Online degree colleges

**cosmo99** · September 14th, 2010, 10:20 PM

Was wondering if they (any of them) are worth the time, effort, or money. I can not afford regular college and can not get FAFSA so my only choice is to find a school to make monthly payments. So I was wondering if I am just wasting my time searching or does anyone know much about them. Thanks in advance!!

**Rocky** · September 15th, 2010, 08:04 AM

my wife is going through indiana state university, not quite an online college type but it is an online degree.

**centennialdawg** · September 15th, 2010, 08:33 AM

My youngest daughter(because of being in Germany) is going through the University of Maryland and my midded daughter again(because of military) is going through the University of Texas. They both are big universities and with those degrees, I don't think that they will be easy to come by.

**pvfan** · September 15th, 2010, 10:21 AM

I'm currently in a master's program at Virginia Commonwealth University. It's a little bit different/harder than the other online programs I have seen. We have class at a set time and you have to show up to class with a microphone plugged into your computer. It's not like some of these school's you have never heard of where you just write a paper, get an A, write another paper, get an A, and move on. VCU has payment plans as well. Overall, as long as you go to a school that has "name' value I think you'll be ok. I would avoid any school that you have never heard of.

**1inStripes** · September 15th, 2010, 11:56 AM

Make sure its accredited.

**cosmo99** · September 15th, 2010, 12:18 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies. The course that I want to take is for a Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding and Penn Foster and some other certificate places have been giving me info but I really don't know about them and I have been trying to check them out but UGH its so frustrating....

**Rocky** · September 15th, 2010, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by cosmo99

Thanks everyone for your replies. The course that I want to take is for a Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding and Penn Foster and some other certificate places have been giving me info but I really don't know about them and I have been trying to check them out but UGH its so frustrating....

penn foster is actually accredited if im not mistaken, but FYI MECC is doing medical billing now as well. probably cheaper than what you are wanting to pay for it through penn foster.

**R13** · September 15th, 2010, 03:52 PM

MECC has most courses online, a lot of schools do. I personally don't like online classes myself, but others do. I didn't know if that's what you meant or just these places like a "university of phoenix" type thing.

**centennialdawg** · September 15th, 2010, 04:00 PM

Actually, the University of Phoenix is actually an accredited institution. It isn't a "fly-by-night" type of university. And I think you will find that their degrees have about the same weight as a lot of the traditional universities.

**R13** · September 15th, 2010, 04:42 PM

Read a little on it, I did a long time ago, I know it's accredited..never said it wasn't. it sounds great but employers pay attention to it and a lot of people have seen those degrees are useless. People find that out early on usually and get out, which is why they have like a 15% graduation rate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_University

Long list of controversies with that place. They get their money just like any other college, but people have found out it wasn't worth the paper it's written on - according to employers, I don't know what the workload is. I know that online classes aren't as easy as they sound, a lot of work as opposed to a lecture class. Sorry, just wouldn't take my chances with that place when that much money and a career is involved, just my opinion.