The increased availability and accessility of the Internet has caused distance learning and online degree universities to flourish. Students can earn a diploma in nearly any field that interests them. But how can they tell which programs are good, and which are not?

Some online degree university programs are nothing more than scams, offering fake diplomas to students who spend hard-earned money and invest hundreds of hours. They find out their degree is meaningless, and have to begin all over again. To avoid encountering a scam like this, choose a degree that is offered by an accredited online degree program.

Be careful when determining whether a degree is really accredited or not. Some diploma mills have begun advertising fake accreditations, trusting that students will not actually do the legwork and check to make sure that the accreditation is actually issued by the U.S. Department of Education. Other universities are accredited, but have a bad reputation among employers and other universities.

Take your time, do your homework, and choose the distance degree program that is right for you. Make sure it is not only accredited but highly recommended. Your future career may depend on it!

A single mother enrolls in a distance degree program and completes an online accounting degree program. After getting her distance associate degree in accounting, she is able to secure employment for nearly twice as much money as she was making before graduation. Suddenly, she no longer finds herself raising her family below the poverty level.

A young man graduates from high school and begins working at the local drugstore. Eager to please and well-liked, he suddenly finds himself promoted to shift coordinator. So as to learn as much as possible, he decides to earn a college degree at home. After graduating from a top online school, he is promoted to assistant store manager and given new responsibilities.

Tired of bedside patient care, a Registered Nurse with children in high school decides to go back to school and get an accredited online bachelors degree in nursing. The local school system is hiring a school nurse, and she is now eligible to apply for the position. Soon, she finds fresh enthusiasm for this new start in her career, and her valuable decades of experience are not wasted.

All of these stories are true. These are only a few of the ways in which distance learning has helped people get a fresh start and improve their lives. Were you aware that people who have a bachelor’s degree earn, on average, nearly a million dollars more than people who do not have a college degree? Isn’t it time to go back to school and earn that degree you’ve been considering? It really is worth it!

Can You Really Get a Nursing Degree Online?

Many online degree schools offer nursing programs online, but can you really complete all the necessary requirements and become a Registered Nurse (RN) without ever going through clinical experiences or spending endless hours in a classroom?

The truth is, most of these online degree programs are designed for RNs who already have their license and have at least one year of professional experience. A few distance education programs, such as Excelsior College (formerly Regents College), once offered degree programs that led to nursing licensure. However, liability, experience, and competency issues have led this distance education online program, and every other, to discontinue entry-level nursing programs.

Therefore, most of the distance learning degree programs available allow RNs who have an Associate’s Degree to earn a Bachelor Degree online. Some also offer online graduate programs for nurses who already have a Bachelor’s Degree. Chamberlain College of Nursing and Jacksonville University both offer RN to BSN programs. (These are also known as BSN completion programs). Many other top online schools also offer RN to BSN programs; just search through the list of programs offered by the top distance degree programs listed on this website.

If you are like most nurses, you are busy trying to meet the demands of family and career. Finding time to go back to school can be extremely difficult. Online degree programs offer the flexibility to make this possible. Sharpen your skills, enhance your resume, and further your education by enrolling in a distance degree program today!