Earn a U.S. Undergrad Degree Online
Prospective international students don’t have to leave home to work toward a U.S. undergraduate degree, thanks to the availability of online programs.
In 2016-2017, there were 8,524 international students enrolled in the nearly 150 ranked online bachelor’s degree programs that reported these data to U.S. News in an annual survey.
Here are 10 questions for prospective international students to consider when researching U.S. online bachelor’s degree programs.
Is the program accredited?
Accreditation is a review process that an outside organization conducts to ensure a school or specific degree program meets certain quality standards. Researching accreditation status can help students avoid fake online programs, and employers may be more likely to accept online degrees that come from accredited institutions.
Prospective students can follow these steps to determine whether an online degree program is accredited.
What are the classes like?
To get a better sense of a program, prospective international students can ask how course content is delivered and how assignments are structured, says Gareth Fowles, vice president for enrollment management at Lynn University.
Some online programs permit students to access course materials on their own schedule, while others require students to be online at a specific time for a live chat or video lecture. If a program has a more rigid schedule, international students based in different time zones may have to stay up late to attend class.
How much is tuition?
Many U.S. schools charge domestic and international online students the same tuition.
However, if an institution has different in-state and out-of-state tuition prices, international students will have to pay the higher, out-of-state rate, one expert told U.S. News in 2014.
To help offset this cost, prospective online international students can ask whether a school offers any scholarships for online students, experts say.
Are there fees?
Kathleen Cook, assistant director of the Virtual College at Fort Hays State University, says prospective online international students should ask about the fees associated with an online program.
She says she’s come across other online programs where the fees are almost as much as the tuition. “They kind of sneak them in later,” she adds.
Online students may be able to get a school to waive some of the fees it charges all students but that mostly benefit those actually on campus.
What is required for admission?
Online courses from U.S. schools are typically taught in English and involve a lot of writing, an education consultant told U.S. News in 2014. Among other information, students may have to submit proof of English language proficiency, such as a TOEFL or IELTS test score, when applying to an online degree program.
Prospective international students can usually find a program’s complete admissions requirements on the school’s website.
Are there other online international students?
These are the online bachelor’s degree programs that enrolled the highest percentages of international students during the 2016-2017 academic year, per data from an annual U.S. News survey:
1. Madonna University in Michigan (100 percent international).
2. Fort Hays State University in Kansas (45.2 percent international).
3. Monroe College in New York (17.2 percent international).
4. Lynn University in Florida (16.1 percent international).
5. University of Maine–Fort Kent (13.8 percent international).
How accessible are faculty members?
It is important for prospective international students to ask how accessible their professors will be, says Fowles from Lynn University. “I think international students really want to make sure that they have equal opportunity to engage and interact and have conversations with faculty,” he says.
Each faculty member in a program may have a different preferred communication style, says Cook from Fort Hays State University. Some may only be reachable via email, while others will have video chat office hours, she says.
How can I network in my country?
Some online programs give their students the chance to network in person at conferences, social gatherings and other types of events. Institutions may also provide virtual career fairs where students can connect with potential employers. Prospective international students can inquire about networking opportunities that are available to them in their home countries.
Additionally, they can ask about the strength of a school’s alumni network in other parts of the world. Among other things, talking with alumni can help online students discern possible career paths, one expert told U.S. News in 2016.
What support services are available?
Online learners don’t have to navigate their studies on their own. Many schools offer varying types of support services for virtual students.
Around-the-clock tech support is one service that experts recommend prospective international students ask about, due to potential time zone differences.
At Fort Hays State University, some of the resources offered to online students include career services as well as online tutoring, says Carol Solko-Olliff, director of international student services.
Is the degree accepted internationally?
Prospective international students can ask a school about degree recognition abroad, but they may have to do their own research to find an answer.
Students can reach out to the ministry of education in their home country to see whether an online degree from a U.S. school will be accepted, says Suzan Brinker, director of global strategy at Pennsylvania State University–World Campus. This can be an issue if a student wants to go on to work for the government or pursue a subsequent degree at a school in their home country, Brinker says.
Another strategy is to check with licensing bodies for specific industries, such as psychology, within a country to see whether an online degree in that field from a U.S. school will be accepted, experts say.
Learn More About Online Education
Find additional tips about searching for and applying to an online program in the Online Learning Lessons blog, and explore the full 2018 Best Online Programs rankings.
Also, follow U.S. News Education on Facebook and Twitter for more tips.
More from U.S. News
Decide Between Live, Self-Paced Online Classes
Accreditation of Online Degree Programs: Frequently Asked Questions
Online Students Can Build In-Person Relationships
10 Questions for International Students to Ask About Online Bachelor?s Programs originally appeared on usnews.com
