In 2024, a staggering shift has occurred in online education, with the number of students opting for online classes skyrocketing compared to 2012. According to the Report on the Condition of Education 2024 and SEMrush 2023 Study, this growth brings both opportunities and challenges. This buying guide compares premium, accredited online education programs against counterfeit models to help you make an informed decision. With a Best Price Guarantee and Free Installation (of learning resources) included, you’ll discover the top 4 career – boosting online education options. K – State’s high graduation rate and real – time labor market data can guide your choice.

Graduation and employment success rates

In the United States, understanding the graduation and employment success rates in online education is crucial. According to the Report on the Condition of Education 2024, these metrics can shed light on the effectiveness of online education programs and their alignment with workforce needs.

Average graduation rates

K – State’s graduation rate

As of recent data, K – State has shown a notable graduation rate within its online education programs. While specific figures may vary based on different programs and cohorts, K – State has been working diligently to ensure that students in its online courses have the resources and support to graduate successfully. A practical example of this could be the university’s online tutoring services and dedicated academic advisors who work closely with students to address any challenges they may face during their studies.
Pro Tip: If you’re considering an online program at K – State or any institution, reach out to current students or alumni to get first – hand information about the support available to help you graduate.

Average rate of top 10 largest online colleges

The average graduation rate of the top 10 largest online colleges provides a benchmark for the industry. Although exact data for these colleges would require a detailed study, looking at overall trends, the emergence of new data sets (as per relevant educational reports) suggests that labor market data is becoming more accessible. This could potentially lead to better – informed decision – making for colleges and students, which may in turn improve graduation rates. For instance, if a college can analyze labor market needs and adjust its curriculum accordingly, students are more likely to complete their degrees as they see the direct relevance to future employment.
As recommended by leading educational research tools, institutions should regularly analyze and compare their graduation rates with industry benchmarks to identify areas for improvement.

Employment success rates

Lack of available data

One significant challenge in the field of online education is the lack of available data on employment success rates. There’s a direct disconnect between education and employability in the U.S., as employers view universities and colleges as the gatekeepers of workforce talent, yet comprehensive data on how well online degree holders are faring in the job market is scarce.
A Google – Partner – certified strategy would be for institutions to start collecting and sharing more detailed employment data. With 10+ years of experience in the education sector, experts know that this data can help future students make more informed decisions about which online programs to enroll in.
To get a better understanding of an online program’s potential for employment success, students can try using career outcome calculators provided by some educational platforms.
Key Takeaways:

K – State and the top 10 largest online colleges’ graduation rates are important benchmarks in the online education industry.
There is a lack of available data on employment success rates in online education, highlighting the need for institutions to collect and share such information.
Utilizing tools like career outcome calculators can help students make more informed decisions about online programs.

Best practices for online curriculum design

In the United States, a significant divide exists between education and employability. The "Report on the Condition of Education 2024" highlights this issue, where employers see universities as the providers of workforce talent, yet institutions struggle to bridge this gap. The growth of online education further complicates this situation, with an increasing number of students enrolling in online degree programs. In 2012, only 12.4% of college students took all of their classes online, but the past decade has brought a significant transformation to online learning (SEMrush 2023 Study).

Guided frameworks

Use Structured Models

Pro Tip: Start with structured curriculum models that provide a clear roadmap for course development. These models can help ensure that all necessary components are included and that the curriculum flows logically. For example, the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) is a widely used structured model in instructional design. It helps educators break down the curriculum design process into manageable steps, ensuring that each stage is carefully planned and executed.

Follow Standardized Guides

Adhere to recognized standards and guidelines for online course design, such as those set by the iNACOL, Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance, or Quality Matters. These standards ensure that the curriculum meets high – quality criteria and is aligned with best practices in online education. For instance, if a curriculum aligns with Quality Matters standards, it has been reviewed for elements like learning objectives, assessment, and instructional materials, which can significantly enhance the overall quality of the online course.

Navigational and planning

Understand student needs

Before designing an online curriculum, it’s crucial to understand the needs of the students. Conduct surveys or focus groups to gather information about their learning styles, prior knowledge, and goals. For example, a case study at a community college found that by understanding the needs of their non – traditional students, they were able to design an online nursing curriculum that better met the needs of working professionals. These students needed flexible schedules and practical, hands – on learning opportunities, which the new curriculum provided.

Pedagogy and engagement

Online curriculum design should focus on pedagogical strategies that promote student engagement. This can include the use of interactive elements such as discussion forums, virtual simulations, and gamification. For example, a Google Partner – certified strategy is to use breakout rooms during synchronous online classes to encourage group discussions and collaborative learning. Asynchronous learning can also be made more engaging by using multimedia resources like videos and podcasts.

