Which educational institutions are considered the most credible to obtain a degree via distance learning.?

Question

Looking at institutions worldwide.

Answer 1

It will depend on very much on what you want to get your degree in and what level of degree.

Know ahead that you have way more choice than those heavily advertised programs like UoP and DeVry. Your choices include Harvard, UMass, Florida State, Oklahoma, UC, CSU, UNC, Johns Hopkins, and many more. Almost every state school is teaching online now and many have their degrees wholly online.

You also have the option of taking your courses anywhere and simply transferring them to Excelsior, Thomas Edison State, or Charter Oak (all allow nearly 100% transfer in and are regionally accredited)

Regional accreditation is the minimum requirement you should look at but all that says is that the school meets the minimum requirement. It's essential that a US school choice have it but that doesn't make the school "good" or reputable - it only means they've met at least the minimum standard.

The distance programs with the best reputation are from the schools with the best reputation in their traditional programs as well. Those with a poor reputation also have a poor reputation in their on-campus programs.

Open in the UK is very well respected. University of South Africa (UNISA) has a pretty solid reputation as well. If you speak Spanish, German, or French well enough to take classes, there are also some very good choices that way.

Remember, some people will immediately think "Univ of Phoenix" or Sally Struthers commercials when you say "online college" or "distance learning" - that bias does remain though it's waining. Very many people aren't even aware that their own alma mater is teaching online now...

Answer 2

Number one is Open University in the UK, nothing else is even close. In Canada Athabasca in Alberta and Thompson Rivers in BC are okay. In general though, with the big exception of OU, I'd recommend doing distance education through a regular university (one with classrooms) rather than an on-line institution.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Yes the above answer is correct the open university is actually rated above some normal full time universities but of course not on the top level. I know Europeans can enrol in the open uni but im not sure about the rest of the world, easy to find out though at www.open.ac.uk.

Answer 4

In the US, any school with a regional accreditation is considered credible. Look for those with bricks and mortar campuses, too. Their on line courses compare to their on site classes.