A: In theory, American InterContinental University will accept your transfer credits. In practice, the number of credits that can be transferred depends on whether they are applicable to your area of study.

AIU will accept transfer credits from any school that is accredited by an agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, so you should be fine. AIU will evaluate the credits you took at University of Phoenix and determine if they fit in with your desired program at AIU.

You should have no problem transferring general education classes, such as composition or basic math requirements. The more specific classes are where it becomes tricky. If you were an art student at University of Phoenix, but want to study business at AIU, most of those art classes won’t count for much. If you want to stay in the same area of study for your Bachelors at AIU, most of your credits should transfer with little issue. But each credit is subject to AIU’s evaluation process, so nothing is guaranteed.

Our other top-rated online college, such as Capella University and Kaplan University, have the same transfer requirements, as do many accredited colleges. Check out our compare page to see how other online schools stack up.

Q. I was reading on this website's FAQ where it said you can study to get your RN online, but when I tried to fill out the form for more information, an error appeared stating that I do not meet the educational requirements for the program. What are the education requirements for getting an RN degree online?

A. This is a good question, but the answer might be a little confusing. State education guidelines require hands-on training in a classroom or in a clinical setting for licensure as an RN. Western Governor's University is the only online program that offers a BS in Nursing (Prelicensure). This prepares you to sit for the national NCLEX RN licensing exam. Your clinical education includes working in simulated labs, followed by offsite agency-based clinical intensives where you'll master patient care skills and competencies. However, the availability of this program varies from state to state.

In order to qualify for this program, you must (from WGU's website):

• "Possess a current CPR certification at the Healthcare Provider Level.
• Take and pass the ATI TEAS V Exam at the “Proficient,” “Advanced,” or “Exemplary” Level. Click here to learn more about the TEAS V Exam.
• Submit at least one letter of recommendation from your current healthcare employer.
• Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions that show:
  • You have earned a bachelor’s or associate’s degree AND/OR
  • You have completed the program admissions prerequisites in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Behavioral Sciences
  • You have completed all nursing-related science prerequisites in:
    • Anatomy and Physiology
    • Microbiology
    • Biochemistry"

Once you have achieved RN status through this program or a different onsite program, many online colleges, such as Kaplan and Walden, allow you to advance past that—to a BSN.

Q:  Can I obtain a nursing degree online?

A: Absolutely.  You can complete the education portion of your nursing degree online by attaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  Once you graduate, you will need to pass the national licensing exam to get your actual nursing license.  To learn more about our top rated nursing schools, take a look at our online nursing degree comparison.  To learn more about the online nursing programs and online college in general, check out our online college FAQ.

If you're considering an online nursing degree, it's a great time to start investigating financial aid options.  To help you out, we've created a Financial Aid Information page with all sorts of helpful guidance and links.

Q. I am looking for a math education master's program. I was looking at Walden's program. Does anyone know anything about Walden or have any other suggestions?

A. Smart thinking! Walden is our top pick of the online colleges for advanced degrees, such as master's and PhDs. Walden offers a wide variety of student support tools, such as faculty mentors, librarians, and a student concierge service that supports you throughout your degree program. Assuming you're planning to teach grades K-12, Walden provides M.S. in Education degrees in K-5 and 6-8 mathematics with an emphasis on real-world, practical strategies. You'll have access to cutting-edge technology, including electronic portfolios, podcasts, and Virtual Field Experiences, in which you'll watch teachers and other educational professionals in action via DVD. This unique approach features firsthand explanations of how practitioners apply theory to actual classroom practice.

We think Walden is a great online education choice for you, but if you decide against it, here are some other options:

AIU Online: AIU is a good fit for most students. It has a wide variety of degree programs, and the cost of each one is all-inclusive. AIU offers many discounts and financial aid options as well as outstanding student resources: AIU’s Virtual Campus was recognized as "Best of the Best" in the Education and Academia category of the 2009 Computerworld Honors Program. However, it has a bit less specialization for M.Ed. degrees than Walden.

