #10 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
40%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Sandhills Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,648Starting Salary: $45,417Salary after 4 years: $49,123Online Degrees
AAS in Associate In Applied Science In Fire Protection Technology
- Required Credits: 65
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Online Associate in Agribusiness Degree Programs 2025 #7 Best Online Associate Degrees in Arizona 2025 #7 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025 #7 Best Online Associate in Biology
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
21%
Student body
12K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Arizona Western College
Cost of Degree: $2,820Expenses: $16,508Starting Salary: $51,355Salary after 4 years: $55,545Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship #3 Best Online Associate in Business Management #3 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management #7 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
17%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Schoolcraft College
Cost of Degree: $5,982Starting Salary: $58,096Salary after 4 years: $62,835Online Degrees
AAS in Fire and Emergency Services
- Required Credits: 60-78
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #10 Best Online Certificate in Liberal Arts and Humanities Ranked for Students 2025 #11 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025 #11 Best Online Associate Degrees in Massachusetts 2025 #21 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
27%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Mount Wachusett Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,000Starting Salary: $58,417Salary after 4 years: $63,182Online Degrees
FS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 62-63
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in Arizona 2025 #9 Best Online Associate in Anthropology #9 Best Online Associate in Philosophy #9 Best Online Associate in Game Development
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
13%
Student body
9K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Paradise Valley Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,358Starting Salary: $64,997Salary after 4 years: $70,299Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 60-88
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Fire Service Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Community Colleges in Idaho 2025 #3 Best Online Associate in American Sign Language (ASL) Degree Programs #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Idaho 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Biology
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
31%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at College of Southern Idaho
Cost of Degree: $4,560Expenses: $11,188Starting Salary: $54,084Salary after 4 years: $58,496Cost Recoup Time: 4 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Fire Service Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
37%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Lanier Technical College
Cost of Degree: $3,716Starting Salary: $46,541Salary after 4 years: $50,338Online Degrees
AAS in Emergency Services
Concentrations
- Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 62
- Completion time: 24 months
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
38%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Coastal Carolina Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,462Starting Salary: $49,751Salary after 4 years: $53,809Online Degrees
AS in Fire Protection Technology
- Required Credits: 64-65
- Completion time: 2 Years
- Format: Online
- #14 Most Affordable Online Associate Degree Programs Ranked for 2025 #21 Best Online Associate Degrees in Georgia 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
45%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Albany Technical College
Cost of Degree: $2,996Starting Salary: $40,442Salary after 4 years: $43,742Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 62
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
16%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Lakeland Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,607Starting Salary: $58,898Salary after 4 years: $63,703Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Community Colleges in Virginia 2025 #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Virginia 2024 #10 Best Online Associate Degree Programs That Can Be Completed in 1 Year #10 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
28%
Student body
24K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Tidewater Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,714Starting Salary: $56,651Salary after 4 years: $61,273Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Science Supervision
- Required Credits: 24
- Completion time: 1 year
- Format: Online
AAS in Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2025 #12 Most Affordable Online Colleges Ranked for Students 2024 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2024 #8 Best Public Colleges in Indiana 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
20%
Student body
66K
Online Degrees
AS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 90
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 90
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
34%
Student body
9K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at West Georgia Technical College
Cost of Degree: $3,172Starting Salary: $51,676Salary after 4 years: $55,892Online Degrees
AAS in Emergency Services
Concentrations
- Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 62
- Completion time: 24 months
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
26%
Student body
9K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Cost of Degree: $5,476Starting Salary: $47,825Salary after 4 years: $51,726Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Science
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: 1 year
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
43%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Cost of Degree: $3,212Starting Salary: $41,405Salary after 4 years: $44,783Online Degrees
AAS in Emergency Services
Concentrations
- Fire Science Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 24 months
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
36%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for Fire Science degree at Davidson-Davie Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,279Starting Salary: $46,541Salary after 4 years: $50,338Online Degrees
AAS in Fire Protection Technology, A.A.S.: Emphasis In Fire Protection Administration
- Required Credits: 66
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
Career Outlook for Students with Fire Science Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolFire Science/Fire-fighting
Degree Level: Associate's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $5,424
- Avg. Expenses*: $14,682
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $57,616
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $62,316
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 4 years
- Job Growth: 4.27%
- Number of Jobs: 431,100
- * 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 Firefighting and Prevention Workers | 4.25% | $86,220 |
Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 4.03% | $74,160 |
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 0.08% | $62,060 |
Firefighters | 4.19% | $57,120 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
Managers, All Other | $133,560 |
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $86,220 |
Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $74,160 |
Not sure if an online associate’s degree in fire science is for you? Check out our rankings of the best online associate’s degrees in human resources, software development, or human services.
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.