6 Ways to Reduce the Cost of an Online College Degree

7 Ways to Reduce the Cost of an Online Degree | Online Colleges | US News

There are so many good reasons why you should pursue an online degree course. One of the main reasons is the reduced cost. Online learning is cheaper than on-campus learning. Despite that, there are several things that you can do to reduce the cost of your online degree. 

1. Ask your employer to fund your education (Employer tuition reimbursement program)

How to Ask Your Employer to Fund Your Education

According to the Aslanian Market Research and Learning House, approximately 23 percent of all the current online undergraduate students are using tuition reimbursements from their employers. Many companies and organizations are willing to pay for some or all their employee’s tuition fees. That is because it has mutual benefits. Employers see it as a creative way to motivate their workers while employees get a chance to advance their careers while still working. 

To qualify for such benefits from your employer, you must be a full-time employee. There are very few employers that offer tuition reimbursement for part-time workers. To take advantage of this offer, picking an online degree is the best option. That is because online learning provides students with the flexibility to juggle between their studies and work lives. All that you need is to check with the human resource manager at your place of work for the available opportunities. 

Some employers will cover all the tuition fee, but even if your employer pays a certain percentage of the total cost, you will have saved some dollars. If your employer agrees to fund your education, you will have to sign an education contract. Before signing the contract, first read the document carefully and make sure there is no clause that you don’t understand or agree with. The contract is to prevent you from leaving for a job with a competitor after getting the funding. One or two years is the most reasonable commitment time. You should avoid a longer promise. 

2. Use your past credits to reduce your course load

The method of charging students differs from one online education program to the other. Some charge students by credit hour while others are lump sum. In some online colleges, you can use your previous college credits, life experience, and work experience as credits to reduce your tuition bill. 

Many online university and college financial advisors are willing to help you know what to expect. They will let you know which credits you can transfer to reduce the cost of your tuition and which ones you can’t. You should seek this information before enrolling. An online college that accepts past credits is the best option for a person that is looking to pay less for his or her online college degree.

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