Tuition prices for earning your college degree online can vary widely depending on the school and type of degree. According to U.S. News & World Report, for the 2019-2020 school year, the most expensive online tuition for a bachelor’s program was $1,034 per credit at the Rochester Institute of Technology, a private school in New York. The least expensive online tuition price was $53 per credit for in-state students at the University of North Carolina—Pembroke.

Going to college online doesn’t automatically mean it is going to be less expensive, although it could be. Look into whether or not the online college you’re looking into offers financial aid or scholarships (because many don’t).

The bright side of online college? You won’t be saddled with all those extra fees like from a traditional college: housing fees, parking stickers, student activity fees, and meal plans. That alone will save you hundreds each semester!

By taking classes at your own pace, you could finish your degree earlier than planned. This could be a good path for students, especially those who are looking to get into the workforce as quickly as possible! Some online colleges offer accelerated programs for certain degrees. These classes can be finished in five to ten weeks, instead of the traditional 15-18 weeks. 

Or if you can handle the extra workload, earning your degree online could allow you to take extra credits each semester to graduate a semester or even a year earlier.

Although more and more majors are added to online colleges every year, your intended major may not be an option. English, finance, or business management degree? You can definitely earn those online, because a lot of the work will be reading, writing, group work, and presentations. 

But a degree in chemistry that requires the use of a laboratory or a BSN where you need to practice hands-on skills is a little trickier. You likely won’t be able to find a degree online for these types of majors. You may be able to do prerequisites online and only take certain classes in person, but you will likely have to go in at some point for in-person classes. 

If you’re looking forward to Friday night parties, football games, and late-night movie nights, online college may not be right for you. You probably won’t have as many study sessions at the library or group homework sessions in the dorms. 

However, social interaction is still possible at an online school. It just looks a little different. With Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other collaborative platforms, connecting and working with your professors and peers online is easier than ever. You just may miss the in-person interaction (or not!).

Online colleges are also making their courses interactive in a variety of ways, from virtual labs for science classes to creating animated videos to teach course materials. Online colleges, such as American Public University, even offer 100% online clubs.

Unlike on a physical college campus, you may not have professors hounding you about due dates and your thesis topic. If you’re a self-starter and organized, it may be easier to adapt to an online program. If your idea of staying organized is fishing out a crumpled up piece of paper from the bottom of your backpack and handing it to your parents, it may take a little while to get into a groove of staying on top of your learning and class schedule (or lack thereof). 

It’s important to keep a planner, either paper or electronic, to stay on top of due dates, group meetings, dates for finals, and Zoom meetings with your professor. There are also tons of organization apps and calendars you can utilize so as long as you have your phone, you have your schedule.