Online Schools & Colleges in Washington

Online students at Edmonds Community College can benefit from the school's direct transfer agreements with several four-year colleges in Washington. In these programs, students complete an associate degree through online courses, followed by a seamless transfer to a four-year school to continue their studies with distance and in-person study. Non-transfer programs and individual online courses are also available. Distance courses at ECC include a discussion board, chat room, and digital drop box, as well as online assessments, all hosted on the Canvas learning management system. The school offers distance students online access to many library resources, as well as technical assistance available over the phone.

Spokane Community College students can enroll in online degree programs, certificate programs, and individual courses that accommodate working professionals. Classes are flexible but still follow a traditional structure with start and stop dates and deadlines for assignments and projects. They're also asynchronous, allowing students to choose the days and times that are most convenient to complete their work each week. Students are assigned success coaches that help them throughout their tenure in the online program, providing guidance on registering, technical support, and tutoring resources. For learners considering continuing their education to earn a bachelor's degree, many of the online associate degree programs have direct transfer agreements with four-year schools.

Online learning at Renton Technical College is flexible, accommodating nontraditional students who have busy professional or family schedules or who cannot make it to campus often. Many classes require no visits to campus, but some have a required in-person orientation session and others may meet on campus up to four times over the quarter. Courses have high academic standards and can be transferred to other institutions. They are delivered with the Canvas learning management system. Those new to distance learning may take a free online "tour" of the school's distance learning format, including use of Canvas and resources available for online students.

Clark College has several flexible degree options for nontraditional students: fully online programs, hybrid online/in-person programs, and weekend programs. Classes in all of these settings contain the same content; only delivery method varies. Online courses follow a traditional academic calendar, beginning on the first day of the term and following a syllabus throughout the semester. They are asynchronous but not self-paced, allowing students to complete work at a convenient time as long as it's finished by the deadlines set by the instructor. Students seeking academic assistance can receive online tutoring, including reviews of draft papers through the online writing lab.

At Shoreline Community College, distance students can earn numerous degrees and certificates through the school's virtual campus. Using the Canvas learning management system, students can communicate with professors and peers, and access course materials from their home or anywhere with an Internet connection. Some courses also include sessions with Blackboard Collaborate, a tool for web conferencing that can be used for live office hours or virtual classes. Distance students can also receive advising, online tutoring, and counseling. Online librarians are available to answer reference questions through a live chat, and textbooks can be ordered over the Internet from the school bookstore.

South Puget Sound Community College's online courses are very similar to their on-campus courses, with scheduled beginning and ending dates, and deadlines throughout the semester. Courses include readings, videos, and podcasts, and students are expected to participate in discussion forums and group work along with their written assignments. Students should plan to dedicate 12 to 15 hours weekly on each course, and the school advises that students do work on their courses every day. SPSCC uses the Canvas learning management system for online courses. There, students can access all readings and lectures uploaded by their instructors, participate in discussions with peers, and submit assignments.

Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom offers several kinds of "eLearning": online courses that follow a traditional week-by-week syllabus, hybrid classes that include online and on-campus components, and traditional classes with web-enhanced features. Additionally, all on-campus courses at the school have a web presence where the instructor may post the syllabus or course announcements. eLearning classes can transfer to other institutions, and transcripts do not reflect that the course was taken online. Students are encouraged to seek help from a technology assistance team, academic support services, and librarians to facilitate their studies and resolve any academic or technical issues.

Online learners at Grays Harbor College access course materials through the Canvas learning management system. The school offers individual courses as well as full certificate or degree programs online, with associate degree programs designed for students who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university. Prospective students can view numerous tutorials linked on GHC's website to ease their transition to online learning, including guides on how to submit assignments, create or reply to discussions, and view grades on Canvas. The school also has e-learning specialists available by email or phone to assist with any technical issues.

At Spokane Falls Community College, distance classes are delivered as part of the Community Colleges of Spokane Online. These classes disseminate course information and assignments over the Internet; however, field work with in-person components may also be required. Canvas is used as the school's learning management system, offering a single destination where students can access course materials and communicate with peers and professors. Students can submit draft papers to the online writing lab for a tutor to review and provide feedback in 24 to 28 hours. There is also a live chat option where learners can participate in a virtual one-on-one tutoring session.

Bellingham Technical College provides flexible education options for students with busy schedules or difficulty getting to campus. The school's online classes can be completed almost fully from a distance with the use of the Canvas learning management system. There are also hybrid courses with a more balanced split of on-campus and online learning. Prior to the beginning of the quarter, students participate in "Zero Week": an orientation week for distance courses. During Zero Week, online classes open one week early, and student can log on to familiarize themselves with Canvas and make sure that they can see all of their courses listed.

Students at Cascadia College can take eLearning courses that are fully online or a hybrid of online and face-to-face delivery. Distance courses use the Canvas learning management system, which provides access to class content and assignments, as well as quizzes and classroom activities. eLearning courses are not self-paced, but do provide some flexibility for busy students. Learners can expect to spend at least as much time on an online class as they would in a traditional classroom. The school suggests students plan to spend 10 to 15 hours per week on each course, and that they have a backup plan in place ahead of time should they have technical difficulties.

The University of Washington (UW) offers an online education program to students interested in completing an undergraduate degree or graduate degree, or students interested in simply completely necessary coursework online. UW offers online certificate and continuing education programs in select subjects. Online bachelor's and master's degrees are available for a variety of schools including education, business and engineering. UW offers special events and workshops for students enrolled in online degree programs. Canvas is the learning management system utilized by UW, students in online classes may communicate with peers and submit assignments in Canvas. Healthcare and counseling services are available to UW online students.

The Global Campus at Washington State University (WSU) offers online degrees and certificates in a variety of subjects. Economics, psychology and electric engineering are several of the programs that are available completely online. Non-degree skill courses are offered online at WSU. Students enrolled in online courses may order books online at WSU's bookstore. Students in online WSU courses may submit assignments through the learning management system Blackboard. Disability resources and career counseling are accessible on-campus to all WSU students. Through the State Authorization Reciprocity Act, WSU is authorized to have students enrolled in several U.S. states outside of Washington.

Many of Heritage University's online degree programs are self-paced, allowing students to submit necessary coursework and participate in group discussions at the most convenient time. Along with individual online courses for a variety of Heritage University subjects, several degree programs are available completely online. An online bachelor's degree program in English is offered, and several master's degrees are offered online in education and English. Heritage University is authorized to offer distance education in several U.S. states outside of Washington. A writing center, career services and disability resources are available to all students. Several scholarships are offered to students through an application and selection process at Heritage University.

Central Washington University (CWU) offers web-based graduate and undergraduate programs to students interested in pursuing an online education. Bachelor's degrees are available in a diverse selection of subjects from aviation management to sociology. Master's degrees in science and education are available online at CWU, with a variety of specializations. Along with fully online degree programs, CWU hosts individual online courses that may fulfill degrees completed on-campus. CWU uses the quarter system, each quarter students may enroll in the online courses offered. The learning management system Canvas is used by CWU; students may review lectures and participate in class discussions through Canvas.

Graduate and undergraduate degree programs are offered online at Northwest University. Ministry, business management and psychology are several of the subjects that offer degrees online. From associate's degrees and certificates to master's degrees, Northwest University offers a variety of options to students interested in pursuing distance education. Students enrolled in online programs at Northwest University have access to every on-campus service, including a career center and library. The learning management system Moodle is used by Northwest University, students enrolled in online courses may submit homework assignments through Moodle and review notes. FAFSA financial aid is available to eligible students.

Distance education and online courses are available at Seattle Pacific University (SPU). Undergraduate and graduate courses are available along professional certificate programs. Mathematics, science and travel studies are several of the programs that offer online education at SPU. The course management system Canvas is used by SPU; online students may submit assignments, take tests and communicate with professors through Canvas. SPU has a study abroad program available for enrolled students. A career center, writing center and tutoring services are available to online students at SPU. FAFSA financial aid is offered to eligible students at SPU.

Master's and doctoral degrees are available online at Gonzaga University. Nursing, communication and theology are several of the subjects that offer online degree programs. Online graduate students at Gonzaga University are offered opportunities to connect with peers and professors through in-person meetups throughout each term. Distance students may access the university's library online. Students residing over 35 miles from the campus may take advantage of the library's book delivery service. Web-based writing services are offered to online students. Gonzaga University uses the learning management system Blackboard. Technological support is accessible to online students seven days a week.

Western Online is the distance education program at Western Washington University (WWU). Online courses are taught in two ways: term-based and self-paced. Term-based courses begin at the beginning of each quarter and require students to interact weekly. Self-paced courses begin at any time in the quarter, and do not require real-time interaction from students. Hybrid courses at WWU are taught partially online, and partially in-person. WWU utilizes the learning management system Canvas, students enrolled in online courses may submit assignments through Canvas. A writing and tutoring center are several of the student services available at WWU.

Students interested in pursuing an online degree may enroll in Eastern Washington University (EWU). A variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available online at EWU. Continuing education courses and certificate programs are similarly offered online. Students enrolled at EWU may complete university required courses online. EWU's online courses may require proctored exams. Students may sign up for a proctored exam at one of the several EWU locations. EWU offers a eTutoring service for all students, students may ask questions or chat with a tutor 24/7 online. EWU utilizes the learning management system Canvas.

Online courses at the City University of Seattle are hosted on the learning management system Blackboard. Students enrolled in the online courses may participate in discussions or submit homework on Blackboard. Hybrid courses are instructed partially online and partially in-person at the City University of Seattle. The university's online program offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs Online databases and e-books are offered through the City University of Seattle's library. A career center and counseling center are several of the student services available at City University of Seattle. Students at the City University of Seattle may apply to receive financial assistance.

Online degree programs in a variety of subjects including education, religion and ministry are available at Faith International University. Certain bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees are available fully online. Online courses are either taught completely using the learning management system Canvas, or taught with DVDs that hold pre-recorded lectures. Students may enroll in online courses at the start of each semester. Students enrolled in online courses may access necessary course reading materials and databases online through Faith International University's library. Courses taught at the university are traditionally small, and allow students personal instruction.