Unlocking success with online degrees: What every student should look for in a program

With more than 30 years of experience in online education, Boise State University offers more than 100 online degrees to help you meet your career goals and needs.

It’s important to consider different aspects of online degrees, including accreditation, whether the program is synchronous or asynchronous, time to completion and possible additional requirements when choosing your path.

Accreditation

As a whole, Boise State is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The university meets or exceeds the criteria for the assessment of institutional quality and is evaluated through a peer review process.

However, many online degrees have individual accreditations or endorsements. For example, Boise State’s College of Business and Economics is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), putting it in the top tier of business schools worldwide. Only 6% of business institutions in 56 territories and countries have earned AACSB accreditation.

If you are preparing for licensure, make sure the online degree program you choose aligns with that end goal. For example, the online Bachelor of Science in Advanced Medical Imaging requires you to choose a specific modality within medical imaging that prepares you for different licensing exams.

Synchronous vs. asynchronous online degrees

Synchronous and asynchronous are the two formats of online learning. Both are advantages as an online student, depending on your preferences and circumstances.

• Synchronous: Enjoy real-time virtual learning sessions with faculty members and students interacting at the same time, like a traditional classroom setting. These classes happen on a fixed schedule, requiring you to log in at specific times for activities such as live lectures, video conferencing on platforms like Zoom, or group discussions.
• Asynchronous: Benefit from flexible learning that allows you to go at your own pace, without real-time interaction with instructors or classmates. Pre-recorded lectures, readings, discussion boards and quizzes are accessible anytime through platforms like Canvas, a learning management system.

Time to completion

Time to completion varies by each online degree program, although some can be completed in as few as 12 months. Some programs have additional requirements, including clinical experiences, so make sure you fully understand all the program requirements and outcomes.

Your success comes first

All of Boise State’s online degrees — bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral — are intentionally crafted by expert faculty and instructional designers to ensure you receive the highest quality education. The online coursework is a digital version of quality, on-campus learning.

Your success as an online student is Boise State’s top priority. With some of the most affordable tuition costs in the country and per-credit rates, you only pay for the classes you want to take.

With the flexibility of the online coursework that includes variable class lengths and full- and part-time schedules, you can fit an online degree program around your busy life.

You will also connect with experienced instructors and peers in your career field, while Boise State’s expert faculty delivers career-focused, innovative courses.

Boise State ranks among U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans and Best Online Master’s in Business Programs, highlighting its commitment to providing high-quality, accessible education.

Learn more about Boise State Online

Boise State Online offers 100+ online degrees and 900+ unique online courses to help you make your educational dreams a reality — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online program is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.

Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.