***Back Story***
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In the 80’s and early 90’s, if you needed max flexibility to earn a degree, your option was pretty much Correspondence Schools. With these, you typically mailed in your work. At some, faxes
were also allowed (to speed things up).
One of the earliest AND LARGEST was ICS- International Correspondence Schools which had been around since just before the 1900’s (yeah, wow). This school was the one famously pitched by Sally Struthers (a big star, from the TV show “All in the Family”)---pretty much the popularity of “Friends”, but highly inappropriate now! Don’t worry, I’m not old enough to remember either!
Anyway, in the Marines I was a Sergeant who wanted to become an Officer. I told other “College Educated” Marines I might go the ICS route and those who didn’t laugh, looked at me with pity. Yeah, that’s how alternative non-campus College was viewed then----and how Online College was originally viewed when it hit the main-stream internet in the late 90’s. Two of the major players were the University of Phoenix and Western Governors University. The attitude towards their “Type” of school was still pretty bad in the early 2000’s---then more Online Universities really started popping up. The “Big Time” traditional Campus-Based Universities began seriously jumping in around 2010. They realized the reduced costs (to them), and how their “REACH” could be extended. In fact, those same “Big Time” schools ended up going to the experienced Online Universities for Personnel or “White Label” versions to allow a fast and effective start!
Just as an Example:
The Following “Big Name” Schools Now Offer
SOME FULLY ONLINE Degrees:
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Florida, Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, Penn State, Michigan State,
Arizona State, Illinois, California State, Arkansas and on and on…
Online Universities
(& Other Hybrid Online Options)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
OK...before we get into the different options and versions in relation to Online Colleges, we wanted to throw something out at you to make things REALLY CLEAR. In our previous sections we've already mentioned various routes available where almost anyone in the U.S. can get a College Degree at very minimal cost---or even FREE. Thus, dispelling the false narrative that Higher Ed is not available for all.​
While conducting our research, we discovered the main ways to get FREE COLLEGE---or close to it.
Those options are included in the "College on the Cheap" section but here's a quick recap:
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1. Community Colleges and Technical Colleges might end up being free or close to it for many of us---depending on State or Region (like SC).
2. Military members can get College for free RIGHT AWAY---along with possibly "passing on" up to 125k-150k of College Money to their kids.
3. College can be covered for some Specific Fields/Majors where students agree to work in a short-handed field or lower-income areas following graduation. Examples include Teachers, Some Healthcare, Some Social Services, a few Law related fields etc...
4. Lastly, "Online-Driven" Private Universities & a few Big-Name Universities (Online) can now be included as potentially FREE in certain situations. Surprised? Here's how...
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And This is HUGE!
*There are MANY MANY Companies that have made contractual agreements with "Education Groups" which allow their employees to go to College FOR FREE (at a variety of Schools signed on with that Education Group). Wait what? Yup, just work there---and your TUITION is covered in many cases (even Part-Time). Of course, the overwhelming majority of these are Online--but include schools like: Arizona State, Purdue, Colorado Tech, Southern New Hampshire, Florida, Arizona etc...
We found these opportunities while researching major Nationwide Companies (mainly Service & Retail), that offered Tuition Assistance/Reimbursement where they throw you some cash to HELP pay for school. While Tuition Assistance is great---FREE COLLEGE ECLIPSED IT BY FAR. So, take a little trip over to our "Cost Cutting Tricks" - "5 Random Strategies" section to check out a few companies we looked into for Tuition Assistance and individual "Educational Group" associations. But of course, finish this page first!
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Anyway, after the whole Covid lockdown, Hybrid High School Classes, Home-School offerings, HS Dual Credits online----NOT TO MENTION The Ability to "Work from Home", nobody WILL EVER convince me you can't just take College classes Online with similar effectiveness as those just mentioned. Hence, as a Student or Parent---I'm definitely looking at these Employers and Schools. No more whining...
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*So, if you've EVER AGREED that the examples above are effective remotely, please---don't be a "Hypocrisy Hobbyist" or "Contradiction Connoisseur"!
*These are EXTRAORDINARY Opportunities
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*Anyway, now that you know that a Bachelor's Degree (Tuition Free)---is available for you,
it makes the stuff below even more important.​
(Remember: You're just one successful job interview away!)
So, Let’s Talk About "Online-Driven" Universities...