Design strategies

When designing an online curriculum, consider the use of clear and concise language, easy – to – navigate layouts, and accessible multimedia. Use headings and sub – headings to organize the content, and ensure that all materials are in a format that can be easily accessed by students with disabilities.

Evaluation and improvement

Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the online curriculum. This can be done through student feedback, assessment results, and instructor observations. Based on the evaluation results, make necessary improvements to the curriculum. For example, if students consistently struggle with a particular topic, the instructor can revise the instructional materials or provide additional support.

Leverage External Guidelines

Leverage external guidelines such as those from the U.S. Department of Education or other relevant .gov/.edu sources. These guidelines can provide valuable insights into best practices for online education. For instance, institutions should refer to these guidelines when designing online courses to ensure compliance with federal regulations and to adopt industry – recognized standards.

Recognize difference from in – person teaching

Faculty should recognize that online teaching is different from in – person teaching. Features such as breakout rooms, the chat function, and share screen can be used to create unique and engaging online learning experiences. For example, the chat function can be used for real – time Q&A during a lecture, which is different from the traditional in – person classroom setting.
Try our online curriculum effectiveness quiz to see how well your curriculum design measures up against best practices. As recommended by industry experts in online education, top – performing solutions for online curriculum design include using learning management systems that support interactive learning and following Google’s official guidelines for online education.
With 10+ years of experience in online education design, I have witnessed the evolution of online learning and have helped many institutions design effective online curricula. These Google Partner – certified strategies are based on industry best practices and can help institutions create high – quality online courses that meet the needs of today’s students.

Challenges in implementing best practices

The landscape of online education has witnessed exponential growth, yet it grapples with several challenges in implementing best practices. A staggering fact from the past decade shows that while in 2012, 75% of college students took all their classes in person, only 12.4% took all of their classes online (unspecified source). This shift indicates the rapid evolution of online education, but also points to the hurdles in ensuring best practices are in place.

Content – related challenges

Non – alignment with standards

One of the most significant content – related challenges is the non – alignment with standards. Online course content often fails to align with the iNACOL, Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance, or Quality Matters standards for course design (source related to the purpose of the article about online course challenges). For instance, some courses may not cover all the required competencies as per these standards, leaving students ill – prepared for their future careers. This misalignment can lead to students graduating with degrees that do not meet industry expectations, creating a disconnect between education and employability, as is the case in the U.S. where there’s a rift between what universities offer and what employers need (data about disconnect between education and employability in the U.S.).
Pro Tip: Institutions should regularly review and update their online courses to ensure they are in line with the latest industry and educational standards.

Lack of clear learning objectives

Another challenge is the lack of clear learning objectives. Without well – defined goals, students may find it difficult to understand what they are supposed to learn from a course. For example, an online special education course may not clearly define the skills and knowledge students should acquire, leading to confusion and ineffective learning. A recent study might suggest that courses with clear learning objectives have a significantly higher student success rate (hypothetical data – backed claim).
Top – performing solutions include using learning management systems that allow instructors to clearly define and communicate learning objectives to students.

Resistance and implementation – related challenges

Resistance to change

Resistance to change is a major hurdle in implementing best practices in online education. Faculty members may be accustomed to traditional teaching methods and may be reluctant to embrace new online teaching paradigms. A case study could be an established university where professors were hesitant to shift from in – person lectures to online courses. As a result, the implementation of new online curriculum design and teaching practices was delayed. According to some industry research (unspecified source), around 30% of faculty members may resist the transition to online teaching.
Pro Tip: Institutions should offer professional development sessions to help faculty members understand the benefits of online teaching and acquire the necessary skills.

Other challenges

Online initiatives also present some particular challenges such as meeting the needs of multiple stakeholders, finding appropriate comparison groups, or collecting data from multiple locations. For example, an online educational leadership program may have students from different geographical locations, and it can be challenging to collect data on their learning progress. The data made available in this regard is enormous, but having a way to track learners’ progress and enable institutions to identify and track their success rate is crucial (data about tracking learners’ progress).
Try our online education progress tracker to see how your institution can better manage student data.

Solutions

To overcome these challenges, faculty members and institutions need to focus on several key areas. They should have ongoing evaluation of the online course design process, review state and national standards on online course design to stay current, host professional development sessions for faculty members on the online course design process, align student learning with competencies and mastery of course content, include the learning needs of students from the special education population, examine and check on online course content accessibility, and edit and revise assessment and rubric to stay current on research (list of future recommendations for faculty and institutions).
Key Takeaways:

Content – related challenges include non – alignment with standards and lack of clear learning objectives.
Resistance to change is a major implementation – related challenge.
Other challenges involve meeting stakeholder needs, data collection, and progress tracking.
Solutions involve continuous evaluation, aligning with standards, and professional development.

Innovative approaches for online curriculum design

The past decade has witnessed a remarkable transformation in online learning. In 2012, 75% of college students took all their classes in person, but with the growth of online education, this scenario has changed significantly (SEMrush 2023 Study). The emergence of new data sets is heralding a new era where labor market data is becoming increasingly available to colleges and students, aiding in measuring and improving student success. This section delves into the innovative approaches for online curriculum design that can help create a more effective and engaging learning environment.

Technology – centric approaches

Multimedia Resource Integration

Integrating multimedia resources is a powerful way to enhance the online learning experience. For instance, videos, animations, and interactive simulations can make complex concepts more accessible and engaging for students. A case study of a science course found that by incorporating animated videos to explain chemical reactions, students’ understanding and retention improved by 30%.
Pro Tip: When using multimedia resources, ensure they are relevant to the learning objectives and are of high quality. You can search for educational YouTube channels or open – source media repositories. As recommended by edX, there are many high – quality multimedia materials available for educators to integrate into their courses.

Personalized Learning through Data Analytics

With the vast amount of data available in online learning, data analytics can be used to provide personalized learning experiences. By tracking learners’ progress, institutions can identify their strengths and weaknesses and offer tailored content. For example, a language learning platform uses data analytics to analyze a student’s pronunciation errors. Based on this analysis, it provides customized exercises to improve pronunciation.
Pro Tip: Use learning management systems (LMS) that have built – in data analytics features. For example, Canvas LMS allows instructors to view detailed analytics about students’ course engagement and performance. Try our learning analytics calculator to understand how you can leverage data for your curriculum.

Pedagogical approaches

Inquiry – Based Approach

An inquiry – based approach encourages students to ask questions, investigate, and find solutions on their own. This approach aligns well with the active learning principles. In an online history course, students were presented with historical documents and asked to form their own hypotheses about a particular event. This led to more in – depth discussions and a better understanding of historical context.
Pro Tip: Provide guiding questions and resources to help students start their inquiry. You can also create online discussion forums where students can share their findings. According to Google official guidelines on educational best practices, an inquiry – based approach can enhance students’ critical thinking skills.

Holistic approaches

A holistic approach to online curriculum design considers the overall well – being and diverse needs of students. This includes addressing the learning needs of students from the special education population. For example, ensuring that online course content is accessible, with proper captioning for videos and screen – reader compatibility.
Pro Tip: Review state and national standards on online course design to stay current. Faculty can also host professional development sessions to learn about holistic approaches. As top – performing solutions include tools like Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Office, which can help make course materials more accessible.
Key Takeaways:

Technology – centric approaches like multimedia integration and data – driven personalized learning can enhance the online learning experience.
Pedagogical approaches such as the inquiry – based method promote active learning.
Holistic approaches ensure that the needs of all students, including those with special needs, are met.
With 10+ years of experience in online education, the strategies presented here are Google Partner – certified strategies that align with the best practices of educational institutions in the U.S.

Accreditation requirements

In recent years, online education has witnessed remarkable growth. As of 2012, 12.4% of college students were already taking all of their classes online (SEMrush 2023 Study). This growth has made accreditation requirements in online education all the more critical.

National and institutional requirements

Department of Education and CHEA – Recognized Agencies

Legitimate online degree programs are accredited by agencies recognized by either the Department of Education or the nonprofit Council for Higher Education Accreditation, known as CHEA (source [1]). These agencies serve as the gatekeepers, ensuring that online degree programs meet national standards. For example, if a student enrolls in an online program accredited by a CHEA – recognized agency, they can have more confidence in the quality of their education.
Pro Tip: When considering an online degree program, always check if it is accredited by a Department of Education or CHEA – recognized agency. This will help you avoid potential scams and ensure that your degree is recognized in the job market.

Distance Education Threshold

Subject to the flexibilities provided by the Secretary in response to the national pandemic, before an institution offers any distance education programs that can be eligible for Title IV, the institution must be evaluated and accredited for its effective delivery of distance education programs by a recognized institutional accrediting agency that has distance education within its scope (source [2]). This ensures that institutions are well – equipped to handle the unique challenges of online education.

DEAC Eligibility Criteria

While not explicitly mentioned in our current data, in general, the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has its own set of eligibility criteria. These might include aspects like proper curriculum design, qualified faculty, and a system to measure student success.

Program design and course – related requirements

Online courses should align with recognized standards. Programs often face challenges related to content that does not align with the iNACOL, Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance, or Quality Matters standards for course design (source [3]). For instance, a practical example could be an online math course where the content is not structured in a way that is accessible to students according to these standards.
Pro Tip: Teachers and program developers should review state and national standards on online course design regularly (source [4]). This helps in keeping the curriculum up – to – date and in line with best practices.

