Online Graduate Certificate

An online graduate certificate is sometimes referred to as a diploma and it is a postgraduate academic credential. Almost all online graduate certificate programs require their students to possess a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment. The program is one of the shortest types of academic study available and generally consists of anywhere from three to twelve courses and takes about one year to complete

Types of Online Graduate Certificates

The online graduate certificate is generally provided in two different formats and they vary based on the scope of their curriculum and the topics it addresses. The two formats the most online graduate certificates commonly possess are:

Product-specific - A product-specific online graduate certificate caters to students who seek to educate themselves about a certain product or process in the industry that they are planning to enter. These are commonly found in the information technology sector as students pursue graduate certificates in areas such as software engineering that teach students the computer languages needed to create software. These certificates are typically focused on a narrow array of topics that are required to learn the product or process.
Profession-wide - This type of online graduate certificate is composed of a curriculum that tries to grant students with the knowledge required for a specific job. An example of this is an online graduate certificate in portfolio management, where a student obtains the information necessary to manage investments for various clients. This type of online graduate certificate is broader than a product-specific one as it teaches the different concepts required for a particular job.

Where Can I Get an Online Graduate Certificate?

There are a large number of online colleges that offer online graduate certificates. Student should verify that the school they plan to attend is accredited by a recognized agency prior to enrollment. Accredited colleges and universities should proudly display this accreditation, but if you are unsure, simply contact their office and check the agency they state.

How Much Will an Online Graduate Certificate Cost?

The online graduate certificate is the least expensive type of postgraduate academic certification available to students. The cost of an online graduate certificate will rarely eclipse $10,000 and generally hovers around half of that amount. The tuition associated with the certificate is dependent on the demand for that certificate, the quality of instruction, and other factors.

Financial Aid

Even if the cost of tuition for an online graduate certificate seems unaffordable, do not let that deter you. The government offers financial aid packages to students who are unable to pay for their tuition and these include a combination of loans and grants. Your own school may offer financial aid as well with scholarships.

Transitioning to an Online Graduate Certificate

Online graduate certificates are mostly crafted specifically for adults who are working and therefore tailor to the needs of working professionals. These online graduate certificate programs understand their customer base and usually staff academic advisors who are versed in the methods available for successfully transitioning to an online graduate certificate program.

Majors

The online graduate certificate program includes nearly any major you can think of. If there is a career available in the United States economy, there is probably an online graduate certificate for it.