Followed by a Quick Summary of a Few Other Online Variations
"Online-Driven" Private Universities
These are exactly as they sound. That’s their game, and for those Colleges that have been around
a while, their format and delivery are pretty solid. Who are these schools? Well, I always tell
people a lot of them are the ones running ads on TV, in “pop-ups”, or as “pre-roll” ads on
internet videos. In fact, one just appeared on Hulu about 10 seconds ago for Capella University
(while I was writing the prior sentence). No way that was a coincidence! Conspiracy Theories
aside---let's start with the PRO's & CON's...
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*The Below PRO's & CON's outlined mainly cover Private ONLINE-DRIVEN Universities---but many apply to all Online Degrees or Courses. Any Significant Differences or Advantages with EACH VARIATION are noted within their brief overview following this section.
Many are kinda just self-explanatory...
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****Pro's****
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1. Online-Focused Universities are very often one of the “WE REALLY WANT YOU SCHOOLS”. And to be honest, I want a College that really wants me (or better yet--NEEDS ME).
*Remember: Schools that "need you" are typically going to be the ones with more student-friendly policies for Life Experience Credits, Transfer Credits, Course Substitutions, Acceptance of APs. CLEPs, DSSTs, Dual Credits etc... & several other Negotiable areas. Basically, all the major parts of CollegDawg's "Speed to Degree" Strategy!
2. Online Colleges offer several different formats---so they can fit most people's needs.
-Live Classes - Sometimes referred to as “Structured” or “Guided”
-Self-Paced - Sometimes referred to as “Personalized Learning” or “Independent Study”
-Blended Online Learning - A combination of Live Online classes, some Self-Pace portions, perhaps Recorded Videos, and maybe a Group Project or Two
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*Any one of those might also include a:
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-Flat-Rate Tuition Model - Different versions are sometimes called "Block Tuition" or "All-You-Can-Learn". Different Colleges may offer: 1. Max classes per term - one price
2. Monthly Subscription - all you can take
3. Same Price for 12-18 Semester Hours (many of your more Traditional Universities often offer this as well)
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3. Online-Driven Colleges' Systems, Formats, and Delivery have become very good. Even the most non-tech-savvy amongst us can figure them out relatively quickly. This generally applies to almost all of those Colleges with this delivery as their standard business. Some of the Online Variations shown later may be very similar in overall functionality, user-friendliness, & customer service----while others could be one step short of disastrous! Perhaps a bit extreme---but make sure you read the reviews regarding this category for any College you're checking out.
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4. The “Self-Pace” version offered by many Online Colleges IS OUTSTANDING for those with unusual or variable work schedules. It can also be great for a recent grad who wants to knock out all work for this week and next, in a day or two. Some have limits to how far you can get ahead, while others allow you to blast through the entire course AS FAST AS YOU ARE MOTIVATED TO DO SO!
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5. Online-Driven Colleges usually offer Accelerated Learning as “The Standard” for both Live or Self-Paced classes. Some can get SERIOUSLY accelerated with 4-6 week terms, while others are still faster than the "norm" at 8-12 weeks. This allows you to complete several more courses DURING THE YEAR than you would at a standard 2-Semester Ground-Campus University (15-17 weeks per term).
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Example: If their model was one class at a time, for one month each---you'd end up with 12 classes for the year vs. the normal 10 earned by your average full-time Traditional University Student taking 5 classes at a time. Now sprinkle in a 2nd class here or there & you might be able to knock out a Bachelor's in just over 2 years (even without using the CollegeDawg Speed-to-Degree Strategies)!
6. Rigor, Workload, and Grading Standards - may be quite a bit more relaxed with your standard Online-Focused University. There are also a few with exceptionally friendly Grading Scales & Policies out there. However---overall, you should end up with a similar amount of "Engagement" or "Learning" Hours. These are often referred to as "Instructional Equivalents" by various Accrediting Bodies, as compared to the traditional "Contact Hours".
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7. Online-Driven Colleges Can Allow the Student to Work Full-Time & Get Credit for being a "Full-Time Student"---as it pertains to Financial Aid (Grants and Loans), most Scholarships, or various forms of Tuition Assistance. This works because as mentioned above, most of these Colleges offer Accelerated Learning with more Compressed or Concentrated terms. Again, this can result in more than enough classes completed to meet the 12 semester-hour requirement for Federal Financial Aid and the 15-hour benchmark for some Individual Scholarships. (Note: Those hours are per "semester" at a traditional university---so double it for the yearly totals)
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****Con's****
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1. Stigma – it can still be there in certain "circles" regarding these Fully Online Degrees. But to say it once again, ANY BACHELOR’s in your field is usually good for most basic, non-specialized jobs in the U.S. After your First Career-Related Job---it’s almost all about your performance, your experience, your contacts, future interviews, & most importantly YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THOSE INTERVIEWS.
