Ivy League dreams? Make them a reality. Although you may not be able to physically commute to an Ivy League campus, that shouldn’t keep you from “attending” classes at an Ivy League university. By far, Columbia, Harvard, and Cornell have the most extensive online programs. I give Penn, Dartmouth, and Yale an honorable mention. At this time, Brown and Princeton are the only Ivy League universities not offering some type of online program (but I will keep you posted if they do). Columbia University Columbia University currently offers more than 30 online degree programs through their Engineering department. Degrees range from Computer Science and Applied Mathematics to Mechanical Engineering and Methods in Finance. The Columbia Video Network (CVN) allows students around the globe to pursue residency-free, fully accredited engineering courses and degree programs via the internet. To see a complete list of online degrees and courses offered, visit my Columbia University online degree review. In addition to the Engineering department, Columbia University’s Teacher’s College also offer over 300 online courses and a number of certificate programs ranging from financial planning in education to project management. For more information, visit my Columbia University online review.

Cornell University

Cornell University currently offers 19 online certificate programs. Depending on the certificate, you will be required to complete between four and twelve courses. Tuition for certificate programs varies depending on the number of courses required and the school offering the program. Plan on spending between $2150 and $10500 for tuition. For more information, visit my Cornell University online certificate review posting. Harvard University Through its Extension School, Harvard University is now offering dozens of online courses. Although they do not offer a complete online degree program (as of yet), they do offer two graduate-level online certificate programs: Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. Alternately, you can simply take a few classes in a subject that interests you such as accounting or linguistics. If you are interested in earning a degree through the Harvard Extension School, you may do so, but you will have to combine online courses with some classroom attendance. For more information, visit my Harvard University online review posting. University of Pennsylvania Penn currently offers the following distance learning programs:

1. PennAdvance: Allows individuals to earn Penn undergraduate credit or audit Penn courses from anywhere
2. Dental Education: Online continuing education learning opportunities from the School of Dental Medicine.
3. Medical Education: CME course offerings from the School of Medicine
4. Nursing Education: Online Professional Development courses from the School of Nursing
5. English Language Programs Online Courses : Reading, writing, and test prep courses for international students and professionals

For more information, check out our comprehensive review of University of Pennsylvania Online and Distance Learning Programs. Dartmouth College Dartmouth College, through its Tuck Executive Education program, now offers the Dartmouth Online Bridge Program based on the school’s campus-based Tuck Business Bridge Program. The bridge program is a "total immersion" business program for liberal arts graduates, PhDs, and what Dartmouth refers to as high-potential employees. Dartmouth’s Online Bridge Program is made up of a four program series which includes financial accounting, finance, marketing, and managerial economics. Together, these programs offer students twenty-five targeted courses in the area of business, accounting, and finance. Online Bridge students may complete the program at their own pace. The cost of an individual series $800; the entire program cost is $3,000, however, Dartmouth does offer fee incentives for groups of individuals who are sponsored by the same company. For complete program information, visit our Dartmouth College Online Program review. Yale University Compared to other Ivy League universities, Yale doesn’t offer much in the way of online programs. At this time, their primary offerings are through the Yale School of Medicine and the free online video lecture program. Online Learning at Yale School of Medicine Excerpt from Yale’s website (2007): "Experience the quality of learning you expect from the Yale School of Medicine without leaving your office. We bring the Yale School of Medicine to You. YaleCME brings together the global expertise of Yale School of Medicine physicians and educators to present online multimedia courses featuring its world class clinical departments. " Yale University Free Online Courses In December 2007, Yale University began offering free online courses to anyone who was interested. Many students have found them to be more "course materials" then actual classes themselves, but they did cover a small, but nice variety of topics. Yale University online classes currently available at no cost:

1. Astronomy 160: Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics, with Professor Charles Bailyn.
2. English 310: Modern Poetry, with Professor Langdon Hammer.
3. Philosophy 176: Death, with Professor Shelly Kagan.
4. Physics 200: Fundamentals of Physics, with Professor Ramamurti Shankar.
5. Political Science 114: Introduction to Political Philosophy, with Professor Steven B. Smith.
6. Psychology 110: Introduction to Psychology, with Professor Paul Bloom.
7. Religious Studies 145: Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), with Professor Christine Hayes.

Related posts:

• University of Notre Dame Online Review
• Cornell University offers 19 online programs
• Harvard University now offers online classes
• Columbia University now offers over 30 online degrees
• Dartmouth College Online Program

Top 8 Online College Degree Programs

	Kaplan University – Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. Considered a top online college, Kaplan University offers students affordable and convenient online classes. Kaplan University is an accredited university that provides students the education to become successful professionals upon graduation.
	Ashford University – Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. Ashford University provides working adults an excellent place to pursue a secondary or uncompleted degree. Affordable and flexible programs are available to all students looking to obtain a degree from a well known accredited university.
	University of Phoenix – Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, & Doctoral Degrees. University of Phoenix is the world’s most well known accredited online university. Offering numerous degrees in an assortment of areas, University of Phoenix lets students take charge of their future with the degree plan of their choice.
	Liberty University – Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. Liberty University offers undergraduate and graduate level education at affordable prices. Assisting students with diverse learning styles, Liberty offers unmatched quality degree programs.
	American InterContinental University Online - Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. With campuses located around the world, American InterContinental University has been educating students for over 35 years. AIU offers flexible and interactive programs that assist the students in graduating at their own pace.
	DeVry University - Associate’s, Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees. DeVry University has a tradition of providing academic excellence, affordable pricing, and a well respected faculty. DeVry University gives each student personalized attention so that they have the best opportunity to succeed.
	Everest University – Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. Everest University offers degrees in high growth technology based careers with convenient scheduling offered for its various degree plans. Everest University offers campus and online classes for students looking for a school that offers excellence in education.
	Westwood College – Associate’s & Bachelor’s Degrees. Offering Associate’s & Bachelor’s degrees, Westwood College takes undergraduate level education to the highest level available. Students will have the ability to learn from home and take classes that fit their schedule.

Sources: Columbia, Harvard Extension, Cornell, Penn, Yale, Brown, Princeton, and Dartmouth websites, 2007. Updates: Dartmouth College website, 2008; Yale University website, 2008.