Click To List Of Colleges And Universities Specializing in Online Degrees
As an adult going back to college after a break in your studies, you’re probably wondering about transferring your old college credits. If you’ve been out of school for awhile, hunting down your transcripts and doing the legwork to figure out which credits will transfer may seem like more trouble than it’s worth. However, there are great benefits for those who do the research and transfer college credits into their new program. For instance, despite what you may think, many college credits from an accredited institution never expire, and can count towards your education years into the future. Don’t let the foundation you’ve already built go to waste; find out why taking the time to transfer your credits could pay off big in the long run.
Save Time
One of the most appealing reasons to transfer college credits is the amount of time you’ll save by not having to retake those classes. When you’re going back to college to get a better career, you want to get to your goal as quickly as possible to hopefully better your life. Depending on how many credits you are able to transfer, you can save a semester to over a year’s worth of classes, which is a significant block of time. By not taking the time in advance to do the legwork to transfer those credits, you’re only delaying your future and creating unnecessary work for yourself.
Save Money
Each class you take costs money, so obviously you can save a lot by transferring college credits from classes you’ve already taken. The average 3-hour college course costs between $700-$900 dollars, meaning you could save yourself thousands of dollars when you transfer college credits. And if you’re able to get financial aid, the more credits you’re able to transfer, the greater the percentage of your total cost that aid will cover. Any expenses you incur tracking down your old college transcripts and figuring out which credits will transfer will be far outweighed by the money you’ll save.
Focus on Core Classes
Even if you’re switching to a completely different major than what you started with, you should be able to transfer core and possibly elective class credits. The more of these credits you can transfer, the more you can focus on the core of your major. Most undergraduate degrees require similar freshman courses before getting to the “meat” of the subject; if you can transfer these in, you can focus the bulk of your time studying the subjects most closely related to your major and your future career, keeping your knowledge and skill sets fresh in your mind. For adults going back to college, this can be very satisfying, since many lower-level courses can feel like unrelated classes you just have to “get through” before sinking your teeth into what you really want to study.
Fit an Accelerated or Integrated Program Into Your Schedule
Some online schools like Kaplan University are now offering combined degrees, where you can work on part of your master’s degree while finishing your undergraduate degree. If you thought graduate school was out of reach because it would take too much extra time, transferring your college credits can give you the time you need. By eliminating some of the coursework for your undergraduate and then combining what’s left with a master’s program, you may be able to earn two degrees in the time it would take to earn just one. This means that you’ll graduate even more qualified than you may have thought, which could open up even bigger and better career opportunities for you after graduation.
Get a Higher GPA
When you transfer college credits, you usually don’t transfer your GPA. Instead, as long as your qualifying courses meet your current college’s grade requirements (usually a C or higher), they will transfer. This means that if you left college the first time with a less-than-desirable GPA, you have a second chance to bring it up. Transferring these credits gives you the best of both worlds: you get credit for the work you’ve already done, as well as get a clean slate for your GPA, allowing you to make it higher than it was in the past.
Nothing To Lose
As you can see, taking the time to transfer college credits has a lot of positives. Not only can you streamline your college experience, you have a second chance to make it even better. Saving time and money while getting the degree you need for a better career means that you’re building a solid foundation for your future, which is something you should feel great about.
Sponsored Schools Specializing In Online Degrees
A very large and well-known school with over 40,000 students on 11 campuses and in a large online degree program, and top quality accreditation. Offers a very wide range of bachelor’s, master’s and associates degrees in:
– Criminal Justice
– Education
– Health Care
– Nursing
– Computer Technology
– Information Systems
– Legal Studies
Learn more about Purdue’s degree programs
AIU is a large online school that accepts a very high number of credits toward completion of its bachelor degrees. The school offers online associates and bachelor degree programs in:
– Business
= Computers & Information Technology
– Healthcare Management
– Criminal justice
Get information on American Intercontinental University
Rasmussen is a school of about 13,000 students in an extensive online program and on 24 campuses in Florida and around the midwest. Founded in 1900, it offers a variety of career-focused associate’s and bachelor degree programs in:
– Business
– Computer Science
– Criminal Justice
– Graphic Design
– Cyber Security
– Marketing
– Health and Wellness
Additional programs in other specialties.
Get information on Rasmussen College
Southern New Hampshire University is an 80 year old private school that’s become very widely known for it’s career-oriented online degree programs. As a not-for-profit, the school is under less pressure to institute big tuition hikes each year than some other schools. Many degrees are offered on an accelerated basis. SNHU offers an array of online associates and bachelors degree programs in:
– Communication
– Creative Writing
– Digital Photography
– Graphic Design
– Human Resources
– Psychology
– Criminal Justice
– Marketing
– Information Technology
Additional degrees in other subjects.
Get information on Southern New Hampshire University
CTU is a large institution based on Colorado Springs with over 25,000 students. It has solid regional accreditation (the best kind) and has been ranked #1 Best for Vets in the category for online and non-traditional universities by Military Times Magazine.
Offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees online in:
– Criminal Justice (multiple specialties)
– Business
– Accounting
– Project Management
– Information Systems (multiple specialties)
– Logistics
– Psychology
Learn more about Colorado Tech’s degree programs
San Diego, CA-based school, Ashford University offers a vast array of degrees online across the range from associate to bachelor and masters. Degrees available in:
– Business Management – BA & MBA in 19 different specialties
– Early Childhood Education
– Marketing
– Health Care Studies
– Homeland Security
– Psychology
– Sports Management
Get information on Ashford’s online programs
(Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission, 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001, www.wascsenior.org.) Certain degree programs may not be available in all states. For more information about on-time completion rates, the median loan debt of students who completed each program, and other important information, please visit: https://ashforddisclosures.com.
Founded in 1951, Grantham is one of the earliest online-only colleges in the U.S. It’s accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), and has one of the most affordable tuition rates our research has been able to turn up. Grantham offers online associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a wide range of subjects including:
– Business Administration, many specialties
– Criminal Justice
– Nursing
– Computer Engineering
– Information Systems Security
Get free info on Grantham University