Why do people think online college degrees are worthless?

Question

I mean, I go to a state university(think UofI, penn state), it's regionally accredited, and my degree diploma won't say anything about online degree, plus I'll be graduating in person with everyone else. So how can people say getting an online degree is worthless and just a scam? I agree, there are scams and diploma mills, and even Univ. of Phoenix seems a little bit like a scam, but I go to a university that was found over 100 years ago, and has a campus of 10,000+ students.

smoke, did you miss everything I said? You aren't very intelligent are you. Nobody's gonna know my degree is online cause I'm studying the exact same material as everyone else in my school. You...are...dumb

Some of you are missing what I'm saying...

MY DEGREE WILL SAY NOTHING ABOUT ONLINE DEGREE OR VIRITUAL COLLEGE. IT'S THE EXACT SAME DEGREE AS ON CAMPUS STUDENTS. SO FUTURE EMPLOYERS WON'T EVEN EVER KNOW.

Answer 1

All college degrees are scams. Do any of them offer you a full money back guarantee if you don't get the job you train for with a minimum salary within a certain time after graduating? No? I rest my case.

Answer 2

It really depends on the type of online degree. You are getting a degree from a reputable university, you just happened to do coursework online. The problem people have with online degrees is mostly when it comes to online colleges. With strictly online colleges they are relatively new so they're untrustworthy (scams), they don't really have reputations, and also for certain course work human interaction is really a must so getting an online degree shows you know the information but not that you necessarily know how to use it (class participation, projects, etc).

Answer 3

Online degrees still carry a negative stigma because employers are far more likely to employ a traditional student after graduation, citing reasons like lack of interpersonal ability and questionable commitment. Additionally, it is difficult for outside institutions to verify that a degree obtained online is from an accredited school.

Some universities have created unique and innovative programs that blend distance learning and classroom residencies, and widespread acceptance of online degrees may not be far off. However, a student of an online university should be prepared to explain why the traditional setting was not an option, and universities should stop marketing their online degrees as "easy and convenient"--do they think employers don't see those ads too?

In the meantime, if your resume lists a job and a degree in different states simultaneously, consider building your reason for choosing the online program into your cover letters. If you can demonstrate in interviews and internships that your interpersonal skills and commitment are on par with other students, you should be alright.

Answer 4

Generally speaking an online degree is the same as a traditional degree. However, the lack of real contact with real students, class participation, group work, etc, makes it a little less prestigious as the traditional one. The online diploma is usually for people that are already in the work force and are looking to pump up their career or people that are too busy with family and want to finish school or join the work force. If I have to recommend someone I would tell them to go for the traditional one. I think you get more from your money.

Answer 5

Not all online college degrees are worthless, some take as long to complete as regular ones. They are however, still thought to be inferior as the dedication of regularly attending classes isn't there.

Answer 6

Okay so I 100% agree with Jess B.

I am also doing a long distance program through a large, reputable university and it is no piece of cake. Working more than full time, moving, church activities and responsibilities and more take up enough time already and throwing in classes that I am virtually doing on my own can really be very daunting. I would like to compare it to regular college attendance but I can not. I do work hard, live alone and support myself while doing that all in an extremely expensive state. I am just at the beginning. Go figure....

Now as for the University of Phoenix.... I have always thought it was a scam also. Imagine my surprise when I visited my parents in Phoenix, Arizona this past April. It was my last day there and we were early for the airport. We stopped at a McDonalds for an early lunch. We're sitting there trying to keep my mom from crying when I look to my left and choke on a french fry. There was a huge, brown (as everything in Arizona seems to be) building with a huge "University of Phoenix: Online" sign on the front of it.
I had a lot to spout at my parents. They didn't give a care less but I wanted to go in none the less. Sadly, I could not as FAA security members were waiting to see through everything I stupidly brought in my carry on. And seriously, God forbid you don't put the tiniest pocket size lotion in one of the little baggies. Man, they yell at you. As if the plastic bag makes it secure and non explosive. Or some crap like that. But that's okay. The girl in front of me stupidly bought a huge bottle of Perrier sparkling mineral water that had never been opened. She never got to taste it seeing as they threw it out.
So the lesson of the story is don't take your own bottles of water on to airplanes. Just pay $5 for their mini bottles once you get past security.

I mean....

An online education from a reputable school is every bit as valuable and worth while as a degree obtained going to the college and dealing with people you'd rather never meet.

Answer 7

Most people who look at achieving education via the internet as "incredible" are people who are ignorant plainly.

I attended college the normal way for 2 years. Then I left, got married and went back to school online. I graduated SUMMACUM LAUDE with a Bachelors of Science (Psychology) degree from a large well-known University's online program, which required the same classes as if I attended on campus. However, I did it from home because it was more conducive to my lifestyle (military family). I worked full time managing a retail store and moved twice to different states in the 15 months that I took 72 credits to finish my Bachelors.

Online schooling takes a lot of dedication and time. In most cases, it's HARDER than being in a classroom (I know from experience). You have to be self-motivated and disciplined. You have access still to the University's libraries, advisors, professors, etc.

If you graduate from an accredited school, no one can say your education isn't up to par because it was via the internet.

Hey, I just got accepted to grad school at Old Dominion University in a very competitive program for Mental Health Counseling... My having attended online college never has held me back in the workplace or other educational realms.

In my experience, employers look at my dedication to achieving education on my own time as a positive... so don't even worry about it. You don't have to divulge that your education was obtained online. Does it really matter? No... your transcript is all they'll be interested in.

ROCK ON! :-)

Answer 8

People don't really know about education, especially those who didn't go to college. It's that simple.

That's a good school, though, so who cares what people say?

The people you need to worry about are the graduate school admissions offices, and THEY know about accrediation and accept online degrees. Do not worry about smoke, or about people who didn't go to college.

Answer 9

People who have issues with online degrees are almost always people who have no degree at all. It's easier for them to put down the accomplishments of others than it is for them to go out and meet challenges of their own. As long as your school is reputable, and YOU know you've done the work to earn your degree, stop worrying about what other people think. Their opinions and accompanying ignorance are really quite insignificant.

Answer 10

944