How do online degree programs stack up against traditional college degrees? It's both a commonly asked and good question.
Interestingly, some studies indicate that students learn more in online study, and other studies conclude that the opposite is true.
It is hard to make broad generalizations about the relative quality of online and on-campus degrees or how well they will be accepted by prospective employers and others. Students considering their options will probably be best served by carefully considering their individual circumstances and educational/career objectives. The one absolute is that students should not consider any institution that is not fully accredited.
The process of choosing your best educational options should always begin with questions. What are youir personal goals? Career goals? How strong is your commitment? How much time do you have to devote to your education? Will your goals require licensure or certification of any kind? As you answer these questions, your options will become clearer.
Convenience is, of course, another important consideration. Many working adults, in particular, have limited time to travel to and from a campus, and it can be difficult, given life's other demands, to be tied to a fixed class schedule. For folks with these challenges, online degree programs are often a clear choice. Online education may also offer more opportunities for applying previously earned credits, including those for life experience, which might in turn make it easier to earn an accelerated degree.
For most people, finances are a major factor in choosing a college or university, online or otherwise. Initially, few online degree programs were able to offer significant need based financial aid or loans, and even fewer offered scholarships. Today, however, many students in distance education program receive financial aid, including loans and scholarships.
There is no question that online degree programs offer optimal convenience, and most now also offer tuition installment programs, grants, loans and tuition costs which make them within the reach of the vast majority of working adults. And, in almost every career and profession, you can find people who have moved up the ladder after completing an online degree program. Are online degrees well regarded by employers? That's the million dollar question.
Perhaps your best bet is to do some informal research. You can call or email people in charge of hiring in the professions and or individual organizations of interest to you and ask them if they differentiate between candidates with classroom-based and online degrees. And, ask the admissions representatives at the colleges you are considering to provide you with a list of the organizations in which they have placed graduates (and the titles of the positions in which they were placed). Of course, if certification or licensure is an issue for you, be certain the program you choose meets all the requirements for the credential you seek.
It's important to factor in your level of motivation, your learning style, and your academic strengths and weaknesses when making your final decision about pursuing a degree online or on-campus. It might be smart to take a single course online to see how well suited you are to distance education before making a final decision.
