It is common knowledge that a college degree will improve your marketability and earning potential. So why do many students fail to finish college or stop at the bachelors level? The answer is: time, distance, money.

The distance learning programs at AIU address these obstacles directly with self-paced, online and affordable degree programs for adult students. A university degree can boost earning power by up to $2.3 million over a lifetime. Qualified people are passed over for job opportunities and promotions, simply because they don’t have a college degree.

Don’t put your future on hold any longer; invest in your future today!

Earning your degree online or via distance learning with AIU is extremely enticing:

• Work on assignments when convenient for you
• Study at home or office
• Access learning resources online any time you need them
• Determine the courses that are most relevant to you
• Earn credit for work experience gained through lifelong learning

But earning a degree via distance learning is not right for everyone. There is the mistaken belief or myth that online distance learning programs are easier than traditional courses. The hard reality is that the dropout rate for higher education online programs is typically 20 percent higher than it is for traditionally delivered programs. Some challenges online distance learning students face revolves around discipline, organization, and independence.

In a traditional setting you would meet with a professor or attend a classroom, this forces you to get your work and readings done. Since AIU programs are self-paced, students need to have the discipline to push them-selves and impose deadlines to guarantee progress is made on their assignments. AIU students enjoy a greater freedom in the content of their assignments, which in turn requires a greater degree of organization. Due to the nature of distance learning, students will need to be comfortable reading material on their own and working on exercises independently.

To assist students and increase graduation rate AIU provides each student with access to their Online
Student Section.

The Online Student Section allows students to:

• Access Instructions and formats for orientation courses
• Keep a calendar of assignments with planned completion dates
• Upload/Post assignments
• Review Grades/Transcripts
• Post Questions or Messages with Student Services and/or your advisor
• Start the first phase of the program to establish the program curriculum
• Access the AIU Online Library

At AIU you will actually build your own curriculum from courses that are appropriate for your personal and professional goals. Your advisor will make sure that your curriculum is appropriate for your field and complies with the generally accepted norms. Your first task is to select your appropriate courses and to learn about the profession that you want to study in.

Next, you may want to do a search online for your program and look at a few curriculums. You will soon learn that many of the courses offered at different institutions are similar, if not identical. Your job will be to select the required number of courses within your field and a research topic for your Dissertation. The number of courses will depend on your experience, transfer credits and professional goals. After your curriculum is set and your courses selected, you will proceed to work on your courses. Initially, we do not provide the student with a list of courses to choose from because the University wants you to compare other programs, both domestic and international.

In the event that you need assistance in designing your curriculum, one can be presented to you based on your particular situation and career goals. However, it is encouraged that you take the time to explore other programs to be more aware of what is available.

There are many questions students should ask before deciding to enroll in AIU’s distance learning program(s). Prospective online students need to determine their level of readiness for independent study before they enter the classroom. Specific areas of weakness and strength may then be easily addressed and academic success assured.