Best Online Master’s in Public Health

Find top-ranked online master’s in public health degree programs for students wanting to work in the public health field, holding positions like healthcare administrator, epidemiologist, social and community service manager, hospital quality manager, and EIS/CDC officer.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Public Health Degrees

Why get a master’s in public health?

When students earn a master’s degree in public health, they’ll learn how to advocate for the health of others in their communities and beyond. Though some programs offer a comprehensive degree, many require students to choose an area of concentration, such as epidemiology, global health, family and child health, and public health policy and management.

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How long does it take to get a master’s in public health?

Whether online or on campus, most students complete the roughly 40-credit degree in two to three years. Many programs also require an internship or capstone project.

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What can you do with a master’s in public health?

Graduates will qualify to work in the public health field, holding positions like healthcare administrator, epidemiologist, social and community service manager, hospital quality manager, and EIS/CDC officer.

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Learn more about what you can do with a master’s degree in medical science?.

Best Online Master’s in Public Health Degree Programs

  1. #1

    University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor , MI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $18K

    Acceptance

    18%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    52K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1440/32

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Michigan

    Cost of Degree: $26,226
    Expenses: $16,820
    Starting Salary: $73,556
    Salary after 4 years: $96,076
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $65K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Southern California

    Cost of Degree: $64,666
    Expenses: $20,338
    Starting Salary: $77,883
    Salary after 4 years: $105,157
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  3. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    17%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1440/32

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Cost of Degree: $12,527
    Expenses: $16,260
    Starting Salary: $64,059
    Salary after 4 years: $83,672
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill known for?

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  4. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1255/25

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Arizona

    Cost of Degree: $14,015
    Expenses: $18,350
    Starting Salary: $52,141
    Salary after 4 years: $68,105
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  5. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1370/31

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst

    Cost of Degree: $16,625
    Expenses: $16,523
    Starting Salary: $53,724
    Salary after 4 years: $70,172
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  6. #6

    University of Missouri

    Columbia , MO
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    75%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1240/26

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Missouri

    Cost of Degree: $11,794
    Expenses: $17,240
    Starting Salary: $52,699
    Salary after 4 years: $68,834
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  7. #7

    University of Alabama

    Tuscaloosa , AL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    80%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    42K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1270/27

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Alabama

    Cost of Degree: $11,790
    Expenses: $20,084
    Starting Salary: $48,044
    Salary after 4 years: $62,754
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  8. #8

    University at Buffalo

    Buffalo , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    68%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    36K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1285/28

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University at Buffalo

    Cost of Degree: $14,388
    Expenses: $20,484
    Starting Salary: $57,820
    Salary after 4 years: $75,523
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  9. #9

    University of Kentucky

    Lexington , KY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1180/24

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Kentucky

    Cost of Degree: $13,946
    Expenses: $20,206
    Starting Salary: $50,279
    Salary after 4 years: $65,672
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  10. #10

    Baylor University

    Waco , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $52K

    Acceptance

    46%

    Graduation

    81%

    Student body

    23K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1320/30

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Baylor University

    Cost of Degree: $38,772
    Expenses: $18,433
    Starting Salary: $51,220
    Salary after 4 years: $69,158
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  11. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/25

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

    Cost of Degree: $7,781
    Expenses: $17,210
    Starting Salary: $49,068
    Salary after 4 years: $64,091
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  12. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $49K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1275/29

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Loyola University Chicago

    Cost of Degree: $20,344
    Expenses: $18,320
    Starting Salary: $55,694
    Salary after 4 years: $75,197
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  13. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    68%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1220/26

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University at Albany, SUNY

    Cost of Degree: $13,625
    Expenses: $18,698
    Starting Salary: $53,631
    Salary after 4 years: $70,051
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  14. #16

    Bryn Mawr College

    Bryn Mawr , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    31%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1387/31

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Bryn Mawr College

    Cost of Degree: $50,730
    Expenses: $20,050
    Starting Salary: $53,501
    Salary after 4 years: $72,236
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  15. #17

