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Decide Between Noncredit, For-Credit Online University Courses

By U.S. News & World Report

After Tiffany Williams-Rice decided to pursue a career in health care administration, she spoke with employers and conducted research online.

Ultimately, she discovered that a master’s degree would help her move into a hospital setting. The recent graduate, now 33, enrolled in an online graduate program at Colorado State University–Global Campus.

But when Florida resident Alexandra Faugeras decided to transition from a career in business operations to one in project management, she believed a noncredit online course allowing her to earn a certificate in the field was sufficient. She already had a bachelor’s and master’s in other disciplines and performed some project manager duties at her job.

“You find sometimes that there are additional supplemental things that might be noncredit-based that help you move forward,” says the 30-year-old, who completed her noncredit online program through the University of Miami Division of Continuing & International Education.

Many prospective online students aim to change careers or earn a promotion, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to get there, experts say. That might involve deciding between an online course or program that’s for college credit and one that’s not.

[Learn how online degrees can help adults switch careers.]

That distinction is more relevant to some prospective online students than others, experts say. But for those making a choice, here are four factors to consider.

1. Academic and career goals: Though career aspirations remain the primary reason to pursue a degree online, according to one 2017 survey, students’ specific goals vary dramatically.

“What students have to think about is, what’s their educational objective? What do they want to do? What do they want to be?” says Kim Scalzo, executive director of Open SUNY at the State University of New York, a collaboration between 64 SUNY campuses offering both for-credit and noncredit online programs.

For students working toward a degree, for-credit online courses that transfer are usually the way to go. But if somebody hopes to improve his or her job performance without switching fields — or, if a full online degree isn’t required to do so — a noncredit training program can be a good choice.

“Careers are changing at a very rapid rate,” says Rebecca Fox, dean of continuing and international education at UM, which offers both types of courses and programs. “Because of a need for certain skills in various areas, it is becoming more and more common for people who are in jobs to want to take noncredit certificates simply to give themselves an edge.”

Lori Swinney, director of the Center for Instructional and Learning Technologies at the University of North Dakota, recommends that prospective online students research potential online courses’ expected outcomes and determine if those match their goals — whether it’s just gaining a new skill or also receiving credits.

[Consider 10 factors to determine if an online program is legit.]

2. Enrollment options: Sometimes, whether to pursue an online for-credit versus noncredit course depends largely on what and how many classes are offered. That varies among institutions.

If a prospective online student who doesn’t need another degree wants to take a for-credit course because it meets their needs, they should research whether the school will allow that, experts say.

For example, at the University of Richmond, which offers online for-credit and noncredit online courses, nondegree students can enroll in up to nine credits’ worth of online or on-campus graduate classes, says Jamelle Wilson, dean of the university’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies

3. Certifications: In fields such as project management, a certification is required for certain jobs or can lead to a salary boost. For those who already have the required degrees and need training and to pass an exam to either earn or maintain their industry certification, a noncredit online option can be the right move, experts say — though some for-credit online certification options do exist.

The University of North Dakota offers a noncredit online course allowing students to gain field experience and then complete a certification exam to become dietary managers and food protection professionals, and another for certification in medical coding and billing.

[Explore more about paying for online education.]

4. Cost: Prospective online students should compare costs when deciding between credit and noncredit online offerings, experts say.

While the prices of noncredit online courses vary widely, Scalzo, of Open SUNY, says they are generally cheaper — though that changes if there’s a certification.

“You could be looking at upwards of a few thousand dollars.”

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.

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Decide Between Noncredit, For-Credit Online University Courses originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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