What Are the Top Accredited Online Colleges?

While exploring the ins and outs of accredited online colleges, you will quickly discover earning a degree online can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional degree programs, especially for students who want to set their own schedule. Online education is becoming more widely accepted because students receive a richer experience that they did in years past. However, it is important to be able to sift out the top accredited online colleges from many other educational offerings available online.

The best universities in the nation are offering online education programs, letting students e-mail and chat with professors and fellow classmates, access study aides and e-libraries and even get career counseling. Take a good look into the ways you will be communicating with your professor and fellow students.

The best online colleges are accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation agency. Take a look at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s Web site to find out if your online school has been evaluated by a regional accrediting body if your degree program is affiliated with a campus-based school. If the university you’ve got your eye on is fully online, visit the website for the Distance Education and Training Council or the United States Distance Learning Association United States Distance Learning Association to make sure your online college offers accredited degrees.

Top accredited online colleges offer a wide variety of coursework, a good amount of class listings to choose from, lab requirements, minors and concentrations in your preferred field and even internship opportunities. The best online colleges offer, or even require, those enrolled to finish internships or on-site lab work accompanying the online learning so that students gain real-life experience.

The best online universities in the nation are ranked on the Online Education Database. The ranking criteria on the database is determined by rate of acceptance, financial aid, graduation rate, peer citations on the Web, retention rate, scholarly citations, student-faculty ratio and how many years the online school has been accredited. It is an excellent resource for learning what it takes to be a top online college. You can learn about more top-ranked online colleges here.

The University of Phoenix is included on the Online Education Database as a top-rated school, offering Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees. The goal of the University of Phoenix is to provide a top-notch education. It receives its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, offering learning programs on-campus and online that fit students’ unique schedules.

Kaplan University offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Widely known as one of the largest online colleges, Kaplan offers a variety of online and traditional on-campus educational programs for both full- and part-time students wishing to move forward in their careers.

Top Online Colleges

	Kaplan University - Associate's, Bachelor's, & Master's Degrees. Kaplan University is a respected online institution that offers a variety of degrees to students. Kaplan has campus locations available as well as degrees available online that students can choose from.
	Ashford University - Associate's, Bachelor's, & Master's Degrees. Ashford University has an outstanding faculty and staff willing to help students succeed in their chosen degree path. Ashford offers accredited degrees entirely available to take online.
	University of Phoenix - Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's & Doctorate Degrees. As the largest online university in existence, University of Phoenix has a large variety of degrees available. Students will find degree programs offered in high growing industries with an immediate need for new employees.
	Liberty University - Associate's, Bachelor's, & Master's Degrees. An accredited Christian online university, Liberty prepares students with a great curriculum and faculty. Liberty graduates impact their workplace with their new knowledge of their field.
	American InterContinental University Online - Associate's, Bachelor's, & Master's Degrees. American InterContinental University is one of the world's largest and well respected online colleges in existence today. Thousands of students have graduated from AIU over the years and have gone on to have amazing careers in their chosen industry.
	DeVry University - Associate's, Bachelor's, & Master's Degrees. Students just starting their educational career or students already with a degree will find a variety of degrees they will be interested in. DeVry offers high-quality, innovative programs that assist students in obtainting the skills they need to be successful.
	Everest University - Associate's, Bachelor's, & Master's Degrees. Everest University is an excellent choice for students interested in obtaining their degree entirely online. With assorted degree levels available, lifelong learners or new college students will find the degree level perfect for them.
	Westwood College - Associate's & Bachelor's Degrees. First time college students will find excellent undergraduate degree programs at Westwood College. With Westwood's online delivery program, students never have to leave their home to get a college degree.