    University of Montana

    Missoula , MT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    46%

    Student body

    12K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Montana

    Cost of Degree: $7,244
    Expenses: $17,640
    Starting Salary: $40,316
    Salary after 4 years: $52,660
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  16. #18

    Thomas Jefferson University

    Philadelphia , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $44K

    Acceptance

    89%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1240/29

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Thomas Jefferson University

    Cost of Degree: $23,103
    Expenses: $21,469
    Starting Salary: $87,092
    Salary after 4 years: $117,592
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  17. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    26K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1305/26

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Cost of Degree: $8,424
    Expenses: $20,077
    Starting Salary: $45,065
    Salary after 4 years: $58,862
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  18. #20

    University of Memphis

    Memphis , TN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    48%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1080/20

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Memphis

    Cost of Degree: $10,908
    Expenses: $18,080
    Starting Salary: $40,223
    Salary after 4 years: $52,538
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  19. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $46K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1313/29

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Creighton University

    Cost of Degree: $19,402
    Expenses: $15,830
    Starting Salary: $61,482
    Salary after 4 years: $83,013
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  20. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    72K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1155/23

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Florida International University

    Cost of Degree: $11,333
    Expenses: $18,316
    Starting Salary: $48,416
    Salary after 4 years: $63,240
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  21. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    53%

    Student body

    28K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Portland State University

    Cost of Degree: $16,854
    Expenses: $18,639
    Starting Salary: $47,299
    Salary after 4 years: $61,781
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  22. #25

    Samford University

    Birmingham , AL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $37K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1175/26

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Samford University

    Cost of Degree: $21,921
    Expenses: $17,209
    Starting Salary: $52,448
    Salary after 4 years: $70,815
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  23. #26

    Liberty University

    Lynchburg , VA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $23K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    131K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Liberty University

    Cost of Degree: $8,405
    Expenses: $19,987
    Starting Salary: $36,310
    Salary after 4 years: $49,026
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  24. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    16K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Southern Mississippi

    Cost of Degree: $9,450
    Expenses: $16,550
    Starting Salary: $39,757
    Salary after 4 years: $51,930
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  25. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    18K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1106/22

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Wichita State University

    Cost of Degree: $7,562
    Expenses: $17,260
    Starting Salary: $42,271
    Salary after 4 years: $55,214
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  26. #30

    Nova Southeastern University

    Fort Lauderdale , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $36K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1175/23

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Nova Southeastern University

    Cost of Degree: $23,911
    Expenses: $20,570
    Starting Salary: $48,765
    Salary after 4 years: $65,842
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Nova Southeastern University known for?

    Nova Southeastern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  27. #31

    Cornell College

    Mount Vernon , IA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $49K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1275/26

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Cornell College

    Cost of Degree: $15,050
    Expenses: $15,578
    Starting Salary: $39,819
    Salary after 4 years: $53,763
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  28. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Graduation

    32%

    Student body

    9K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Tennessee State University

    Cost of Degree: $10,732
    Expenses: $15,556
    Starting Salary: $37,057
    Salary after 4 years: $48,403
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  29. #33

    Andrews University

    Berrien Springs , MI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $33K

    Acceptance

    91%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/24

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Andrews University

    Cost of Degree: $27,610
    Expenses: $11,674
    Starting Salary: $41,924
    Salary after 4 years: $56,605
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  30. #34

    Austin Peay State University

    Clarksville , TN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    43%

    Student body

    11K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1076/21

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Austin Peay State University

    Cost of Degree: $9,841
    Expenses: $22,434
    Starting Salary: $36,126
    Salary after 4 years: $47,187
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Austin Peay State University known for?

    Austin Peay State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  31. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    15K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1085/22

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at East Tennessee State University

    Cost of Degree: $10,736
    Expenses: $17,323
    Starting Salary: $37,802
    Salary after 4 years: $49,376
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  32. #37

    Idaho State University

    Pocatello , ID
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    15K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Idaho State University

    Cost of Degree: $10,631
    Expenses: $14,556
    Starting Salary: $40,875
    Salary after 4 years: $53,389
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  33. #38

    National University

    San Diego , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Graduation

    22%

    Student body

    29K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at National University

    Cost of Degree: $15,912
    Starting Salary: $51,747
    Salary after 4 years: $69,868
    What is National University known for?