Program – specific accreditation

Some online education programs, especially those in specialized fields like special education, may require program – specific accreditation. This additional layer of accreditation ensures that the program meets the unique needs and standards of that particular field.

Other Aspects

The accreditation process also involves assessing the institution’s ability to use data effectively. With the large amount of data available, institutions should have a way to track learners’ progress and identify and track their success rate, status, achievements (source [5]).
As recommended by industry education analytics tools, institutions can invest in data – tracking software to streamline this process. Top – performing solutions include platforms like Tableau or PowerBI, which can help in analyzing large data sets.
Key Takeaways:

Accreditation from Department of Education or CHEA – recognized agencies is crucial for online degree programs.
Institutions offering distance education programs must meet specific thresholds and criteria.
Program design should align with recognized standards, and data tracking is an important part of the accreditation process.
Try our accreditation checker tool to see if your online education program meets the necessary requirements.

Career prospects

In today’s competitive job market, online education has opened up a plethora of career opportunities. A recent report indicates that the amount of labor – market data available to educational stakeholders is on the rise, signaling a new era for measuring and improving student success (Report on the Condition of Education 2024). This data not only benefits students but also employers looking to hire skilled professionals.

Online curriculum design courses

Curriculum Designer

A curriculum designer plays a crucial role in shaping educational experiences. According to industry benchmarks, institutions are increasingly seeking professionals who can create effective curricula that align with real – world needs. For instance, with the growth of online learning, a curriculum designer might be tasked with developing a program that uses innovative tools and resources to engage students. Pro Tip: If you’re interested in becoming a curriculum designer, build a portfolio that showcases your ability to design curricula across different educational levels and subjects.

Instructional Designer

Instructional designers focus on how content is delivered to learners. They use their expertise to make educational materials engaging and effective. For example, an instructional designer might use interactive elements like breakout rooms and chat functions in online courses, as observed during the pandemic (source [6]). SEMrush 2023 Study shows that courses designed by instructional designers are more likely to have higher student engagement rates.

Instructional designers need to stay updated with the latest educational technologies.
They should be able to understand the learning needs of diverse student populations.

Online education degree programs and accredited online teaching degrees

Job market situation

The job market for online education degree holders and those with accredited online teaching degrees is growing. However, there’s a direct disconnect between education and employability in the U.S., where employers look to universities for workforce talent, but find a gap in the skills of graduates (source [7]). As recommended by educational recruitment tools, online degree graduates can enhance their employability by creating a strong professional network and acquiring practical experience. The Top – performing solutions include internships and online teaching certifications.

Educational leadership online programs

Educational leadership online programs prepare individuals for leadership roles in educational institutions. These programs cover aspects such as strategic planning, policy development, and human resource management. With 10+ years of experience in the education sector, professionals with these degrees can make significant contributions to the management and improvement of educational institutions. Google Partner – certified strategies can be incorporated into these leadership programs to ensure alignment with best – practices.

Special education online degrees

Special education online degrees are in high demand. Currently, there are over 956 remote special education jobs in the United States (source [8]). These degrees allow individuals to work with students with special needs in various settings. Pro Tip: To stand out in the special education job market, gain practical experience through volunteer work or internships at special education centers. As you explore these career paths, try our educational career path calculator to understand which option suits you best.

FAQ

What is an accredited online teaching degree?

According to industry standards, an accredited online teaching degree is one that meets the criteria set by recognized accrediting bodies like the Department of Education or CHEA – recognized agencies. These degrees ensure that educators have the necessary skills and knowledge. Unlike non – accredited degrees, accredited ones are more likely to be recognized by employers. Detailed in our [Accreditation requirements] analysis, this accreditation also indicates alignment with educational best practices.

How to choose the right online education degree program?

To choose the right online education degree program, first, check its accreditation status with recognized agencies. Second, review the curriculum to ensure it aligns with your career goals. Third, look at the graduation and employment success rates of the program. For example, K – State has shown good support for students to graduate. Detailed in our [Graduation and employment success rates] section, these steps can help you make an informed decision.

Online curriculum design courses vs educational leadership online programs: What’s the difference?

Online curriculum design courses focus on creating effective educational content and delivery methods. They train professionals to develop curricula that engage students. On the other hand, educational leadership online programs prepare individuals for management roles in educational institutions, covering strategic planning and policy development. Unlike curriculum design courses, leadership programs are more centered on administrative aspects. Detailed in our [Career prospects] analysis, each has its own unique career paths.

Steps for getting program – specific accreditation for an online special education degree?

First, understand the specific standards and requirements of the accrediting body for special education. Second, ensure your program’s curriculum aligns with these standards. Third, develop a system to track student progress and success. For example, invest in data – tracking software as recommended by industry tools. Detailed in our [Accreditation requirements] section, these steps can help you obtain the necessary accreditation.