| The cost of a college education is never | | | | institutions like Saint Leo University and |
| considered cheap, no matter if you attend | | | | Lehigh University, BUT you might be eligible |
| offline or online. However, online courses | | | | for in-state grants by attending a |
| can be more expensive than their offline | | | | not-for-profit institution, whereas you |
| counterparts at times, as universities try to | | | | wouldn't be eligible if you attend a |
| make up for the missed opportunity costs of | | | | for-profit institution. |
| parking on campus, room-and-board, textbooks, | | | | |
| etc. Also, the level of your courses, whether | | | | Something else to consider when deciding |
| it be for a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral | | | | between attending for-profit and |
| degree will also determine the cost of the | | | | not-for-profit institutions: For-profit |
| courses you take. The choice of university | | | | institutions are considered more flexible |
| where you choose to attend online classes can | | | | scheduling-wise and more focused on |
| also affect the cost of your education. | | | | job-specific curriculums than not-for-profit |
| | | | institutions, but not-for-profit institutions |
| Online courses will sometimes be more | | | | are more likely to be regionally accredited, |
| expensive at universities that have better or | | | | transfer credits more easily, and are usually |
| more prestigious reputations than those that | | | | considered to have more name recognition and |
| are not as well-known or well-recognized | | | | be considered more prestigious, which could |
| because employers look more favourably upon | | | | help to make the difference when interviewing |
| those graduates who have completed their | | | | for a position with a company. |
| degrees at universities that are more | | | | |
| well-known or have more prestige. | | | | The difference in the costs of private |
| | | | colleges versus public colleges can also be |
| Because of this, your current employer may be | | | | substantial, due to the fact that private |
| willing to reimburse you for all or part of | | | | universities don't receive financial support |
| your tuition, especially if the courses | | | | from state and local governments like public |
| relate to your current occupational field and | | | | universities do. Private institutions have to |
| if you plan on staying at your current place | | | | rely on tuition, fees, gifts, corporate |
| of employment. In fact, 40% of students that | | | | contributions, and endowments. Public |
| are attending corporate training programs are | | | | universities receive a large proportion of |
| having their employers pay for all of their | | | | their budgets from state or local governments |
| tuition. | | | | because they are government-run. |
| | | | |
| The cost per credit can vary greatly from | | | | Besides the cost of the online courses |
| university to university, some costing as | | | | themselves, you also have to take into |
| little as $150/credit to as much as $500 | | | | consideration what you will need to complete |
| credit. With a difference as much as $350 | | | | these online courses, including a powerful |
| credit, the costs of taking a course at one | | | | enough computer and a stable Internet |
| university can greatly exceed the costs of | | | | connection. High-speed Internet connections, |
| taking a similar course at another | | | | which usually cost more than dial-up, may be |
| university. Of course, you need to be aware | | | | advantageous to quickly download the course |
| of whether that cost is justified based on | | | | materials and be able to play back the video |
| the reputations of the universities and the | | | | and audio lectures more fluidly without as |
| quality of the instruction at each, then | | | | many interruptions. |
| decide whether the higher cost is worth it or | | | | |
| not. | | | | By considering all these factors, you can |
| | | | determine which university will provide you |
| Consider also that tuition at for-profit | | | | with the programs you wish to take and the |
| institutions like the University of Phoenix | | | | benefits you wish to receive at the lowest |
| and Kaplan University is usually less | | | | possible cost. |
| expensive than that at not-for-profit | | | | |