5 Questions to Ask Before Pursuing an Online Associate Degree

"They'll start with an associate's, get that credential a little bit quicker to help them get a bump up in their job, and then they might consider a bachelor's afterwards," Foster says.  

While universities such as Penn State and Kaplan University, a for-profit school, offer some online associate degree programs, earning an online degree from a community college is another option.

In the 2014-2015 school year, the number of students enrolled in online classes at community colleges continued to rise, increasing by 4.7 percent – the same rate as the previous year, according to a 2015 survey ?by the Instructional Technology Council, which is affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges.

After determining whether online learning is right for them, prospective associate degree students should ask themselves or school officials these questions – or find the answers online – to ensure that they select a best-fit online program.

1. Will credits easily transfer to and from the online program? In many cases, those who pursue associate degrees are returning to school to finish earning credits and complete an education they started in the past, says Betty Vandenbosch, president of Kaplan University.

"Many universities have relatively liberal policies, but you want to be sure that the credits that they say they are going to give you, they actually will give you," Vandenbosch says.

Jeff Bauer, who earned his associate degree online through Penn State—World Campus in 2014, strongly advises students to look at credit transfer policies before enrolling.

"Try and find a way to use those credits so that you're not racking up more debt or spending more time in school than you need to," says the 32-year-old Minnesota resident.

Experts also say prospective students should remember that even if they aren't completely sure of their future educational plans, they should determine whether credits from a certain online associate degree program can seamlessly transfer to a bachelor's degree program, whether it's online or in person.

2. Should you enroll in an online associate's degree program through a community college ?or a university? Since different types of institutions offer associate degree programs, students should do some research beforehand to determine the right fit, experts say.

While the differences can vary, community colleges? are usually a cheaper option but typically don't have the same type of brand recognition and reputation as a well-known university. Still, there are advantages to each.

For some students, this decision might come down to what specific programs they are looking for and where those are offered, says Foster, of Penn State.

3. What are your career or educational goals? Those who might be interested in a bachelor's degree program in the future, for example, may want to consider programs like those offered at Kaplan, where they would be able to "stack" a bachelor's degree on top of their associate degree without having to transfer. 

But many community colleges have options to make transferring easy, too. At Hudson Valley Community College in New York, which is part of the State University of New York system, all general education courses can transfer directly to four-year state universities, says Chris Helwig, dean of educational outreach and academic services at the school.

At the same time, earning an associate degree can lead to quicker job advancement within a company, Foster says.

"You've got something that can show your employer that you're working towards a better education," she says.

4. What is the quality of the online student services?? Prospective students should also determine what types of services are available to online learners. This may vary widely among community colleges and four-year institutions, especially as these types of schools often have different levels of funding to support students, experts say. 

"You need a school that's going to support you," Vandenbosch says, "that's got education advisors that you can trust to help you on the rough patches, that's got a library that you can access 24/7, that provides tutoring, that provides a help desk."

5. Who are the faculty teaching the online courses? As with any online program, students should assess the faculty and determine whether they have experience teaching in this format, experts say. 

That's because there's more to teaching online courses than prospective students may realize, Helwig says, and a professor really needs to engage the students.

"It's not really about just taking your lecture and sticking it out there, and expecting someone will just read it and watch it," Helwig says. 

This article was originally published on Usnews.com