Western Governor's University: WGU is easily the best value of the schools we review: You pay a fixed fee per six-month term, during which you may take as many classes as you can fit into your schedule. WGU's Master of Math Education program combines degree coursework with preparation for licensure as a math teacher for middle school or high school. But you'll need to talk to an enrollment counselor to determine whether you possess a sufficient background in mathematics.

Kaplan University: Yes, this is the same Kaplan that helped you prepare for the SATs. You can choose one of ten emphasis areas—including Teaching Mathematics – Grades K-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12—in Kaplan's M.S. in Education degrees. Kaplan currently ranks the highest in alumni satisfaction (90%), but it's significantly more expensive than many of the other online colleges we review.

Best of luck in your online college search!

So contrary to popular opinion, the McJob is not a last resort for someone with no prospects. But will such a job pay enough for you to keep up your McStandard of living?

Research shows that the kind of work you do might have less of an effect on your McSalary than whether you have a college degree. On average, a person with an associate's degree earns $38,200 more per year—that's $1.6 million over a lifetime! Those numbers just keep growing with the higher level of degree you get.

But what if you think you missed your chance? What if your busy life prevented you from attending or finishing college, and you just don't think you'll have the time or the money to go back to school now? Online colleges are a great solution for working parents, caregivers for elderly relatives, and anyone with a tight budget and/or schedule. Here are our three top picks for most students:

1. AIU Online: You can earn anything from an associate's to a master's degree from AIU, and you can major in many lucrative fields, including business, criminal justice, information technology, and marketing. This institution provides job placement assistance as well as real-world interview coaching. The accredited online college boasts high graduation and employment rates, and it offers benefits to current and former military members.
2. Capella University: Capella extends its offer to PhDs and certificates, and it's easily the best value for online college. Do you have credits from earlier college attendance? Many students save quite a bit of time and money by transferring that coursework to Capella. This accredited institution even offers discounts and other benefits to former members of the armed forces and employees of more than 120 corporations. Capella also has a great job placement program.
3. Kaplan University: This institution is part of the same family of companies as the well-known test preparation service, and those specialized teaching techniques apply to its classes. Kaplan has more than 150 degree programs, so you're bound to find your desired major—be it MBA or JD—within its coursework. Finally, the tuition for this online college is competitive, especially as the cost includes all textbooks and course materials.

If you're thinking of getting a degree for an online college, don't forget to research financial aid options to get the most education for your money. Whether you become an IT consultant or stick with the frying pan of fast food work after graduation, you'll be making a higher salary. Hello, McMoneybags.

A: Each online college varies in it's cost, based on the degree you are studying for and the college itself.  However, the majority of students receive some kind of financial aid to help defray the expense.  There are a myriad of financial aid programs available from both federal, state and private sources.    All it takes is a little work on your part to find them.  Read our past blog on getting financial aid for online college and visit our Financial Aid Information page to find out more and get started.  Check out our top reviewed online colleges to get more information on the colleges themselves.

Regardless of whether you're going to be attending online college or a brick-and-mortar institution, we'll guide you through the steps you'll need to take and give you some tricks and tips to remember.   We even included a bunch of links to useful financial information sites.  Check it out!

Project Working Mom will be awarding 285 scholarships throughout 2010.  It's quick and easy to apply for consideration:

1. Go to the Project Working Mom website website.
2. Complete the application.  You'll need to provide some basic information about yourself and specify what degree you'd like to pursue.
3. Write a short essay explaining why you'd like to go back to school describing “how earning an online degree/program would make my mother proud” or “how earning an online degree/program would make me a better mom/dad.”

The FAFSA is a necessary step but people often find it to be very complicated, confusing and time consuming to fill out.  You'll be required to gather a number of documents such as your Social Security Number, driver's license, income tax returns, bank statements, and investment records. You'll also need to complete a lengthy online form that requires student info, dependency status, parent financial information and student financial information.  You should set aside several hours to do this.

