Online Degrees at McKinley College
McKinley College appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Affordable Associate’s in Entrepreneurship Online.
McKinley College is a distance education institution, and it offers all of its associate degrees and certificates online. Students may enroll in programs in accounting, entrepreneurship, financial services management, marketing, medical specialties, and social work. Additional programs are offered in health information technology, human resources, fashion merchandising, and business management.
The college divides its programs between those in business and those in healthcare. The college offers starting dates throughout the year, so students can complete their degrees in as little as 16 months for the college’s associate degrees. All degree programs feature mentors who are available to help students throughout the degree programs.
For students who enroll in the Accounting Associate Degree, some of the classes include Marketing, Business Law, Tax Accounting, Payroll Processing, Economics, and Accounting. Meanwhile, the Financial Services Management Associate Degree includes classes like Banking, Tax Preparation, Risk Management, and Personal Finance.
Some programs are offered by schools within the college that are dedicated to a single degree program. For example, the Social Work School offers a Social Work Associate Degree that is designed as a less expensive option for students interested in working in social work but who don’t want to spend a full four years in college. Some of the classes offered in the social work program include Principles of Sociology, Behavior Modification, Social Welfare, Child & Adult Problems, Abnormal Psychology, and Multicultural Issues.
Applicants who want to work in healthcare have two options that include a Health Information Technology Associate Degree or a Medical Specialties Associate Degree. Students who have an interest in learning about pharmacy technician duties, medical insurance billing, or medical terminology may want to consider the medical specialties degree. The degree may help students get a job in the office of a doctor or other medical professional.
Meanwhile, the Health Information Technology Associate Degree features classes in health statistics, pathology, anatomy, and health information. The program in health information technology may help students become healthcare professionals who work directly with patients.
After enrolling in many of the college’s programs, graduates can choose to enter the workforce immediately or continue their studies in a bachelor’s degree program at another institution. Students who have already spent time in the workforce or who have earned previous credit at other colleges can pursue a Challenge Exam to gain exemption from some program requirements.
About McKinley College
McKinley College is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has operated since 2005 as a post-secondary distance education school. The college is operated by Weston Distance Learning, Inc. and offers online associate degrees in career-focused areas like accounting and business. The college suggests that students can complete their associate degree program in as few as 16 months and can continue into a bachelor’s degree program quickly after graduation.
The college has articulation agreements with various other schools, so students can continue unimpeded into a bachelor’s degree program after they complete their degree at McKinley College. While enrolled at McKinley College, students pay monthly tuition payments, and their textbooks are included at no additional charge. Each term at the college lasts eight weeks, and the school also has four-week accelerated terms for some classes.
McKinley College Accreditation Details
McKinley College offers distance education and is accredited by the corresponding distance education commission, which is known as the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. The commission is a recognized agency by the U.S. Department of Education. The college is regularly reaccredited by the commission, which helps the institution maintain a high-quality curriculum, administration procedure, and group of faculty members.
The college is also accredited by other organizations like the state and various independent associations. The college is state-approved by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board, and it’s also a member of the Colorado Association of Career Colleges and Schools. The college is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, and it’s also a listed institution with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. In addition, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board has approved the Pharmacy Technician Duties program.
McKinley College Application Requirements
McKinley College has some general admissions requirements that all applicants must meet, as well as some additional requirements for some programs. Prospective applicants should scan the latest McKinley College Catalog for more information on unique program admissions requirements. To apply, students must submit a non-refundable $75 application fee and complete the signed enrollment application.
Applicants must have a high school diploma from a state-recognized high school or have earned a GED. Students can also qualify for admission if they’ve completed at least 12 semester hours from an accredited institution. Future students should also understand and read English or meet alternative English language requirements if the student’s first language isn’t English. International students will undergo a separate application process.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees at McKinley College are charged at $175 per credit hour, and students can make monthly payments of $139 as long as they submit their first payment at the time of enrollment. Classes also require an $8.99 shipping fee for each class the students take, as well as a technology charge of $3 per credit hour. The charge is waived for students who pay their fees in full.
All textbooks are included with the tuition rate, and students also receive one-on-one assistance with their instructor. The college indicates that it is able to keep costs low because they operate solely as a distance education school, which eliminates the need for maintaining a campus. Most of the learning materials at the college are also printed in-house, so the college is able to keep the cost for textbooks at a minimum.
Students can apply for financial aid from private institutions to help with tuition costs at McKinley College. The college does offer its payment plan to all students, regardless of the student’s income or credit score, but students can apply for student loans if they want, as well as send applications to private and state entities for grant and scholarship assistance.
To reduce the need for financial aid, students may want to consider submitting an application for credit for previous education or experience. Sources of credit accepted by McKinley College include DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, courses completed at other colleges, McKinley Challenge Exams, and a variety of other exam-based qualifications.
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