*However---just keep in mind most of these Colleges have respectable Employer Networks (just less regionally focused).
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2. Acceptance into some more Upper-Echelon Grad Schools is sometimes difficult with a degree from a standard Online-Driven University, but in general there will be plenty of schools similar to yours that will GLADLY move forward with you!
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3. Transferability of Credits. We discussed this with almost all types of Alternative College Options covered e.g., Career Colleges, Accelerated-Career Universities, and of course these Online-Focused Colleges. It even applies to some Campus-Based Private University individual courses. Just check the Online School’s accreditation and see how many other schools you recognize there. Those reflected will typically accept nearly everything if there is a spot on the Degree Map available. Additionally, if there is some kind of "end game" school you're shooting for---check there first.
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4. Self-Discipline---i.e.,YOUR Self-Discipline (or lack-there-of) can create a very expensive problem.
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5. Just like “Work-From-Home”, MANY people miss the Social Contact and Relationships. Along those same lines, some swear it's not even remotely the same (for work or for college)--while others laud its effectiveness. Simply put, Different Strokes for Different Folks!
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****Possible Pro's and Con's (depending)****
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*Usually, Private Online College TUITION averages a little less than your basic Campus-Based PUBLIC Universities. However, the spread is much greater when you factor in what you won't be spending related to commuting, or all the cash involved with campus-based living if roomed there. On the downside---they will cost much more than your local Community College or Technical College.
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*Online-Driven Universities can offer/utilize all the basic Federal Financial Aid options (Pell, Need-Based Grants, Student Loans, Parent-Plus Loans etc...)---BUT, really push for those Institutional Scholarships/Grants as well, or perhaps even ask about Institutional Loans if available.
Now​---In MANY cases you won't be able to use those Automatic Scholarships you earned in HS----like the HOPE, LIFE, & Palmetto coming from the state of SC. However, if you really want to attend one of the Online-Focused Colleges----NEGOTIATE WITH THEM and see if they'll "match that missing scholarship amount"---problem solved. Let us know if you need help with the wording! We could even make the call for you...
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***Note: For other States---this is DEFINITELY something to research if your State is one of the 30+ that have
some similar College-Money Assistance Programs (e.g., Scholarships, Grants, or Tuition Assistance)
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*Lastly, with these Online Degrees it can be tough to establish that expanded Student-Instructor relationship that some of us want to MAXIMIZE for "favorable" treatment on our "subjective assignments" and potential last minute extra-credit work consideration if needed to hit the mark. (As a reminder, be sure to research the "Halo Effect").
On the flip-side this can BE AWESOME for those who are typically not all that punctual, physically unkempt, are generally anti-social, or are continuously scrolling on the ol' mobile. Since Online Professors are way less aware of these short-comings, you have less personal bias to worry about from your Instructor. (Look up the opposite of the "Halo Effect"--- known as the "Horn Effect").
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Either way---once again, it's "give and take" & personal preference. Like all the potential Advantages and Disadvantages listed above, you gotta just see if it's something that might work for you! Just do a little research if you don't have a plan yet---or if you are looking for a fast, cost-effective way to knock this College stuff out!
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Bottom Line: Would I Go To One of These Schools?
ABSOLUTELY----WITHOUT HESITATION!
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In fact, I have really considered one that we have mentioned on our site a time or two (I'll tell you which one if/when they start sponsoring us)! Either way, you’d have to call me “Doctor Brian” and almost NOBODY would care about the name on the degree---just like the roughly 1000+ Regional Public & Private Campus-Based Universities you guys go to that VERY FEW recognize outside of your little world.
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So, how effective are the Online Degrees in the Business/Education World? One great example I can give you is this: I personally helped hire 3 College Directors of Education, or College Presidents that received their Masters/Doctorate Degrees in this manner. Like in almost all cases in the US---once you're in the door in your first Professional Role it boils down to Performance, Experience, Networking, your ability to Land New Interviews, & NAILING THOSE INTERVIEWS.
