10 questions to ask before enrolling for school online

Congratulations! You've made the decision to attend an accredited online college and begin a new chapter in your academic career. There's just one problem- you have no idea what an accredited school is, let alone how to apply for admission to start class. No worries. Here the 10 questions you need to ask an academic representative or admissions counselor before you enroll:

1. Are they regionally or nationally accredited?
You want a regionally accredited school because credits earned will transfer to other schools.

2. Are they not-for-profit?
Not-for-profit degrees are more reputable than degrees from for-profit institutions because the standards are different.

3. What is the tuition cost?
The classes are going to be different for every institution. Receive this information up front before signing any paperwork.

4. Do courses run on a semester basis or a quarterly basis?
This is important for cost purposes.

5. What is the refund policy?
You want to be aware of the refund policy before your classes start just in case something happens and you need to drop your courses.

6. What type of hardware/software is required for class?
A word processing program is imparative, along with a personal computer and consistent internet access. Your school needs to be able to explain which software you will need.

7. What are the requirements for admission?
This will be individually based, however most will require an application, application fee and completion of FAFSA if financial aid is being used.

8. Is financial aid or student assistance available?
Most regionally accredited schools will offer federal financial aid. It is up to the school whether or not they offer Title IV funding. For nationally accredited schools, it is up to the school.

9. How long will the program take to complete?
It's important to know the length of the program because there are so many different formats available.

10. Who can I contact for additional help should I need it?
Every online school should offer the assistance of an admissions counselor, finance counselor and student services.

Each of these questions will help to prepare you when speaking to an admissions representative about starting your courses. For more information or to speak with an Admissions Counselor today, contact 888.501.2378 and ask for Katie