What do employers think of online college degrees?

Question

Thinking of getting a degree in Business from a online college

Answer 1

They are likely to take the person's resume and throw it away.

Most online universities are for profit schools that have no admission standards and offer courses that are not considered as rigorous as most colleges. While many claim to be accredited -- most have the easy-to-get regional accreditation and lack the more respected National Accerditation.

In addition, online degrees are more expensive than reputable state schools.

Answer 2

Taranto wrote "most have the easy-to-get regional accreditation and lack the more respected National Accerditation."

Taranto is dead wrong here regarding accreditation and it's that sort of suggestion that causes people problems and wasted money. This isn't a hard concept to understand, regional accreditation is higher than national accreditation. SACS (the regional agency that accredits Duke University for example) is higher than DETC (the national agency that accredits PCDI and Ashworth for example). A regionally accredited school (such as every state university in the country and all of the Ivies like Harvard and Yale and about every legitimate college you know of) will not accept credit from a nationally accredited school in almost all circumstances. Regional accreditation is the standard you want your school to have. It's just that simple.

We have to stop telling people wrong accreditation information - if you don't understand accreditation in the US then don't answer the questions. This has the potential to cost someone tens-of-thousands of dollars. Why is this so hard to grasp? RA is higher than NA - repeat after me. Regional accreditation is better.

Many of the low reputation online schools are indeed regionally accredited - some writers on this forum have not done their homework or are simply ignorant.

Academic research of the past two years shows that employers think of degrees not by delivery method of online vs traditional (just about all degrees now have some component online, some more than others) but instead based upon the reputation of the school that awarded the degree. The diploma and transcripts rarely say "online" on them. What the employer cares about is whether you know anything, not how you learned it.

Some schools (online or traditional) have a stellar reputation and some have a poor reputation. If you complete your degree online through a school with a good reputation (Univ. Mass., Florida State, UCal., etc...) then it will generally be accepted much better than if you complete it at a school with a reputation for "you can get your degree online in less than 3 years easily....."

The schools that advertise heavily on TV as being an easy shortcut have damaged their own reputations, there is no easy way to a quality education - it takes study and work and time. That's all that makes it valuable in the marketplace. The diploma has no value, the education that the diploma represents has value (or not).

Make sure that the school you are considering is regionally accredited and that it is the best school you can get into. (the same applies to going to traditional classes).

Be prepared that online courses at a quality school are harder than those in the classroom. Online courses are about a lot of writing and text reading on your own. You will take fewer multiple guess tests and write more papers for grades online.

Most colleges and universities now have online programs of some sort. The number of new programs increases every day. This is the way education is going to go and people who say it's not are just being blind like the people who said 'nobody will shop online' not that many years ago. Even Harvard U. is in the online classroom now. Some people seem to be resisting the change without good reason just as there are still some people who are afraid of doing business on the internet. Let them resist - it's their loss.

You have to do the coursework at a college with a good reputation if you want your degree to have a good reputation. You can't pick the easy way unless you want employers to know you prefer the easy way, and that's not a worker attribute most employers like.

add: the misinformation just abounds.

Most online programs are not for profit - most online programs are through a state run public university. Most online programs you see on TV are for profit, but that's different than most programs. State schools don't do infomercials.

The government in the US doesn't accredit schools. The US Dept of Education (not the state) recognizes agencies that accredit schools but they don't review the schools themselves.

There are six agencies in the US called regional accreditors that are the highest level of accreditation in the US. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an example. There are also specialized agencies called National Accreditors that recognize some schools and are recognized by the DoE. But, the RA people think the NA people aren't as good as they are and won't accept credit in transfer. Many of the NA schools won't even take credit from each other. Regional accreditation is what you want. Say that 100 times, it's a fact.

All online programs don't cost more than all traditional programs. The ones with TV commercials cost too much in most cases. The best price usually comes from your in-state college system. For example if you live in Florida then look at UF and FSU - they both have online degree programs.

You do indeed miss some interaction online that you get in the classroom but they are social and not educational interactions. Sitting in a lecture hall with 100 other students while a grad assistant delivers a lecture is not student:professor interaction. Engaging in a 3 hour debate in a chat room with a professor and classmates IS a student:professor interaction. The interaction argument is a straw man debate.

Answer 3

I would only caution you to be very careful during the selection process. I've found online schools to be more expensive than traditional schools. Also, from an education view, I do think you're missing out in some ways taking only online courses. It would be best if you could take a mix from both settings. Also, make sure the school is officially accredited or else you'll be taking worthless coursework. Call someone at your state department of education before proceeding.

Answer 4

While CoachT's points are well taken, I would add that for a degree in Business, if you have a choice, try to go to a college that is not only regionally accredited, but also accredited by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Schools that are both regionally and AACSB accredited are recognized as having the highest academic standards.

Answer 5

Coach T Knows!

"We have to stop telling people wrong accreditation information - if you don't understand accreditation in the US then don't answer the questions. This has the potential to cost someone tens-of-thousands of dollars. Why is this so hard to grasp? RA is higher than NA - repeat after me. Regional accreditation is better."

Many people like Taranto are confused by accreditation, so in addition to the above advice, do alot of independent research before deciding. Try the Dept. of Ed or CHEA websites for background.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Do you have any previous outside experience?

With online degrees you miss out on a lot of intereaction with profs and other students. They will probably look down on it less if you have previous outside experience that is useful.

edit: Please note that most online universities are 'for profit'.

Answer 8

I'm going to do the same in journalism. If it's a company that is recognised by the government as an educational institution or something it should be allright.

Answer 9

I was wondering the same thing myself today