And now...knowing that I can go to Chipotle & start pitching Carne Asada bowls to get College for free---I'M ALL-IN.
So, What Other “Versions” of Online College are Out There?
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-Hybrid Learning: This is the obvious place to start since nearly ALL COLLEGES offer some online courses. This is simple. If a school has a bundle of courses that you can take online as part of your Campus-Based degree program---they are considered to be offering
"Hybrid Learning". This basically applies to almost all Higher Ed options covered on our site.
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​​​-Blended Learning: Some people use the terms Hybrid Learning and Blended Learning interchangeably---which is not a big deal. Most of us get it. However, where Hybrid Learning involves taking some FULL COURSES online, "Blended Learning" typically involves some "live" Ground/Classroom sessions along with some online classes on various days. It's kinda like "Work from Home"----where you still have to go to the office once a week. However---this is a classroom/online combo.
NOW---"Blended ONLINE Learning" is ALL ONLINE. The "Blended" part is when a single course may have has some live "zoom type" sessions, and maybe some self-pace, some recorded video sections, and/or a little live "group work".
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​​​​-Fully Online Degrees - Public Universities (“Football”, “Branch”, and “Regional”): Many now offer Full Degrees Online, while nearly all offer Hybrid options. These will typically be set up VERY MUCH like the PROFESSIONAL ONLINE INSTITUTIONS discussed in the main section. Typically, the bigger the school, the more individual courses they offer as Hybrid for “Ground Students”---however, that is not necessarily true for the Full Degrees. It just depends how long they've been running them & how successful the Degree Programs
have been.
NOTE: Keep in mind, you may have a far different level of RIGOR at the “Football Schools” or other more well-known Traditional Universities. “Speed-to-Degree” will likely be a tad more challenging with this variation as well, due to the fact that some of the Major courses you may need might only be offered once a year in some cases.
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*However, Don't Forget...Because this is REALLY IMPORTANT:​
Remember, some of these Large Main-Stream Public Universities are included in the "Education Groups" some
Employers have partnered with to offer their Employees FREE TUITION. And again, in many cases this even
includes Part-Time or Entry-Level positions. So, if a bigger "Name-Brand" University is something you
desire---this could be a tremendous opportunity!
PS: If you're looking for a refresher on this, more info can be found under "5 Random Cost Saving Strategies" in the Cost Cutting Section.
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​​​Now---after already looking at the General Pro's & Con's we listed for the "Online-Driven" Universities---
Here are 3 Main Pro's for Online Degrees offered by Traditional Campus-Based Colleges:
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Pro #1: If you REALLY want to be a graduate from a certain University, this path often has more relaxed admissions standards than the normal route for that school. Additionally---in most cases, they will give you a diploma that is identical to the main Ground-Based Campus version! (But I would definitely confirm that first if it was my main priority!)
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Pro #2: If you live OUT-OF-STATE, this allows you to attend a "Big Time University" without moving, yet still receive In-State Rates
in a lot of cases.
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Pro #3: If you believe there are Stigmas or Potential Limitations in your Career Field related to the Private Online-Driven Colleges, this option could be your best fit. (But this usually applies mainly to Specialized Fields and the "Grad School+ type Careers")
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Now--just a couple Main Disadvantages to Consider
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Con #1: In regard to Accelerated Learning at most of these Institutions---it will not TYPICALLY be on par with the average Professional Online-Focused University. So, "Speed to Degree" will almost always be a little more difficult. And in some cases where you used our Strategies to get ahead of the game---these can still add a Semester or Two due to possible course offering limitations we mentioned previously.
*HOWEVER---there are a handful of Big-Name Public/Private Campus-Based Universities whose percentages of Online Students are Growing RAPIDLY. Several we've mentioned a few times, especially when discussing those Colleges affiliated with the "Education Groups" offered to Employers for their Employee Benefits Packages. Some of them have jumped on the REAL Accelerated Terms bandwagon, but you'll have to do the homework on that one...
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Con #2: Cost---On average (Nationwide), the cost per Semester Hour will be a good-bit higher than your standard Professional
Online-Driven College. Essentially, you're generally looking at standard Public University Tuition rates, which of course vary by School and Location. Additionally, as mentioned before, if the designated College is not in your Current State---you could miss out on your High School earned State Scholarships (HOPE, LIFE, Palmetto for SC). Unlike Online-Driven Universities, I don't know many Public Universities that are gonna throw any additional free cash your way to offset the missing bucks.
