If you've been doing any research at all about online degrees, I'm sure you've come across the unavoidable conversation about whether or not an online degree will be viewed as valuable by a prospective employer than a degree you earned by commuting to a school every day.
It seems that everywhere you look, this topic is raised for discussion. In the past, most people had the impression that schools offering online degrees were shady, at best...and they had a point. However, as time has gone by, and more and more respectable colleges and universities are offering degree and certificate programs online, the consensus is quickly changing.
If the issue comes up in front of a perspective employer, use it as an opportunity to make yourself shine!
Some of the most respected and long-lived colleges and universities are now offering degree programs online. Harvard, Yale, Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins and Boston College are just a few of the hundreds of top-quality schools now offering online classes and/or degree programs.
The American economy is weak right now, and jobs are few and far between. Many times having only experience - without a degree - isn't going to cut it. The job market is very challenging and most employers are opting for education over experience, possibly because they can pay someone right out of college less of a salary than someone with years of experience. So those who are skilled may not necessarily fill the available jobs.
This is where the problem appears. In today's quick-paced world, there is not a lot of time for people who are trying to make ends meet to stop what they're doing and get to a class. Most of us are working, or searching for work, we have children to take care of, and we have housework and other tasks that need to be taken care of. When does anyone have the time to stop in the middle of the day and add classroom time into the mix?
The answer, sadly, is that education usually takes a "back seat" to the other obligatory things we need to do just to get through our busy lives. But even if you are busy throughout the day, there is usually time during the evenings and weekends that you could spend studying or attending a lecture. Too bad they don't offer classes at 10pm or on Sundays.
Well, thanks to the amazing learning management systems available online today, and the dedication to education from hundreds of colleges and universities across the country, now you can attend a respectable online class from a reputable school whenever you have the free time. If you opt for an online degree program, scheduled classes can be a thing of the past. You just need to make sure you keep yourself on track, disciplined and motivated so that you complete the course prior to the deadline.
But this brings us back to the original questions - Is an online degree any less worthy than a degree earned by attending classroom lectures? Do employers view degrees earned online less valuable?
While most employers will never even know that your degree was earned online, those that do will most likely know your situation and commend you for earning a degree - online or not - while bearing your particular circumstances. More and more employers are realizing that balancing a workload and earning a degree online demonstrates a huge amount of dedication, structure, the ability to work independently and a high degree of motivation and self-discipline - all things employers are looking for today.
In odd instances, when the issue comes up at all, you may find an employer who is naive when it comes to online education. After all, there was a pretty bad reputation for online schools not too long ago. Unfortunately, some employers are not aware that things have changed dramatically over the last couple of years. If you happen to run into this employer, be ready to explain why your degree is just as valuable as someone who attended the school in person. Chances are that they will ask. Also, have a short article written that you can present with your resume if necessary.
If you are looking for a reputable school to earn an online degree from, there's no better source of research than the U.S. News and World Report. Visit our online University Directory today and browse the collection of ranked colleges and universities, education news, college tips and career information.
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