Applicants often feel overwhelmed by the FAFSA application process.  Student Financial Aid Services simplifies the process and will get you on your way to achieving the financial aid you need for your education.  They will review your FAFSA personally using their unique 450-point FAFSACheck™ error detector and human review.   We recommend Student Financial Aid Services for those who would feel more comfortable having personal help with their FAFSA and would like to make sure they maximize their eligibility for student aid.

Project Working Mom was founded in 2008 by eLearners.com and a group of colleges. Since then PWM has granted over $6 million in scholarships. Their goal is to help working parents obtain their educational goals and raise awareness about issues facing many working parents who want to further their education. It's easy to apply for consideration to a full-tuition scholarship. Just follow these steps:

1. Go to the Project Working Mom website.
2. To complete the application you'll be required to fill out some basic information, such as your name what type of degree you're seeking.
3. You'll also need to write a short essay talking about why you want to go back to school.

Project Working Mom will be awarding scholarships to 285 recipents throughout the year. The applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and winners will be selected based on the strength of the application and essay as determined by the scholarship committee.

Life is short.  It's a really good feeling to test yourself and realize that you still have abilities. I am a regular Georgia gal, soon to turn 50, sharing my story of going back to school.  I'm happy to be pursuing my education online, and if I can do it, anyone can do it!

Since schools have just started back after the holidays, I'm really glad my classes are online for many reasons.  And yes, I have a list.

1. Schedule – I have a crazy schedule, as do a lot of other students, so the online classes allow me to fit my classes into a busy day.  There are many students attending AIU that are also working full time jobs and/or have children at home, but can attend at their convenience.
2. Convenience – This may go along with "Schedule", but deserves its own acknowledgement for a couple of reasons.  Again, you don't have travel time, so you can have more quality time with loved ones, or more study time, rest time, etc.  Also, you can attend archived classes 24/7!
3. Location – For those that don't have a brick and mortar campus close by, online classes are the way to go.  We have students attending from all over the country and around the world.
4. Weather – Right now, even in Georgia, there is snow on the ground and temperatures range from the teens to the thirties.  Later in the week, we'll warm up into the 40's, but still, I don't personally like to get out in that kind of cold!  We've also had several days of continued rainfall, and it's dangerous to drive in the rain.  Personally I would HATE to have to find parking and wade through puddles far away from the entrance to a brick and mortar campus, while trying to tote my necessary books, purse and umbrella, just to ruin my favorite shoes and catch a cold from getting wet!
5. Illness -  Whether you're sick and don't want to spread to someone else, you need extra R&R,  or you just don't want to catch someone else's sickness, online classes are the way to go.  Let's not forget those highly contagious, illnesses, like Swine Flu.   I must confess that after I toured a couple of brick and mortar campuses, I started thinking of having to share the schools computers, limited breathing space, etc, with students who may be contagious with who knows what.  That was a big determining factor in my decision to go with the online education.  Does that make me OCD?  No, just careful.
6. Gas/etc Prices – If you don't have a campus close by, then you would need to spend a LOT of money on gasoline to get back and forth to a physical campus.  And if the uncertainty of gasoline prices isn't scary enough, there's also the cost of the new tires/brakes/brake pads/transmissions fluids, etc that you would have to invest in if driving to campus.
7. It's Green -  This goes along with numbers 1, 2, and 3 above.  Remember, when you're taking classes online you're not just saving money.  The impact on the environment is greatly reduced.  You're going green!

I found out during my initial calls that I was indeed eligible for financial aid.  All of the school reps I spoke to assured me that their Financial Aid Department had a multitude of financial aid opportunities.  Between all the available grants, scholarships, student loans and personal loans, I felt very encouraged.  Plus 90% of the schools also had a payment plan!

