Are there any companies accepting on-line degrees from Penn Foster or University of Phoenix for example??

Question

I live in NYC. Never finished college but I work & raise 2 kids & I want my degree. I enrolled in an online correspondence school since going to school at night & weekends is impossible. My husband gets home after 9pm. Is it even worth it? My friend who is in HR said when resumes come in with any degree from ANY online school she's told to toss them. That's just 1 company's policy but am I wasting my time?? I have over 16 years experience as an Office Administrator & have worked at Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers & other big name firms but now want the degree to back it up. Is it the norm for companies to not accept these accreditted degrees? I come home help the kids with hw, make dinner, get them ready for bed, iron their uniforms then stay up until 11:30pm or later studying and doing the exams online and wonder if this is a waste of my time and money. I was so happy I was making this step & my friend saying that has stressed me out. Anyone out there know???

Answer 1

Many companies are dead set against U of Phoenix, Penn Foster, Devry and other degrees that are seen as of lesser quality. These three schools, specifically, are sort of lightening rods on this issue. Many employers do take one look at, say, a U of P degree, and into the bin it goes.

Not all employers, mind you, but enough that it was good of your friend to warn you. I'd rather you know this now, than AFTER you'd gotten the degree.

In general, employers prefer that you attend a program in person. However, as in your case, that's not always possible for a student to do. So in those cases, I recommend that you attend an online school that's attached to a reputable, brick and mortar university. In addition, you can put a bit of "smoke and mirrors" on it - make it less obvious that it was done online - if you do an online program from a school that's within somewhat of a driving distance of where you live. It's not that you'd lie about it or anything, but you'd simply list the degree on your resume - no need to write "online" or anything like that. If they ask, you tell. Otherwise, pfft...

So, in your area quite specifically, you may want to check out the online programs that are available at:

- Rensselaer Polytechnic University
- Brooklyn Polytechnic
- The New School*
- New York Institute of Tech
- Adelphi University*
- Bloomfield College (NJ)
- Marist College*
- New Jersey Institute of Tech
- New York University
- Pace University*
- Thomas Edison State College (NJ)*
- Fairleigh Dickinson U (NJ)*
- University of Bridgeport (CT)
- University of Connecticut

You have some choices to make now. In no way is the work you've done so far worthless, but you may want to consider transferring to a more reputable college. Those I've listed, above, are all reputable, and worth looking into. Some may accept U of P transfer credits. In all cases, none of the ones on the list elicit that "trash that resume" response that U of P can with some employers.

For you, I suspect the program at the New School may be one that would be a fit, so I'll link to it, below. I've starred (*) the others that I really think you should look at, in terms of fit. The others may be worth looking at, too, if you're interested.

I hope this works out. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

If I see a University of Phoenix "degree" on a resume, I gleefully throw it over my shoulder into the trash bin.

"Work experience" is not a college degree.

Answer 3

Don't spend money on a degree, get a high quality writing certificate online, at the undergraduate level, first.