Aside from providing Online Education Consumer Advice to individuals and families looking to purchase online education - AboutEdu researches, evaluates, and catalogs the online tutition costs and online retooling program offerings of colleges in the United States, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.   

On the site you will find the latest rankings  resulting from our recently completed national research project.   The research covered the offerings of more than 1000 colleges, and AboutEdu's rating criteria is based on what our research indicated were some of today's  key "consumer-based needs" in looking for online retooling  and retraining programs.  Some of these factors include:

• Low tuition cost per credit hour, and low total tuition and program costs per program 

• Complete Online or Distance Programs 

• Short Term Programs - A year, or close to a year 

• Consumer-Friendly "Online Education" Buying Experience from school website design / structure / online programs  presentation & descriptions ; to clear designation of 100% online programs that will not require any campus visits; to detailed and easy to find information on all tuition and fees for online students; to clear identification of all mandatory program requirements; to clear online consumer support/guidance/financial aid information/contact information; to fully online registration/enrollment, and others.  

• Complete Offering of  Online Student Support Services: - Pre & Post Enrollment:   New Online Student orientation, Technical, Academic, Online Library & Librarian, Mentoring, Career Services & Counselors, Job Placement Services, Alumni network, etc.  

• Accredited with options to continue for degrees upon completion, but not as a condition to initial enrollment,  

• Programs in industries with forecasted job growth:  Business, Education, Environment, Healthcare, Social Services, Technology, and others.  

• Reasonable admission requirements 

Depending on what stage of your search for retooling programs you are, you can use this site to: 

• Start the Search - If you are not sure of what industry or program, then review the program listings in the industries that interest you or if you are looking to add new skills - ie, web developent and design, eCommerce, accounting, etc.  Once you find a program or program area of interest, review some of the colleges offering those type of programs and their tuition and admision requirements, and contact the colleges directly to get the latest information.  

• Support your current search - If you are in the middle of your search, and know what you are looking for, review the programs and colleges and compare with what you have found - AboutEdu's research can confirm you current choice or expand the possibilities.  

• Cost is major issue - If cost is your biggest hurdle, review the colleges with online tuition for under $100, and see if there are programs there that could meet your objective.  

• State - If you are looking at programs, like education, where state-specific training and credentials will be critical, then review some of your "State Search Sites" listed to expand your search of that State's online programs.

In all cases, keep in mind that AboutEdu is a non-profit organization - the research provided here is "unbias" and we are "not getting paid to sell you" any of these programs. 

AboutEdu does not sell or make money from your decision to enroll or not enroll at any of the programs and colleges presented here.

AboutEdu's goal is to provide you with the information, and resources needed to help you make up your own mind on what is right for you, your family, and your future. 

Our hope is that we can get you closer to being able to take on President Obama's challenge and to "participate".