I learned that one of the first things to investigate in your quest for financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  FAFSA is the application used by nearly all colleges to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA form is submitted to, and processed by a federal processor contracted by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the results are electronically transmitted to the financial aid offices of the schools that you list on your application.

The FAFSA form requires you to provide information about your family's income, which will be used to determine your Expected Family Contribution toward paying for the cost of your education. The difference between your EFC and the costs of attending school is calculated as your financial need.  You can search "FAFSA" and get several links to specific sites or just go directly to:

www.fafsa.com
www.fafsa.ed.gov/
studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/fafsa.jsp

As part of the FAFSA process, you will need to acquire a PIN.  The PIN is your US Department of Education identifier that you use to electronically sign the FAFSA. If you do not have a PIN, you may apply for one at http://pin.ed.gov

While researching financial aid opportunities, I was amazed and thrilled at all the info at my fingertips on the web. In Google (or your favorite search engine) just start typing keywords to search for.  Remember that you will get some differing results from different search engines.  Some suggested search terms are:

Unsubsidized Stafford, Subsidized Stafford, Perkins, PLUS, Grad PLUS, Pell Grants, ACG, SMART, SEOG Program, grants, scholarships, student loans, and other Title IV grant and loan programs.

Once you decide on a college, they should have a Financial Aid Department with a list of places that you can get financial aid.  If they don't have a FAD willing to help you find financial aid… then find another school!

Helpful financial aid websites:

www.onlinestudentfinancialaid.com
www.ifap.ed.gov
www.studentaid.ed.gov
www.salliemae.com/before_college
www.nasfaa.org/redisign/parentsstudents.html
www.knowhow2go.org
www.going2college.org/StateResources
www.nslds.ed.gov/
www.simpletuition.com/home
www.finaid.com
www.fastweb.com
www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/scholarships-and-aid/8936.html
www.collegescholarships.org/grants/

I graduated high school in Alabama in 1979 (OMG, I just realized, it's been 30 years!).  To make long story short, "Life Happened".  I met a guy, got married, had children, became a gymnastics/ballet/girl scout/soccer mom, a Sunday school teacher, and worked in various radio stations.

Jump ahead 27 years.  I'm now divorced, my kids are grown and I have 2 grandchildren.  The state of the economy caused the group of radio stations that I worked with to downsize, so I lost my job.  I moved to Georgia to be near my parents and tried desperately to find another radio job.  In my attempt to find "work" I saw the same requirements, over and over.  It was quite apparent that to get a good job – a career – I needed to get a Bachelors Degree. All of a sudden I realized that the ringing in my ears was actually my dad's voice in my head – something about having a "back-up plan"!

The thought of going back to school seemed crazy, but exciting!  I mean, I barely graduated high school (again, 30 years ago!).  I'm not a particularly "scholarly" person and just couldn't imagine myself being able to follow through.  Plus, I'll be turning 50 on my next Birthday. "Is there really any sense in getting a college degree at this age", I asked myself.   Also "isn't college expensive"?  But everywhere I looked, there were ads enticing me "Moms, Go Back to School"!  All the talk about getting government grants, student loans and scholarships to further my education peaked my interest.

My first step was to start researching all the possibilities.  I'm not one to make quick decisions.  I had to do a lot of investigating and compiling and comparing of information.  It turns out that I was indeed eligible for grants, scholarships and student loans.  I started calling area schools and researching the many online college and "brick and mortar" college options.  I took lots of notes as I asked loads of questions and compared the details for all the colleges that I was considering.  My phone was ringing off the hook as admission advisors were constantly calling me back trying to win my enrollment.

I weighed the pros and cons of being in an actual classroom with other students for classes, vs being at home alone with my computer for online classes.  There were many decisions to be made.  In my next blogs, I'll walk you through getting into AIU and my online college experiences.

If you are considering pursuing a degree over the Internet, you may find our reviews and comparisons of the top online colleges and universities helpful.

