Picking between two accredited online schools

College Search & Selection
1

I’m re-entering a four-year university, and going online this time.

My two top schools are Florida International University and Valdosta State University.

I mainly picked them because they have a Spanish program.

Valdosta State is cheaper by about $100 per credit hour, and charges “eTuition”, a flat online rate which would apply to me as a 100% online student and this is better in my opinion than FIU’s out-of-state rate, which would also apply to me.

The only draw to FIU is its programs in Latin American Studies and Asian Studies. If they would allow me to, I’d double major in one of those with Spanish.

But I don’t know anything about the two schools other than what is immediately obvious, like their prices and their course offerings.

  1. Which is friendlier to an out-of-state transfer? I live in a different state than I will be getting my Associate's degree in, because I got that online too.
  2. Is it worth it to pay $3,000 extra for FIU if they'll let me double major in subjects that are slightly more interesting to me? I was considering pairing Psychology with Spanish at Valdosta, but to be honest as much as psychology can be interesting to me, I might not be the best fit for that degree.
  3. What are these schools known for, if anything?
  4. Are there any other schools that might be a better consideration for me?

I’m paying for my education entirely by myself at the moment, and will be for the foreseeable future. I don’t make more than 30K a year and potentially will have more expenses in the future as my parents age and set me free of childhood-like living arrangements. In my present situation, if I played it right, I might be able to go to Valdosta State for a year without applying for a loan.

I’m just thinking about what the best opportunity would be. I’m still hesitant about a Spanish major, but let’s roll with this for now.

2

Read the lists of online courses carefully. Are they offered every term? Which courses will you need to take to complete your degree at each institution? What electives are offered at both place? For example Valdosta might not offer a double major, but it still might offer most of the coyrses that you like best from that major.

Why do you need a bachelor degree at all? Why do you think you want to major in Spanish? What other majors do you sort of like, and does one or the other of these two places offer more of them?

If all you ned is to have a bachelors in anything from an accredited college/university, then it is perfectly fine to choose the place where you can finish quickest at the lowest cost.

Right now you seem to like both of them pretty much the same. It is perfectly fine for you to apply o both of them, and then decide later after you know where you are admitted.

3

Hate to throw a curveball at you.

However, before you commit. Check out Arizona State University’s online Spanish degrees.

Their website indicated there are six programs to choose from in the Spanish department.

Better for you to have multiple options.

No direct knowledge of the school other than It consistently ranks as one of the top online experiences.

And the name recognition is excellent.

Good luck. If that doesn’t seem appealing to you. Florida International would be my choice. Simply because of my familiarity with the school in general. No insight as to the quality of the program or options for you.

Congrats on getting back into the game and best of luck!