Online Universities..are they worth it?

Question

Are these actually worth the money? I already have some college under my belt but will these help me at all?? Just to get some extra credits maybe?

Answer 1

The only reputable online college classes are those offered through actual, real live, brick and mortar universities.

As Taranto mentioned, the U of Phoenix has been successfully sued for misrepresenting the value of its courses to prospective students. That should be a big red flag for anyone.

Here's an excerpt from a New York Times article on this topic.

"In one recent survey, employers overwhelmingly preferred traditional bachelor’s degrees when hiring over credentials even partially completed online. In the study, published in the January issue of the quarterly Communication Education, two communications professors asked some 270 small and medium-size companies in eight cities about their attitudes toward online credentials. The companies primarily sought managers or entry-level employees in accounting, engineering, business and information technology.
Ninety-six percent said they would choose traditional candidates over those with virtual degrees. Graduates of hybrid programs (online and in classrooms) didn’t fare much better, with 75 percent choosing candidates with traditional degrees.
“Recent graduates who apply for jobs without much work experience may find that having an online degree on their résumé translates into having little chance of being hired,” concludes the study, by Margaret H. DeFleur, associate dean of graduate studies and research at Louisiana State University, and Jonathan Adams, director of interactive and new communication technologies at Florida State University."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/educat...

The good news is that there are more and more state universities offering coursework, and even degrees, online.

Look at your state university first. If it does not have a "distance education" program, then look at other major state universities. Many of these programs issue diplomas identical to the ones earned on-campus, and in most cases, all of their online courses are taught by the same professors who teach in the classroom.

Here are some superb links to guide you toward finding the right state university distance education program for you.

Answer 2

It depends on their accrediation. More and more universities are offering on line courses. You have to be disciplined to do it own your own. Do your research first. Are they accrediated and with whom. Do their courses transfer easily to a classroom university ? What is the cost and what is supplied? How is thier support? Do they respond quickly to emails? Don't just rely on their response to you. Check out everything they say. Make sure it is not a textbook company like college network or Chancellors. They are not a school but will sell you expensive study material to use for another school and then you will have to still pay school costs. There are ligit distance learning schools but you have to do your research first before handing anybody money.

Answer 3

Avoid them.

Many employers will not hire people with on-line degrees.

The University of Phoenix was recently fined $9.8MM for shady dealings and is under investigation for inflating their job placement numbers.

There are a few good universities that have some good distance learning courses -- but the majority are For Profit Corporations that will take your money and leave you without a job.

Answer 4

Be careful. Some claim to be acredited but most standard universities won't except their credits. You learn the same information and you can earn a degree through them but not every company looks at the degree the same way. I recommend you stick with traditional schools. The girls are cuter in real schools any way.

Answer 5

No online courses suck. You probably won't understand something then have to email the professor and by the time he replys the paper is due and you still have no idea what to do. Take it from me. Online courses SUCK!

Answer 6

I would say they're much better than those old correspondence schools. where you have to send and receive everything trough the mail.
while through the Internet is almost like being at school.

Answer 7

ONLINE UNIVERSITIES ARE GREAT FOR DISTANCE LEARNING, IT ALLOWS A PERSON TO WORK FULL TIME AND GET AN EDUCATION

Answer 8

if it's the right school..maybe.. I went to one and right before graduation, found out it wasn't accredited to where i could get a job with it. it was accredited but with the wrong people.. BE careful.