Whether pursuing a short certificate or a PhD choosing an educational path that is right for you can be a challenge. Not all schools and programs offer the same level of quality or return on your investment. Recent Department of Education efforts to eliminate student protections, such as the gainful employment rule, have increased the risk to students that a school may not be worth the time and money they invest.

Borrower beware! Here are our top tips for choosing a school, use these and the other resources on this website to ensure your continuing education is high quality.

Top Tips

1. Do your research and comparison shop.

   Shop around for the school that will offer you the best chance at success. Compare costs, graduation rates, and how much debt you will likely have to take on to complete the program. Use resources like the College Scorecard and College Navigator to compare schools.

2. Find out how much the program costs and how you will pay for it.

   Find out the total cost of the program and how you will pay for it. How much of the cost will be covered by grants, scholarships and other aid that does not have to be paid back? How much debt will you have taken on by the end of the program, and how much are you expected to pay out of pocket? Make sure the total cost includes tuition, fees, books and living expenses. Beware of signing documents without reading them in detail.

3. Make sure the program will get you the kind of job you are looking for.

   Some jobs may require specific accreditation or licensing requirements. Check for special requirements in your state.

4. Make sure the credits you earn will be recognized by other schools.

   Will your credits transfer and to which schools? Check to be sure the college you are considering is in good standing with its accreditor and is fully accredited.

5. Ask questions.

   Visit the school, talk to students in the program you are interested in, and talk to employers and alumni if possible.

6. Avoid red flags and pressure to enroll.

   Search for any red flags, including high default rates, financial instability, or a history of lawsuits or investigations. Google the school and read online reviews. Check the local Better Business Bureau. If there is pressure to enroll from school admissions representatives, know that this may be a red flag. Avoid promises about likelihood of employment and earnings after enrollment. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.