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Anyway---let's say we're finished with Online-Driven & Public University Web-based Programs...
What Other Variations are Out There?
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-Private Campus-Based Universities---Fully Online Degrees: Like the Public Universities---many are now offering Fully Online Degrees. However, the number of Degree Programs offered are often even lower than what we just covered in the Public University Online section. This is usually due to the average size of the Colleges and their overall setup. But, like Public Universities they almost all have Hybrid options, thus allowing you to sprinkle in an online course here and there if desired.
ADDITIONALLY, as mentioned above, a few Larger Campus-Based Private Universities are now included as part of the
"Go-To-College-For-Free" employee benefit your company may have. Click Here---if you need a quick recap.
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​The Pro's: Pretty Much All the Same as listed for the Public Universities above: Alternative route to the school of your choice, In-State rates in many cases, and Identical Diplomas in the majority of cases.​​
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Con #1: Cost. As compared to the Professional Online Universities & the Public University Online Degree options---these are definitely a good bit more expensive ​​​
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Con #2: Accelerated Learning will typically not be on par with the Online-Driven Universities
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-Accelerated-Career Universities: As discussed in our "Private University" section, these are your Ground-Based Colleges typically located in 1 to 4 stand-alone buildings, or in professional office complexes. They typically have campuses on the outskirts of
mid-to-large cities and often cater more to those wanting live in-person training in very Specific Degrees (often more focused on those fields "in-demand"). One of their "main draws" are the Accelerated Learning platforms they offer---similar to what we showed earlier here is this section. Although typically known for their face-to-face training (day and night classes), most of them now offer an Online component.
Most of these Colleges will offer more selection for Fully Online Degrees vs. Traditional Campus-Based Universities, but typically less than the Online-Driven Universities. However, you'll often find some more Specific Degree Majors (TITLES) that can't be found many other places Online.
*As a reminder---these Colleges can be highly conducive to any "Speed to Degree" Strategy. (Whether On-Ground or Online)
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-Career Colleges: As covered previously, these are the Degree-Granting segments of the "Career School" category. They're usually known for their Career-Focused Associate Degrees, along with their reputation for Speed, Small Class Size, and established Employer Relationships. Since THEIR GAME is typically “Hands On” or “Very Specific Specialties”, you won’t find a ton of online options outside of some individual course offerings (so Hybrid).
However, MANY now have follow-up Bachelor's Degrees FULLY ONLINE to help with Career Progression. Ex. Healthcare Administration, Management, Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, Project Management etc.. The Associate Degree is there so the Grad can start working in their new Professional Career, while the Online Bachelor's is for overall options in the future (generally speaking).
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-Community Colleges or Technical Colleges: These Schools now offer plenty of online classes for "Hybrid Learning" and the list of courses continues to grow each year. However, when it comes to Fully Online Degree Programs there typically isn't a great selection. They do, however, usually offer several Certification type programs fully online for a variety of Professions as well. One added benefit with the Technical Colleges in SC is that there are quite a few statewide, so you do have a couple unique options at different locations.
*Obviously if you're looking for a basic Online Associate Degree at the lowest cost---these can definitely be a good fit.
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-Online College Options Available for Military Personnel: First off---they're all available for FREE. Did we mention that?
Basically, the majority of what you see above is usually available to Military personnel within their first year of Service. These include Private Online-Driven Universities, Public & Private Traditional Universities w/ Fully Online Degrees (some limitations), & Hybrid Learning with a select group of Public & Private University "Extension Campuses" LOCATED ON BASE. Simply put...
Many, Many, Many, active-duty personnel have earned degrees whether on Base, on Ships, or Deployed to Foreign Countries. They truly have tremendous options today. I highly recommend checking them out! You can call us if you're afraid of the Recruiters...​​​​​​
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LASTLY, Just Keep in Mind:
THE GREAT MAJORITY of these Fully Online Degrees are the less “hands on” type.
It’s tough to learn Healthcare Specialties, Theater, Fire Science, Engineering,
Environmental Science, or Lab Tech type Careers completely online--but that should be obvious.
Regardless, if we haven’t been clear enough,
Online Colleges & Degree Programs are AWESOME OPTIONS for a great percentage of Americans!
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