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Going back to graduate school while holding down a job is a big commitment. We evaluated online schools according seven factors. Read on to see our top picks on online grad schools for working adults.

We sought out the best schools that offer flexible, online graduate degrees. To compile our list of top schools, we evaluated colleges according to seven factors: brand awareness, program diversity, learning environment, flexibility, academics, student support, and career services.

In this section, we'll describe why we chose these factors, but if you want to jump straight to our list of top schools, just scroll down!

Choose a school with an established, well-respected brand in online education. These schools have long experience in delivering quality education and specifically understand the needs of online students as well as the challenges faced by working adults who are going back to school.

We looked for schools that offer programs in both a wide variety of fields as well as at different levels. Even if you know your major before enrolling, having access to a wide variety of fields means that you explore different subjects and enroll in a wide array of electives. Choosing a school with programs at multiple levels means that you can stick with the school for throughout your graduate education. If you know you want to pursue both a master's and doctoral degree, look for schools that offer both levels in your field.

Our top schools have designed learning environments that remove barriers to learning. As a working adult, you want a learning environment that is asynchronous, which means that there are no set meeting times, and that is easy to access from a variety of devices. For example, schools with mobile apps allow you to access your coursework when you're on the go or on a break at work.

Flexibility is key when you're balancing school with work, and online programs offer the maximum flexibility. Look for schools that allow you adjust your course load each semester or that have flexible start dates. We also prized schools that give students the opportunity to design part of their program based on their goals and prior work experience.

All of the schools on our list are accredited, which is the first thing you want to ensure when choosing a program. An accredited program has been vetted by an accreditation agency, which ensures that the school teaches a solid curriculum. Our top schools also hire professors who have actual work experience in their field. This is important because many grad programs for working adults are designed to help you advance your career. By learning from professors who have walked your path, you can get relevant instruction not found in a textbook.

As an online student, you're learning from home and don't have access to traditional school support services. Therefore, it's important to look for schools that offer extensive online support services, such as 24/7 tech support or email and phone access to academic and financial advisors.

Even if you plan to stay with your current employer, a university career services office can be a valuable asset in an uncertain economy. Job referrals and resume polishing are some benefits to look for in an online school's offerings.

So, what are our top five graduate schools? Our top picks do well in all of our factors and have a lot of services specifically geared at students who are balancing a job as well as family responsibilities.

Kaplan University puts faculty front and center so that you can learn from instructors who have recent real-world experience and familiarity with current marketplace knowledge and on-the-job skills. Students can access full support services, including technical support that is available by phone, email, or live chat. Kaplan makes it easy for students to access class on their own schedule. In addition to asynchronous learning, you can access class materials, discussions, and grades on your mobile device. The university offers a wide variety of master's degree programs, all of which are online. Its emphasis on online education means that it has mastered flexible education designed for busy students.

Northcentral University is an entirely online university that offers four master's programs and seven doctoral degrees, in addition to several graduate certificates. The university's one-to-one instructional model enables online students to get direct attention from their instructors, creating a personalized learning experience. Additionally, Northcentral is fully accredited and provides students with many convenient online resources to ease the student online experience, such as accessible academic advising and an 'Ask a Researcher' feature. When it comes to establishing a personalized student experience, Northcentral stood out in terms of accessibility between its students and faculty.

Saint Joseph's University jumps out because its graduate business program was ranked 18th on U.S. News & World Report's list of top online graduate programs in 2013. In addition to business, the school offers graduate degrees in criminal justice, education, healthcare and finance. Unique offerings at Saint Joseph's include an online master's degree in business intelligence and a master's program in organization development and leadership. You'll also find a variety of graduate certificates at this university.

We chose Colorado State University's Global Campus for its focus on working adults. Online classes at this university feature instructors trained specifically in distance education for adults. Courses start every four weeks, so you can choose to earn your degree when it fits your schedule. The university has a tuition guarantee program for online students, so that you won't need to worry about your tuition increasing as long as you're actively enrolled in classes and earning a degree. The university features an innovative online platform with a virtual library, virtual instructor office hours and an online help desk.

Strayer University offers students a quality graduate education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. The university's flexible programs make it possible for you to earn a competitive graduate degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life. Students can attend classes at times that fit their schedule, on campus or online and learn from qualified faculty who bring relevant theoretical and practical knowledge to the classroom. The university also provides comprehensive career information, job referrals, and resume assistance to help students reach their educational and career goals.

Disclosure: Some or all of the schools listed may be partners of Education Portal.

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Earning a degree is one of the best ways to improve your career prospects and earning potential, but it can be difficult to balance work responsibilities with your studies. Fortunately, today's online learning options give you lots of flexibility so that you can work and get a degree at the same time, without making sacrifices for either.