Barbara Means, the study's lead author, said, "The study's major significance lies in demonstrating that online learning today is not just better than nothing — it actually tends to be better than conventional instruction." The New York Times points out that new online tools such as instant messaging and web-based video have helped to enrich the online education experience in recent years, and that online education fostors learning opportunities that are more specifically tailored to individual students.

NextAdvisor.com has reviewed many of the most prominent online colleges and universities. If you are interested in learning more about online education options, take a look at our helpful and informative reviews, comparison chart, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Online education can be a valuable and worthwhile option, but it's important to do your research and select a reputable institution. A degree from a reputable online college or university can help you advance your career, increase your salary or break into a new field. To learn more about some of the top rated online degree programs, take a look at our reviews and comparison chart.

The school will offer a variety of secondary school schools including math, science and humanities according to a report in the Nashville Business Journal. Faculty from the Harpeth Hall School, Holton-Arms School, Laurel School and Westover School will all be involved in creating and teaching the curriculum.

Classes will begin this fall and be affordably priced so that secondary school aged girls from around the world can take advantage of the opportunity. The Online School for Girls joins a growing number of online educational opportunities for high school students. It is estimated that more than 1 million secondary students took an online course during the 2007-2008 school year.

This explosion of online secondary school options will undoubtedly continue to feed the growth of online universities in the United States and around the world.

We have reviewed several online colleges and universities. You can read our comparison and reviews of online colleges and universities to learn more.

First, there are much more strict limits on the amount of credit that can be offered up to a college student by an issuing bank. A student without a co-signer is limited to the greater of 20% of that students annual income or $500. While this may limit some students access to credit, it ensures that the particular individual is not put in a position where they have more spending power than they are reasonable able to pay back. We believe this should help most students develop positive credit usage habits and prevent heaps of unpaid debt from racking up.

Next, banks are prohibited from providing inducements to students in exchange for completing a credit card application. Anyone who has spent any time on a college campus over the last two decades knows how common the practice of providing incentives such as t-shirts, mugs, hats or even candy bars in exchange for signing up for a credit card. We see this as a positive move in that it removes a certain level of frivolity from the process of signing up for a credit card.

Finally, banks must disclose the terms of so called "affinity agreements" between credit card issuing banks and universities. These agreements typically give a bank exclusive rights to market credit cards with the college or university's logos to students and alumni in exchange for marketing fees. This is good for several reasons, but probably the most important has to do with privacy. Often affinity agreements allow banks to have access to significant amounts of personal information and we think it is good that this part of the bill of rights allows students to know exactly how their information may be used by outside parties.

You can learn more about credit cards for college students and tools to monitor credit reports and scores by reading our reviews and comparisons.

Q: Does University of Phoenix offer financial aid? If so, what are the requirements to apply for financial aid?

A: University of Phoenix has several financial aid options available for students. If you are unable to pay your tuition partially or in full, you need to find a primary source of financial aid to cover the balance. If you cannot find a single source to cover the balance, you will need to find multiple sources of financial aid.

If your employer is willing to reimburse you for educational expenses, the University of Phoenix will defer your payments for 60 days from the beginning of your courses. Some companies allow direct billing, which means that you can send your tuition invoice directly to your employer.

If you have served in the military, the University of Phoenix will accept Military Tuition Assistance funds. You will have to consult directly with the University of Phoenix's financial aid department in order to utilize these benefits.

Student loans are another option to consider.You should contact the financial aid department directly regarding private loans, which will vary depending on your major and location.

The University of Phoenix also offers scholarships. You can browse scholarship options at the University of Phoenix alumni association website.

Federal financial aid is limited and is contingent upon your degree or certificate program. If you have been accepted to a degree or certificate program, you may be eligible for the Federal Pell, Academic Competitiveness, National SMART and SEOG Grant Programs, the Federal Family Educational Loan Programs (Stafford subsidized, Stafford unsubsidized and PLUS Loans) and/or the Federal Perkins Loan Programs.

