Are the degrees you can get from an "online university" really accepted in the professional world?

Question

Does it really make a difference if the school is "accredited"?

I don't have a driver's license so even commuting to the colleges in my area while I'm working full-time is nearly impossible. I'd like to try to get a Bachelor's....but I don't want to waste my time if the "degree" I end up with is just a worthless piece of paper.

Answer 1

You are smart to ask this question, since most employers do not give much credence to degrees from "online universities" like University of Phoenix / Axia, AIU, Capella, Penn Foster, etc.

However, many longstanding, regionally accredited, and completely reputable state universities now offer courses and even degrees online. This is called "distance education."

The links below are the absolute best you will find. They contain more links to many well-respected state university distance education programs.

What distinguishes these sorts of programs is that the courses are generally transferable between regionally accredited institutions. Sometimes, the degrees offered are identical to those earned on campus.

I would advise you to start by looking at your own state university system and check to see if they offer the programs and courses in which you are interested. If not, check out those of other states.(Pennsylvania has a great system, for instance.)

Just avoid the "online universities." These for-profit businesses are not the same as non-profits institutions of higher education, and they are notorious for not delivering on their promises. I can also assure you that these degrees are laughed at in academia.

Note: In institutions of higher education, regional accreditation is better than national accreditation. This sounds odd, but I assure you that it is the case. The regional accreditors are:
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NCCU)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

If a program is not accredited by one of these associations, it is best to stay away. However, it is important to note that accreditation is relatively easy to get. Accreditation alone is not sufficient to make a college "good." Your real concern should be transferability of credits, and the college's reputation from the perspective of other colleges.

Anyway, best wishes to you, and good for you for asking the question before wasting your money!

Answer 2

Try an accredited university, there is a difference. I go through the distance program at Oregon State University and I am thrilled with it. I am simply taking traditional courses at a traditional college in a non-traditional way. I graduate in June and will never have stepped one foot on the campus.

I have gone through the traditional university route and can honestly say I am happier with my decision to go distance. I live in an area that only has a community college, and I have a family, a job and a household to take care of. This was the route that worked best for me.

I would never, ever consider getting my degree from a non-accredited school. To me that is a waste of money because many employers are not going to give that degree a second glance.

Oregon State isn't the only option, many universities have distance programs. The great thing is you can work on your own time and the degree you get is a university degree.

You do have to be highly organized and a self-starter to be a distance student though.

Answer 3

I would be really surprised if a perspective employer accepted an on-line degree; especially if they aren't accredited.

Granted all traditional universities and colleges may offer different classes to obtain a degree, but to a certain extent the classes are probably similar. Of course at traditional colleges you have to take core classes; these are the courses ALL students have to take. Typically it will take you about 2 years to take these classes.

If an on line college is telling you that you can get a B.A. in less than a year, they're full of s h i t!. I got a 4 year degree in 3 years, but I also took summer classes and 22+ credits during the regular fall and spring semesters.

Answer 4

Accreditation matters *very* much. Assuming you're looking into an American school, if a school is not recognized as being accredited by the United States Department of Education, then your degree is not worth the paper it is printed on. The key is to find a school that is regionally accredited with one of these accrediting bodies (in no particular order):
* Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
* New England Association of Schools and Colleges
* North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
* Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
* Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
* Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Many schools who are not regionally accredited will still say they are accredited (though, not regionally), so you still need to do your homework and make sure that they are properly accredited through an agency that the US Dept of Ed recognizes as authorized to confer degrees.

As long as the university is regionally accredited, it does not matter if you obtain the degree in residence or through online means. Schools that are regionally accredited and offer online programs must go through a review process to ensure that the online classes are of equal content and value as a class in a classroom. Also, most schools do not print on the diploma that you went through the online program, so it would be mostly up to you to tell your prospective employers (or not) - the only exception to this are schools that exclusively administer their programs online and don't have a physical campus... then the employer would know. However, online degrees, with the right credentials, are gaining in respect and esteem.

I'm in graduate school right now and I have a lot of respect for people who go through an online degree (that is accredited). It's often harder than going to a classroom. Good luck.

Answer 5

Seriously, some people need to be enlightened before offering advice, eh! Geesh!

Anyway to keep this short, below is a link to an article by the Society for Human Resource Management in direct response to your question. I would pay attention to the "Quality Assurance" section of the article towards the last quarter of the article.

Oh, and btw, the University of Phoenix IS accredited by NCACS (http://www.elearners.com/college/uop/). Meaning that as an accredited institution it is subject to the same standards that are required as that of any other “traditional” colleges and universities. Yes, it is expensive since it is a for-profit institution which is no different than going to a private school in your state. What the University of Phoenix has above “well-respected state university distance education programs” is 30 years of experience, specifically in the online learning format.

My recommendation is for you to invest some time and effort and conduct your own research instead of running with what someone tells you in an online community message board. What I can offer you with my own experience(s) as a University of Phoenix student, is that it requires determination, discipline and dedication. If you do not have either one of these qualities, then I whole heartedly agree with the good professor for you to look into traditional classroom setting classes. Otherwise, the workload can and will bog you down since the requirement for learning online is purely reliant on your own, and access to your instructor is not instantaneous. Look around; see what will best fit your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Good luck!

Answer 6

It makes a HUGE difference if the school is accredited. Don't waste your money (or time) on one that isn't.

Lots of "brick-and-morter" schools these days are offering on-line degrees, so you should look into what some of your local (and even non-local) schools offer. In fact, most state colleges and universities offer at least some courses online, many of them offer full degree programs online.

Answer 7

Yea you have to be really careful. One of the biggest scams is University of Phoenix. I would suggest that you look into traditional universities that offer online class and somehow work your way to a degree. I can't suggest any particular colleges, you will just have to do your own research.

Answer 8

it would be a waste of time and money