How to Finish Your Degree Online: A Returning Student’s Guide

“How do I finish my degree online?” That’s a common question we hear from transfer students and adults looking to return to school at Athens State. The process may seem daunting if you don’t know where to begin. However, as a transfer institution, we specialize in making it easy to return to school and earn your degree.

Here are some simple steps to finish your degree online with Athens State:

Step 1: Find your program. 

The very first step is to find the right program for you. Whether you’re looking to transfer schools, change fields, or advance your career, we have several programs to finish your degree online.  

You can search through all our online programs or explore our different transfer pathways to find the degree that aligns with your goals.  

Step 2: Meet with admissions. 

Once you find your program, it’s time to meet with admissions. They’ll walk you through the application process and help you transfer credits and work experience toward your degree. 

To prepare for this step, we suggest reviewing our comprehensive credit transfer guide to ensure that you get the most out of your previously earned credits. You can also explore our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to see how your previous work experience can apply to your degree. 

Step 3: Apply for financial assistance. 

Affordable tuition is one of the pillars of success at Athens State. In addition to offering some of the lowest tuition rates in Alabama, we also provide several scholarships and financial aid options for our students. 

Explore some of the options available to you and learn how to transfer your FAFSA to help keep your tuition costs manageable and within budget.  

Step 4. Meet your student success coach. 

Once you’re accepted and choose to attend Athens State, you can meet with your success coach.  All undergraduate students are assigned a student success coach that acts as an advisor to help keep you on track to finish your degree online.  

They’re available to answer questions and help you navigate your individual circumstances to ensure that you’re on the right path for your career goals throughout your time at Athens State.  

Step 5: Take advantage of student services. 

Learning online doesn’t mean learning alone. Athens State offers several student resources to help you at any stage of your academic journey, including: 

These are some of the many resources available to set you up for success at Athens State. 

Finish your online degree! 

Now that you know what to do, take the next step to finish your degree online with Athens State. Search our online programs or apply today