Your children may be close to heading off to college.

Or maybe you're considering continuing your education.

Enrolling in school — and finding money to pay for it — can be daunting. But resources online can help you achieve your goals.

ONLINE DEGREES

Online education has really blossomed in the past several years. Most universities offer online classes, but some may not offer complete degree programs online. Others won't offer online degrees in your area of interest.

If you select a school carefully, the credits may be easily transferred. This is particularly true for general education credits. These are for classes required for a degree but not part of your major.

Start by looking for local schools that offer online classes. With local schools, you can still meet with professors.

If local schools don't suit your needs, look at other options. Try Degrees Online, eLearners and Directory of Schools. These sites will help you find online programs.

You'll find schools affiliated with established universities and colleges. You'll also find online-only schools. Remember that some employers favor online degrees received from traditional schools.

CHECK ACCREDITATION

Online schools are a great way to continue your education. But research a school's accreditation carefully.

Accreditation tells other schools and employers that your degree is backed with proper instruction. Without accreditation, credits may not transfer, or employers may not consider your degree valid.

Unfortunately, some "schools" sell degrees. These diploma mills may say you've earned the degree through life experience. Employers won't be fooled.

You can check accreditation with your state's higher-education agency or go to the federal Department of Education, which maintains a list of legitimate accrediting agencies.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Local or state schools will be cheaper than private or out-of-state schools. But many online schools are private. You may pay a premium.

Whether you attend an online school or a traditional one, public or private, you can find financial assistance online.

First, check the Federal Student Aid Information Center. It lists grants and loans from the federal government. Most are based on need.

Other sites list private scholarships and loans. Check FastWeb.com, CollegeTool kit.com and Scholarships.com.

SIT IN ON CLASSES

Maybe you want to know what a college's curriculum is like before you enroll. Or maybe you want to take classes and aren't concerned about earning a degree.

Many traditional schools are putting free course materials on the Internet. MIT, Notre Dame and Stanford are a few schools making course materials available.

Check a school's Web site to see what's available.

For direct links to sites mentioned in this column, visit www.komando.com/news.

E-mail Kim Komando at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.