    National University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  34. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    48%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1170/24

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Old Dominion University

    Cost of Degree: $13,704
    Expenses: $17,780
    Starting Salary: $45,344
    Salary after 4 years: $59,227
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  35. #41

    Oklahoma City University

    Oklahoma City , OK
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $33K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Oklahoma City University

    Cost of Degree: $13,410
    Expenses: $13,736
    Starting Salary: $44,818
    Salary after 4 years: $60,513
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  36. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    224K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Southern New Hampshire University

    Cost of Degree: $19,470
    Expenses: $21,900
    Starting Salary: $44,029
    Salary after 4 years: $59,447
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Southern New Hampshire University known for?

    Southern New Hampshire University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  37. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1259/28

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Massachusetts Lowell

    Cost of Degree: $15,676
    Expenses: $16,550
    Starting Salary: $53,258
    Salary after 4 years: $69,564
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  38. Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Nebraska Medical Center

    Cost of Degree: $9,789
    Starting Salary: $101,023
    Salary after 4 years: $131,953
    What is University of Nebraska Medical Center known for?

    University of Nebraska Medical Center’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  39. #47

    Western Kentucky University

    Bowling Green , KY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    51%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1075/21

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Western Kentucky University

    Cost of Degree: $12,140
    Expenses: $14,336
    Starting Salary: $35,940
    Salary after 4 years: $46,944
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  40. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $18K

    Acceptance

    78%

    Graduation

    45%

    Student body

    155K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Grand Canyon University

    Cost of Degree: $11,638
    Expenses: $14,300
    Starting Salary: $51,308
    Salary after 4 years: $69,276
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  41. #49

    A.T. Still University

    Kirksville , MO
    Other Rankings

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at A.T. Still University

    Cost of Degree: $38,212
    Starting Salary: $187,253
    Salary after 4 years: $252,828
    What is A.T. Still University known for?

    A.T. Still University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  42. Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    46%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1050/21

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

    Cost of Degree: $11,868
    Expenses: $15,100
    Starting Salary: $43,947
    Salary after 4 years: $57,403
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania known for?

    East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  43. #52

    St. Ambrose University

    Davenport , IA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $35K

    Acceptance

    74%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1130/23

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at St. Ambrose University

    Cost of Degree: $19,320
    Expenses: $16,728
    Starting Salary: $44,292
    Salary after 4 years: $59,802
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  44. #53

    Saginaw Valley State University

    University Center , MI

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    50%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1075/22

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Saginaw Valley State University

    Cost of Degree: $16,362
    Expenses: $13,720
    Starting Salary: $39,757
    Salary after 4 years: $51,930
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Saginaw Valley State University known for?

    Saginaw Valley State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  45. #54

    Des Moines University

    Des Moines , IA

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Des Moines University

    Cost of Degree: $21,102
    Starting Salary: $154,977
    Salary after 4 years: $209,249
    What is Des Moines University known for?

    Des Moines University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Students with Public Health Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Public Health

Degree Level: Master's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $12,456
  • Avg. Expenses*: $17,612
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $54,006
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $70,542
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 5 years
  • Job Growth: 23.19%
  • Number of Jobs: 899,900
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Physicists4.74%$144,964
Medical and Health Services Managers28.40%$103,928
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists9.83%$91,024
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary3.70%$90,850
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary19.10%$87,995

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%MedianTop 10%
$46,466$77,632$124,675

Promising Job Markets

StateCost of LivingAvg. Salary
#2 Arkansas16% higher than average$88,913
#3 Georgia13% higher than average$84,572
#4 New Mexico7% higher than average$88,546
#5 Michigan15% higher than average$79,580
#6 Texas10% higher than average$83,854

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Physicists$144,964
Medical and Health Services Managers$103,928
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$91,024

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Not sure if an online master’s in public health is for you? Check out our rankings for online master’s in higher education, nursing education, or agribusiness!

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build 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 is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And 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 or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new 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 institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. 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 which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students 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.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, 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. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

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 resume 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.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will 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 require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, 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 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 Prospective Grad 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.

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