Will an Online Degree Get You the Job?
Online degrees have come a long way since their inception. According to the Sloan Consortium's (Sloan-C) 2007 report "Online Nation: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning," enrollment rates at online schools have increased at an annual rate of 9.7 percent, compared to an overall rate of 1.5 percent for all colleges combined. Almost 3.5 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2006 term. But will all these students find a market for their degrees?
Sloan-C says they will. As reported in its latest study, academic leaders do not believe that there is a lack of acceptance of online degrees by potential employers. And, in an Eduventures survey of 500 human resource professionals, 62 percent of employers believed an online degree was equivalent to or better than a traditional degree.
Accreditation: The equalizing factor
The fact is, the same accrediting bodies evaluate all schools to determine if they provide high-quality education. And, according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the evaluation process is conducted the same way for every institution. In other words, if an online school is accredited, and that accrediting body is recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education, you know that it has met a high level of education standards -- just like its brick-and-mortar counterparts.
Consider the audience
Nonetheless, there are some industries that lend themselves to more widespread acceptance of online degrees than others. The computer industry, for one, is highly amenable to online degrees, since technology is a key aspect of the virtual classroom experience. Many sectors of the health care industry revolve around technology as well, and offer plenty of opportunities for professionals with online education. Regardless of which industry you choose, however, online education has proven value in the working world.
Defending your degree
When it comes down to it, colleges and universities rarely indicate whether a degree was earned online or on campus. You earned a degree, period. If you do encounter any recruiter reluctance concerning your online degree, try to get to the source of the discomfort. Did you earn your degree from a fully online school rather than an online branch of a well-known, established college? If so, explain why you chose that institution, outlining the circumstances in your life that mandated the flexibility afforded by a completely virtual institution. Educate employers on the merits of your online degree program, whether they be a thriving online community, a custom-fit career preparation program, or anything in between.
After all, the quality of the education you receive is much more important than the way you receive it. Bring employers' attention back to the content of your degree program, not the format of its delivery. And get ready to get that job!
Sloan-C says they will. As reported in its latest study, academic leaders do not believe that there is a lack of acceptance of online degrees by potential employers. And, in an Eduventures survey of 500 human resource professionals, 62 percent of employers believed an online degree was equivalent to or better than a traditional degree.
Accreditation: The equalizing factor
The fact is, the same accrediting bodies evaluate all schools to determine if they provide high-quality education. And, according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the evaluation process is conducted the same way for every institution. In other words, if an online school is accredited, and that accrediting body is recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education, you know that it has met a high level of education standards -- just like its brick-and-mortar counterparts.
Consider the audience
Nonetheless, there are some industries that lend themselves to more widespread acceptance of online degrees than others. The computer industry, for one, is highly amenable to online degrees, since technology is a key aspect of the virtual classroom experience. Many sectors of the health care industry revolve around technology as well, and offer plenty of opportunities for professionals with online education. Regardless of which industry you choose, however, online education has proven value in the working world.
Defending your degree
When it comes down to it, colleges and universities rarely indicate whether a degree was earned online or on campus. You earned a degree, period. If you do encounter any recruiter reluctance concerning your online degree, try to get to the source of the discomfort. Did you earn your degree from a fully online school rather than an online branch of a well-known, established college? If so, explain why you chose that institution, outlining the circumstances in your life that mandated the flexibility afforded by a completely virtual institution. Educate employers on the merits of your online degree program, whether they be a thriving online community, a custom-fit career preparation program, or anything in between.
After all, the quality of the education you receive is much more important than the way you receive it. Bring employers' attention back to the content of your degree program, not the format of its delivery. And get ready to get that job!
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