US higher education
 

I'm considering pursuing a degree by distance education (on-line), and different countries have wildly different higher education systems or conventions, which is puzzling. If any kind American could elucidate this a little for me I'd be grateful. :)

First question, fees. Take this example:

http://www.ufedge.ufl.edu/about/fees.php

Does "credit hour" here mean what's elsewhere called "credit", which--according to info elsewhere on that website--corresponds to about 10 hours of course work? So if I wanted to study a degree composed of 10 courses, 3 "credits" each, the total cost would be around $20,000, is that right?

Yes. Is there a reason you chose the U of Florida?

Thanks. Absolutely no reason, I haven't chosen anything yet, I've just started looking around for colleges offering distance education degrees. I used that as an example for that question.

Any tip on American colleges, both in general and about particular distance education programs, would be much appreciated. I really don't know what criteria can I use.

http://www.phoenix.edu/

Here is one that has one of the better on-line presence in the states.

http://www.choosedevry.com/landing34...T.srch=1#/home

Here is another.

Thanks a lot, I'll take a look at those.

Neither of those offer degrees in my field, mechanical engineering. I know most on-line programs are about IT or business administration. So far what I've found in this field is in traditional universities that offer distance programs in addition to the on-campus ones:

https://engineering.purdue.edu/ProEd...nd_certificate

http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/de...ates/index.htm

http://www.dce.k-state.edu/engineering/masters/

http://www.online.uillinois.edu/catalog/Programs.asp

http://worldwide.erau.edu/campuses-o...line-learning/

http://www.ufedge.ufl.edu/programs/degree.php

...

I have heard that Purdue has a very good engineering school.

It's also more expensive:

https://engineering.purdue.edu/ProEd/Admissions/fees

What about the others, have you heard particularly good or bad things about them? Did you think Florida would have been a bad choice?