Choosing from the best online Ph.D. programs
If you’ve made the very tough decision of getting a Ph.D., then you’re probably already aware of the level of commitment you’ll need to put in. The phenomenon of getting an online Ph.D. degree hasn’t caught on as well as the undergraduate and graduate options have. This is for a variety of reasons, but mostly because the likelihood of even having an online option of a Ph.D. depends solely on the subject itself.
Having said that, there is a huge collection of online Ph.D. degrees available to those who’re looking for it. When faced with this many choices, it is important to know how to make the right decision when picking a degree for yourself.
Accreditation
Everyone knows that their online school and degree should be accredited, but there’s little clarity on how and what accreditation is the best. Are some kinds of accreditations better than others? What’s the difference between regional and national accreditation? All you need to decide is if or not you’re planning to pursue teaching with your online based Ph.D. degree. If yes, then accreditation is necessary. Also if yes, you must get state accreditation over the federal one. If your employer is covering your cost of studying an online Ph.D., then pay attention to the kind of accreditations they cover and proceed accordingly.
Cost
Most online Ph.D. programs charge at an hourly rate, so it’s very important to decide your budget beforehand. If you have an employer willing to cover your costs of education, then see how much that coverage extends to and if you’ll need to add over. You’ll find that hourly costs can range from $250 to upward of $1000.
If you are offered flexibility in terms of how many classes you can take at one go, take it. Thereby, you can budget your costs according to the classes. Also, don’t overlook the other requirements in the course that might cost you extra, such as travel and stay.
Requirements for admission
GPAs of both graduate and undergraduate study, work experience, GMAT/MAT/GRE scores if any—these are a few of the basic criteria you will be expected to meet to enroll into an online Ph.D. program. However, make sure you contact the school and keep in touch with them through your admission process since this will help you find ways to overcome any admission criteria you don’t quite meet.