It is also possible to defer tuition payment for the duration one school term but after this time, the deferment must be renewed and you must meet certain requirements.

Financial aid can be revoked at any time if you do not meet a minimum enrollment or GPA requirement. You can learn more about financial aid options by contacting the University of Phoenix financial aid department when you request information or apply.

For more information about University of Phoenix or other online universities, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Other online services can save you time and gas as well. With an online DVD rental service like Netflix, you avoid driving to and from the store every time you'd like to watch a movie, and online diet programs give you support and encouragement in the comfort of your own home.

To learn more about online education programs, online DVD rental services, and online diet programs, take a look at our reviews and comparisons.

1) Eliminate junk mail

We have posted previously on the hidden identity theft risk in junk mail, but in honor of earth day, we also wanted to point out that junk mail and other marketing communications you receive in the mail are very bad for the environment. Check out the original post for more tips on eliminating junk mail.

Additionally, we came across a new service today called Catalog Choice which allows you to select which catalogs you would like to receive. The service is free and allows you to opt out from receiving catalogs that you no longer wish to receive while still allowing those you want reach your mailbox.

2) Receive your credit report online

Whether you are ordering your free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or from one of the credit report monitoring services we have reviewed and compared make sure you opt for online delivery of your credit report. Not only will this lower the overall carbon footprint of your order because the reports don't need to be printed or transported by postal mail, but you will also receive immediate access to your credit file information.

3) Go paperless when you have the option

Opt for paperless billing where you can. VoIP services such as voip.com and Vonage offer a paperless billing option and so do other companies such as cell phone providers and credit card companies. Accessing your billing information online is not only more eco-friendly but it is also more convenient.

4) Attend an online college or university

Think of going back to get a better job or just for personal enrichment? Consider an online college or University. We have reviewed and compared dozens of e-learning institutions and found that they are every bit as reputable as their traditional counterparts with the added convenience of being able to attend classes from your home computer. Since you don't have to commute to and from a physical campus and most of the course information is distributed digital the impact on the environment is greatly reduced.

5) Store your data "in the cloud"

Use an online backup service such as Mozy to store the information on your computer's hard drive. Online backup services are much more environmentally friendly than the hardware based alternatives because they cut down on the number of home storage devices that have to be produced and shipped all over the globe.

Do you have your own eco-friendly and convenient tips that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Just leave a note in the comments below.

Schools like UC Berkley, Princeton, Harvard, Oxford and hundreds of others offer thousands of hours of course material through video services such as YouTube and iTunes. MIT was an early pioneer in this space having launched their OpenCourseWare initiative in 2001 which now includes information from 1800 different courses ranging from Physics to scuba diving.

Students cannot earn actual course credit as a result of these programs, but they do represent a great move towards opening up some of the world's greatest academic thought to the world.

Check out our free online education guide to learn about schools that will offer course credit for online classes. We have reviewed hundreds of these online learning programs and have ranked to best e-learning institutions as a service for our readers.

Online education and Internet based distance learning degrees have been available for ten years or more from dozens of reputable colleges and universities. But, the idea of offering the many unique benefits of online education to high school students is still a relatively new one although 31 other states that currently offer some type of online learning resources to high school students.

Vincent Mastaro, senior state associate for policy services at the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, feels that these types of online learning programs help to expand educational opportunities for students across the state.

"There are some school systems with very small high schools. That extremely limits what they can offer," he said. "You can offer it online, it can be offered to so many students in so many schools."

We have reviewed online colleges and universities for some time now and believe that this growth trend in online learning at all levels will continue to develop over the coming years. We can expect that many students that are exposed to online learning in their high school years will go on to matriculate in e-learning programs at the college and university level.

We strongly recommend online learning to anyone that is looking to improve their earning potential, earn an advanced degree or simply wants to focus on personal development. We have reviewed and compared hundreds of online colleges and universities and presented the top Internet degree programs on our website as a resource to our readers.