Are online colleges a joke?

[Anonymous]

I'm looking into going back to school but I want to do it online since I have young children at home still. Are online colleges worth it though? I have always heard they are not seen as real schooling. Thoughts?

[HipLikeJunk]

yes.

[Greenstone920]

If the school is a part of an accredited college/university, that's one thing.  But the for-profit schools like University of Phoenix are a joke and no one will take your degree seriously.

[mom2aspclboy]

Not if the program you are wanting is through an accredited college or university and not through a for-profit school.

[Derari]

Yes. Forget university of Phoenix etc. perhaps look into a college in your area that offers things online...sometimes you just go in for exams.

[lovinmama411]

I guess it depends. I went to University of Phoenix online, got an associates degree. Daycare would have cost $400 a week, so even though it was a little more expensive than a traditional college it actually saved me money when I added up daycare costs. 

After I got my associates degree, my youngest started kindergarten and I transferred all the credits to my local university. Now I go to a state university and have about a year left. All but one of the classes from UoP transferred to my current school. So to me, it was totally worth it and really put me ahead of where I would be had they not been available. 

[mylovey]

I would avoid for-profit colleges that offer degrees online. Otherwise a great deal of colleges are now offering degrees online or mostly online. Also, when you receive your degree it will not say that you were an online student. 

[Greenstone920]

Best thing to do is to look into your local community college or state university, and see what courses they offer online for your desired degree.

[thetrollcat]

I think online classes are a joke also

[mommyrustina]

Colleges that are solely online are typically a joke. However, most colleges/universities now offer degree programs that can be completed entirely online and anyone viewing your transcripts would never know the difference.

[Jessica_Esqueda]

Totally worth it. I am transferring my BA from UoP to an on-campus college (night school!) for my MA. Everything is transferrable. Expensive? Yes. But the cost was worth it to me to be able to be with my kids.