As a working mom making the most of my hard-earned money, I don't think that "thrifty" and "frugal" are dirty words. In fact, in a world where gas prices keep creeping up and the stock market is more volatile than my 21-month-old toddler, being cost-conscious is a must. I want the best for my family and me, but I'm not going to pay through the nose for it!

This attitude also applies to education. Between you and me, the intellectual snobbery of tweedy faculty and ivy-covered brick buildings is not for me - it never has been. I've got to keep it real.

Continuing my education not only empowers me to return to the work force someday, but it also allows me to be a good role model for my daughter. I hope that she will always retain a passion for learning and someday be a lifelong learner.

With that being said, this inaugural post is to alert other quality-focused, value-conscious folk like myself to the most affordable online learning opportunities that I come across.

Case in point: Fort Hays State University.

Fort Hays State University is a 4-year public university located in Hays, Kansas consisting of four colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business and Leadership, Education and Technology, and Health and Life Sciences. Through the Virtual College, you can take individual college courses or pursue an entire college degree - all online.

Fittingly enough, Fort Hays State University's motto is "Affordable Success." For Fall 2005 and Spring/Summer 2006:

• a 3-credit undergraduate course is $390.00 ($130.00 per credit hour)
  
• a 3-credit graduate course is $522.00 ($174.00 per credit hour)
  
• a graduate MBA course runs you $1200.00 ($400.00 per credit hour)
  
  

[Some fine print: there is a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $30 ($35 international degree-seeking applicants) if you are a degree-seeking undergraduate student, degree-seeking graduate student, or a non-degree-seeking undergraduate.]

This is an incredible deal because FHSU is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The North Central Association is one of the six officially recognized regional bodies authorized to accredit colleges and universities in the United States.

Regional accreditation is important to you because regionally accredited institutions (as well as nationally accredited institutions) are eligible to offer their students federal financial aid. Also, as a general rule of thumb, regional accrediting bodies recognize each other’s accreditation, facilitating credit transfer among institutions*.

To see a listing of the degrees offered, go to http://www.elearners.com/college/fhsu/.

*However, it's important to remember that all schools have different credit transfer policies and that it is the student's responsibility to check with the school to ensure that credits will or will not be accepted.