You can’t really watch tv anymore without seeing an ad for an online school or college. The benefits seem clear, but one has to wonder, how much does online school cost? Is it online college cheaper?
The short answer is yes, the average cost for online school/college is $282 per credit hour, while the average cost for traditional college is $594 ($1,039 per credit hour for private, ivy league schools if you were wondering)
The average 2 year school or junior college cost is $135 per credit hour, still making it an affordable option as well.
In addition to credit hour savings, you won’t be paying extra for housing, food and transportation – which can add up quickly.
Add it all up, and you can expect to pay around $30,000 to $45,000+ for an undergraduate degree from a traditional university, while you should expect to pay around $15,000 to $25,000 for an undergraduate degree from an online institution.
Is the online degree going to help me in the workplace?
Absolutely, while it won’t guarantee you a job – no college degree can – studies show they lead to higher employment rates and pay.
As with any college, you want to make sure the school or college you plan on taking classes from is accredited – this is key.
This means the institution has taken the necessary steps to make sure a group of experts has evaluated the school or college to ensure it meets standards set forth by The U.S. Department of Education.
This not only ensures the degree will carry weight, it opens up the possibility for financial aid help and ensure you can “transfer” classes/courses you’ve already taken to another school or college.
Overall, online degrees offer amazing flexibility and costs savings that can make it a great option for new college students – or those continuing their education later in life.