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