Finish Strong! Four Questions to Ask About Your Prospective University

University of Florida Online

Your motto has always been “finish what you start and finish strong.” But completing your college degree can sometimes seem overwhelming. You work full-time serving your country and have personal responsibilities to balance with your classwork.

You’re looking for a flexible online program leading to a high-quality bachelor's degree. How do you ensure the university you are considering is the right fit?

Ask these four questions.

1. Is online learning a priority for this university?

With the onset of COVID-19, some universities have found themselves suddenly “online” out of necessity, not strategy. Effective online degree programs require time and strategic planning on the part of the university. Schools with dedicated online programs ensure teaching with faculty/student interaction, top-notch professors, and technology that allows for flexible, supportive communication.

Online learning must carry the same requirements and opportunities as classroom learning. The result should be an engaging learning experience that earns you a degree equal to attending the classes in person.

Finding a program that specializes in online learning requires research. Don’t just check the overall reputation of a university, check out the reputation of the online program at the university before you invest your time and money.

An excellent place to begin is. It ranks online bachelor’s degree programs and online bachelor’s degree programs for veterans based on four criteria:

● Engagement: student interaction with teachers and classmates

● Services and technologies: greater flexibility for distance learning and out-of-class support

● Faculty credentials and training

● Expert opinions gathered from employers and academics

Since these ranking criteria will generally match your needs as a “non-traditional student,” they provide an objective overview and a reliable place to start your search. For example, the is ranked No. 2 in the country for bachelor’s programs for veterans, No. 4 in the country for all online bachelor’s programs. has ranked University of Florida Online No. 1 for affordability.

2. Does the online program check all your boxes?

When it comes to your degree, it is all about you. Consider your time commitments, interests, job, and learning style. The online degree program you choose must fit your unique situation.

You can find out about a program’s flexibility by checking out the stories of others who are in situations like yours.

Here’s an example:

Kennedy Musembi, U.S. Army veteran, B.S. Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida

Kennedy Musembi had already earned 92 college credits before his enlistment, but he hadn’t yet completed his degree. While stationed with the U.S. Army in Landstuhl, Germany, he began making plans for his future and decided to continue his studies in microbiology and cell science.

Kennedy needed a program that met several specific criteria. The school he chose had to accept his transfer credits, offer online education, be reputable in his field of study and offer flexibility so that he could complete classes on his schedule and across time zones.

He found the program at the. With his credits transferred, Kennedy signed up for two courses per semester, found time to explore Europe, and finished his online degree in a year. As he said, “It was really nice to know I wasn’t getting an inferior experience. It’s essentially the same experience people taking the classes in-person are getting.”

Working with the University of Florida Online’s faculty and staff, Kennedy was able to schedule a required, intensive, two-week, on-campus lab during his transfer back to the U.S. Best of all, at the end of his service, Kennedy is now using his lab skills in his current profession, free of student loans, and he’s enrolled in graduate school, all of which he credits to the University of Florida Online.

Kennedy said of his experience, “It’s a quality education, not just something that’s put together to say they are offering something that’s online.”

In fact, he continued, “I really did feel that I was getting an Ivy League education. The quality was really amazing.”

3. Does the university really “get” the military?

Service member and veteran students are professionals in their twenties to forties, with personal and professional responsibilities. They know that the challenges of military life can make the civilian four-year continuum of college difficult. Deployment, reassignment and relocation, as well as paperwork requirements for financial aid and residency verification, are all obstacles to overcome.

In short, as a service member or as a veteran, you need a university that understands military culture and dedicates staff to support your needs, including a dedicated academic adviser who assists you from the start of your degree until graduation.

Here’s one veteran airman’s success story:

Xavier Leal, U.S. Air Force veteran, B.S. Sport Management, University of Florida

Xavier Leal found a program that fit his needs for a quality education at the University of Florida Online. While serving as a firefighter in the U.S. Air Force, he decided to return to his studies through an online pathway.

Xavier had some college credits, but not a clear idea of a major. His training provided him with discipline, teamwork, and leadership, but he needed to connect those qualities with his passion: sports. At University of Florida Online, [MOU3] Xavier found a program in Sport Management that helped him achieve his goals while continuing his life in the Air Force. Xavier said, “University of Florida Online allowed me the flexibility to continue to serve in the Air Force while simultaneously pursuing my education.”

provided Xavier with the personalized learning experience he needed. He credits the faculty and staff who worked directly with him to help him stay the course. He said his academic adviser was “so engaging, and we already had a kind of rapport because [he] also served in the Air Force. It was easy to go to him with questions and, along with my professors, they made it easy and seamless to do online education. It made me want to work even harder because they were doing so much to support me.”

Despite the interruption of COVID-19 in his final year, Xavier was able to complete his degree with internships. “Even before I graduated,” he said, “I already had six different experiences in the sports industry.”

These included an internship with USA Weightlifting Team, where “I created this one marketing campaign for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to give the weightlifting community a branded identity about who they are.” The Olympics may have been postponed, but Xavier continues with his forward progress.

He has graduated from University of Florida Online, with work experience under his belt, and is headed to graduate school. He can now proudly say he is the very first member of his entire family to graduate from college, and he did it all while serving his country.

4. Is there support for veterans?

Paperwork and deadlines from the military and the university can be challenging for busy students. Military and veteran students should seek out a university that offers an office dedicated to the needs of veterans.

The University of Florida offers veteran support specifically through the -- a liaison between students and the various federal, state and local agencies concerned with veterans' benefits. Here, vets find help and answers to their questions regarding out-of-state fee waivers, financial aid, enrollment certification and benefits transfers.

With the right university, an online degree can be the most direct route to your success. Ask the right questions, look for people who understand, and make the first move.

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