While students enrolling in traditional on-site programs have lots of information at hand to help them choose, those enrolling in distance education programs often find much less. In addition they must consider factors unique to distance methods.  Some of the most important points that need to be investigated involve practical logistics for someone enrolling internationally as well as to what extent the degree earned will be useful and widely accepted.  As with any program, quality, services, and fit with your needs also should be examined.

Practical Matters
 

Program Accreditation and Recognition

• Has the institution offering the program earned accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education?  In general, students with degrees from institutions not accredited by a recognized accreditor that has met U.S. Department of Education or CHEA standards will find it difficult, if not impossible, to have their degrees recognized by any U.S. or foreign government agency, university, or the majority of private employers. See the article on this site, “Quick and Easy Degree?” for warning signs.
   
• Will the degree be recognized by the government in your country?  By professional licensure bodies? By potential employers?  Despite the huge numbers of accredited distance programs and research that has been done showing that they are often equal or superior in quality to campus-based programs, ministries and other entities in some countries still do not recognize even accredited degrees earned through distance methods.

Practical Matters

•  What technologies are used to deliver the program?  Do you have the needed Internet speed and equipment to make the particular program work for you? Individual programs can provide their specifications, which differ from program to program.
   
• Does the program have a component “live” student participation in online activities? If so, when are such activities scheduled? While such opportunities can add much to the learning experience, they may prove difficult for someone living in a faraway time zone.

• Does the institution require attendance at any specific location and for how long? Many “distance” programs do include on campus “residency” periods, which are often required. Again these can be valuable but you need to consider whether the amount of travel required is realistic for you.

More on Quality and Fit
 

• What is the retention rate (percentage of students who start the program that also complete it) of the program in which you are considering enrolling?  Distance programs typically have a higher drop-out rate because they typically serve older students with busy lives and because they require considerable self-discipline—but an extreme difference may indicate a problem.

• How does the variety of courses offered by this program compare with that offered in similar programs at other institutions?

• Where can I find evaluations of this program?

• Where have graduates of this program gone and what have they done in terms of transfer or employment?

• How well does the program focus match my career goals?  Did any previous students have similar goals?

• How can I contact some of these graduates and their employers to talk about their experience with the program?

• What are the qualifications and current activities of the faculty (and where can such information be found in writing)?

• What are the arrangements for interaction between students and faculty, including the timely resolution of questions related to specific class topics and feedback on examinations?

• Are any arrangements made for students to interact with one another and, if so, what are they?

• What access will I have to current information resources and how will continuing currency be assured?

Admissions and Student Services

A pervasive myth about distance education is the belief that there are neither admission requirements nor other prerequisites for all on-line degrees. Although true in some instances (just as there are open admission on-site programs) many institutions are quite selective in enrolling students in their distance education programs.

Students should be sure to inquire about the following:

• What academic, English language level, equipment, and skills expectations does the institution have for students enrolling in this program?

• What are tuition costs, and what other expenses can I expect to incur? (Financial aid is rarely available even for U.S. citizens pursuing distance education but it can't hurt to ask about this possibility as well.)

• Does the institution plan to upgrade or change its hardware or software in the near future? If so, what arrangements will be made so that students will be able to complete their program using equipment that was adequate at matriculation but may not be with the new systems?

• Is there a student handbook that is applicable to distance education students?

• What counseling, career, financial aid, and other non-classroom services are available for students of the on-line program?

• What are the arrangements for the delivery of course materials?

• What is the process for filing complaints?

• What assistance (for instance, a "help" contact) is available for problems that might arise in accessing the program?

More Questions to Ask

• Who delivers and designs the program?

• How long has the institution you been enrolling students in this program?

• How does the program differ from those offered on-site at the institution (check such aspects as time to completion, admission requirements, information resources) and why?

• How is learning of students in this program assessed and documented?

• . What charges are involved in obtaining access to information resources?

• If laboratory experiences are required, what arrangements have been made by the institution to ensure that they can be accomplished (perhaps through virtual reality lab experiences), and how much will such experiences cost?

• How will the institution assist me in accessing desired information?

• What plans do you have for the continuation of this program and for other programs in the future?

• What are the institution's payment policies?

• If for some reason, I cannot complete the course, what is your refund policy?

• (If the answers to any of the questions in this article have been provided orally only) Where can I find this information in writing?
   

Thanks to international accreditation consultant Amy Kirle Lezberg, formerly of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, for her contributions to this article.