Here are our top things to look for when balancing work and school:

This sounds like a no-brainer, but it deserves repeating because online classes give you the flexibility to learn on your own schedule. Most online classes use asynchronous learning, which means that there is no set meeting time or location. For example, professors might post lectures up as online videos that you can watch at a good time for you. Discussions usually take place over several days on a discussion board or chat forum.

Don't let being stuck at work stop you from accessing your classes. Many online schools have apps that allow you to access class from your phone or tablet, which means you can complete your coursework during lunch or while you're on break. You should also make sure that course material can be accessed from various computer operating systems so that you can log in to class from home, work, or anywhere else.

Your work schedule might make it difficult to get coursework done during certain times a year, so you don't want to be tied to a school with a strict semester schedule. Choose schools that have flexible start dates for the courses so that you can take class when you have time and take a break when work is all-consuming.

If you work during the day, you need the school support services to be available to you at off-hours. Many schools offer 24/7 tech support as well as academic and career services that are available outside of regular business hours. When picking a school, look into the support options to see what fits your schedule.

Look for schools with experience educating working adults. These schools are more likely to have flexibility options that work for you. You'll also have the opportunity to connect with peers who understand the pressures of working and going to school and can enhance discussions with their own life and work experiences.

The schools on our top three list have all of the attributes we mentioned above plus a few more features that make them a good choice for working adults.

Kaplan University excels in flexibility. Its Kaplan Commitment program allows new students to try out classes for three weeks for no cost. Its learning environment uses advanced technology and flexible delivery methods that make classes easy to access, including allowing you to attend class from your phone or computer. Kaplan has impressive program diversity, with more than 170 degree and certificate programs as well as advance-start bachelor's degrees that can be completed by in as little as 2 years. In addition, students can access full support services, including technical support that is available by phone, email, or live chat.

Grand Canyon University's online programs are offered asynchronously and have an interesting twist: students only take one class at a time. This system allows students to focus their attention on a single course, which is particularly useful for students juggling a full-time job with their studies. The university offers many degree programs in subject areas such as business and leadership, health care, nursing, performing arts and digital design, theology, and health sciences. GCU also stood out to us because it was recently ranked on the U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Bachelor's Programs list in 2013, as well as its Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans list.

Ashford University has a long tradition as a respected academic institution, both online and on-campus. The university is a great choice for working adults because it prizes flexibility and has a mobile app that lets students connect to class on a variety of devices. The school also has flexible start dates and virtual learning communities that allow students to get personalized support from their peers, faculty, and alumni. When designing its degree programs, Ashford focuses on modern and relevant degrees that equip you with skills and knowledge for career advancement.

Disclosure: Some or all of the schools listed may be partners of Education Portal.

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We've reviewed the best time and money-saving deals offered by the largest online graduate schools. Opportunities you can take advantage of include full-tuition scholarships, shortened program length, credit for experience and dual-credit options.

Earning a graduate degree can be helpful in advancing your career. But graduate schools are expensive, right? Not always. Several of the largest online graduate schools understand that the cost of earning an advanced degree shouldn't undermine the benefits. This is why they offer innovative programs to minimize your out-of-pocket expense and still allow you the flexibility of a quality online education. We've reviewed these programs and highlighted some of the best deals available that you can take advantage of for your graduate degree.

Your time is just as valuable as your money. Of course, earning a graduate degree online gives you the flexibility to schedule your courses to best fit around your busy home and work life. However, some schools take time-saving opportunities a little further by reducing the length and eliminating the rigid structure of courses so that you can better manage the time you spend juggling family, career and education.

You can get financial assistance through scholarships and grants offered by graduate schools. And the best part about these types of financial aid is that they don't have to be paid back. In some cases, these awards are tied to specific programs, while others are geared toward teachers, employees of certain companies, or students who started but couldn't finish a graduate degree program.

Some of the largest online graduate schools let you save time and money by accepting qualifying work and life experience as credit towards a graduate degree program. Several schools also give college credit for professional certifications or credit-by-exam options. Additionally, many of these graduate schools award college credit and tuition reduction for military and law enforcement training. Whether you write an essay or create a portfolio of your experiences, take a test or earn a certification, you'll have the chance to transform that knowledge into real college credit, reducing the number of credits you'll need for your degree program.

Undergraduate students have the chance to begin working toward a graduate degree before earning a bachelor's degree. This translates into fewer courses you'll need to take to earn a graduate degree and less money you'll have to spend in tuition costs. You'll be able to apply the credit earned for one class to two different programs.

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