FAQ

Eastern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Eastern Kentucky University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

No. All EKU Online students pay the same tuition regardless of residency status.

EKU Online programs are designed with busy working professionals in mind. We offer a convenient eight week class format and customizable pace to allow you to complete your degree quickly and according to your schedule. The majority of our students have families and work full-time, so sacrificing work and personal obligations is not an option. Your advisor will work with you each semester to find the right course load for you.

Our professors welcome and encourage a high degree of engagement and feedback from online students. You will be able to communicate with your professors and classmates via chat, email, discussion boards and forums. Programs often see students set up Facebook groups for discussion, group work and study. EKU Online also offers a host of excellent online tutoring options. Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities.

The only difference between an online degree and a traditional degree is that the course work was completed online. Upon graduation, you will hold a degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and you will have all the rights and privileges of traditional EKU alumni.

Though you are welcome to visit our campuses anytime, nearly every program offered by EKU Online can be completed without ever setting foot on campus. The only exceptions to this are our paralegal program, which requires 2 weeks of on-campus sessions devoted to writing and research, and the fire, arson and explosion investigation program, which requires 2 weeks of hands-on activity at the EKU Fire Labs.

EKU uses the Blackboard Learning System, an internet-based course management system that provides a website for every class. Blackboard lets students and instructors participate in class activities online. The system offers online storage for course materials, discussion boards, virtual chat, online quizzes, grades and more.

You will log in to this system to access your courses. Professors use a combination of strategies and techniques to ensure for a high level of interaction and instructor feedback, including mini-lectures on video, instructional videos, 3-D modeling, PowerPoint presentations, discussion boards and reading assignments. 

Every course will be presented in Blackboard, which means you will always work within a standardized course layout and navigation system. This will allow you to devote your time to the coursework rather than the technology. Click here to take a virtual tour of Blackboard and explore the resources available.

You will need a computer with high bandwidth Internet access (not a dial-up connection), a Flash player and speakers. It is recommended that you use Mozilla Firefox as your primary browser when working with the system. Some courses will have additional requirements. The EKU tech support team is always available to answer any technical questions you may have as an online student. If you are considering purchasing a new computer, please see EKU’s recommendations.

Eastern Kentucky University awards transfer credit for courses completed at regionally accredited colleges and universities. Up to 90 credit hours of undergraduate work may be transferred from other institutions, however; students must earn a minimum of 15 credit hours for associates programs and 30 credit hours for bachelor’s programs through EKU to be awarded a degree from the institution.

The EKU Student Outreach and Transition Office has online resources that can help you determine which credits may transfer. Use their Transfer Equivalency Course Search to look for matches among the courses we currently have on file. If your specific course is not on the list, it is still eligible for review. Please contact an enrollment advisor for more information about transferring credit.

Click here for current tuition rates. Note that textbooks, lab fees and technology fees are not included and will vary by course.

Students pursuing online degrees at Eastern Kentucky University may also qualify for federal financial aid (loans and grants), private loans, employer tuition reimbursement and military benefits. The EKU Financial Aid Office can assist you with questions about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and federal loans. The EKU Scholarship Office offers additional information that can help you pay for college.

For more information about financial aid, contact the Financial Aid Office finaid@eku.edu 859-622-2361.

To apply for undergraduate admission, students must meet one of three criteria:

• Cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale OR
• ACT composite score of 20 or SAT combined verbal/critical reading score of 950 or higher OR
• 24 hours of transfer credits from a regionally accredited institution and a grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

Graduate admission varies by program. Please check with your program of interest for requirements.

EKU Online degree programs offer classes on your schedule. With relatively few exceptions, you will log in at your convenience and will not be expected to be at your computer at a certain time each day. Students can work at a pace that works for them, as long as homework assignments and exams are completed by the instructors’ deadlines.

Most online courses are offered in two 8-week terms in the fall and spring semesters and two 6-week terms in the summer.  This accelerated schedule allows you to focus on two classes per term and still carry a full-time load over the course of the semester. There are approximately six start dates each calendar year.

EKU does offer some online courses that can be taken independently from a fully online degree program. For more information, contact the Chair of the department for the course you need.

If your on-campus program is offered 100% online, you can switch to the online degree program.  Most of the online classes include video instruction from the professors teaching the class, assignments, discussion board questions, quizzes and exams. Everything is available through Blackboard. You can learn from the same on-campus faculty and earn the same degree as an online student.

There are some differences between the online and on-campus programs. Most online courses are offered in two 8-week terms in the fall and spring semesters and two 6-week terms in the summer. This accelerated schedule allows you to focus on two classes per term and still carry a full-time load over the course of the semester. Contact us at 859-622-7045 or online at onlinedegrees@eku.edu for assistance in switching to the online program.  

Online courses are taught at an accelerated pace. Generally, classes last for 8 weeks fall A, fall, B, spring A and spring B. Classes run for 6 weeks in summer A and summer B. Undergraduates seeking status as full-time students should take 2 courses, or 6 hours, during each session. Two courses in fall A and 2 courses in fall B would give a student a total of 12 hours, or full-time status, for the fall semester, for example. The same rules apply for the summer terms.

EKU Online also offers a host of online tutoring options, including Bartleby 24/7, PASS and others. Our tutoring options are online and flexible to fit a busy working student’s schedule.

EKU Library resources are also available, regardless of location. Much of what is needed to conduct research can be found on the library’s website, including ability to chat or text with a librarian, search the library catalog, or search hundreds of online resources, even from home. The library can ship resources to you if you live outside the EKU service area and are enrolled in EKU classes. Even more, if you need a book or article the library does not own, they can order it for you.

Learn more about Distance and Online Learning resources on the library website.

Regional accreditation is the highest level of accreditation available. Eastern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Eastern Kentucky University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Students can be confident that credits earned at one regionally accredited school will transfer to other regionally accredited universities. This is especially important if you plan on transferring or continuing your education. It is also important to look for other credentials that may set a program apart. For example, the EKU Online paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association and meets the guidelines as set forth by the ABA, which means students can sit for the certified paralegal exam upon graduation.

 The six regional accrediting agencies are:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities