Attendance in Online Classes: What Counts and Why It Matters
How online courses define attendance through discussions, assignments and check-ins, and why logging in alone does not count and can affect federal aid.
How Many Hours a Week Does an Online Course Really Take?
The weekly hours behind an online course, worked out from how credit hours are defined: about 9 a week for a regular course and 17 for an 8-week one.
The Tech You Need for Online Classes (and What You Don’t)
A practical setup for online study: computer, internet speed, webcam and headset, backups and security, plus low-cost internet and device options.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Online Classes: Which Fits Your Week?
Live online classes versus self-paced ones, hybrid and HyFlex formats, accelerated 8-week terms, and how to tell which format fits your job and family.
Studying Online From Another State: Authorization, SARA and Moving Mid-Program
Why your state matters when you study online, how the SARA reciprocity agreement works, California’s different rules, and what happens if you move.
What Real Online Teaching Looks Like: The Federal Interaction Rule
Federal rules require online courses to include regular and substantive interaction with instructors. Here’s what that means and what to ask a program.
What an Online Degree Really Costs: Tuition, Fees and Hidden Extras
How online programs price tuition, the distance learning, technology and proctoring fees to look for, out-of-state rates and aid rules.
Online Exam Proctoring: What to Expect and How to Protect Your Privacy
How remote proctoring works, room scans and the 2022 Cleveland State ruling, your FERPA rights, accommodations, and how to prepare for an exam.
Online Degrees on Your Resume: How They’re Listed and How Employers See Them
Whether diplomas say online, how to list an online degree on a resume, what employers check, and how to make up for missing in-person networking.
Competency-Based Degrees: Earning Credit for What You Can Show You Know
How competency-based programs work, flat-rate terms, direct assessment, who does well in them, and what to ask about transfer and financial aid.