Will My Online Degree Be Accepted?
When it comes to online degrees, acceptance is in the eye of the beholder.
But here's some evidence of the tide turning in favor of online degrees -- according to a recent Excelsior College/Zogby International online survey of more than 1,500 executives nationwide, the more business leaders know about online degree programs, the more likely they are to find them credible.
And those who are well-informed outnumber those who are in the dark: 61 percent of the CEOs and small business owners surveyed said they are familiar with online programs. Of those in the know, more than four in five (83 percent) strongly believe that a degree earned via an online program is as credible as one earned through a traditional campus-based program.
This finding is significant for dedicated online students who need assurance that their degree will have value in the working world. Of course, not just any online degree will do.
When assessing whether they would view an online degree as credible, business leaders cited consideration of factors such as a school's accreditation, the quality of its graduates, and the name of the institution awarding the degree. Only 5 percent of those surveyed cited whether the school was fully online or was part of a traditional campus-based program as a consideration.
In other words, online students hoping to hedge their bets would do well to enroll in an accredited, nationally recognized institution. And don't stop there. Get in touch with alumni of the program to find out how they have fared in the workplace. Online students can also do some digging at their current or prospective employer to uncover the credentials coveted by top execs.
Ultimately, though, your degree -- whether online or traditional -- is only part of the picture. When it comes to hiring decisions, only 1 percent of the business leaders surveyed said they give more weight to educational background over work experience. Fifty percent said they give more weight to a candidate's work experience, and 46 percent said they consider work experience and education equally in their hiring decisions.
How do you know if your online degree will be accepted? Take a proactive position by getting your questions answered from the start, then carry your credentials proudly. The numbers are in your favor.
But here's some evidence of the tide turning in favor of online degrees -- according to a recent Excelsior College/Zogby International online survey of more than 1,500 executives nationwide, the more business leaders know about online degree programs, the more likely they are to find them credible.
And those who are well-informed outnumber those who are in the dark: 61 percent of the CEOs and small business owners surveyed said they are familiar with online programs. Of those in the know, more than four in five (83 percent) strongly believe that a degree earned via an online program is as credible as one earned through a traditional campus-based program.
This finding is significant for dedicated online students who need assurance that their degree will have value in the working world. Of course, not just any online degree will do.
When assessing whether they would view an online degree as credible, business leaders cited consideration of factors such as a school's accreditation, the quality of its graduates, and the name of the institution awarding the degree. Only 5 percent of those surveyed cited whether the school was fully online or was part of a traditional campus-based program as a consideration.
In other words, online students hoping to hedge their bets would do well to enroll in an accredited, nationally recognized institution. And don't stop there. Get in touch with alumni of the program to find out how they have fared in the workplace. Online students can also do some digging at their current or prospective employer to uncover the credentials coveted by top execs.
Ultimately, though, your degree -- whether online or traditional -- is only part of the picture. When it comes to hiring decisions, only 1 percent of the business leaders surveyed said they give more weight to educational background over work experience. Fifty percent said they give more weight to a candidate's work experience, and 46 percent said they consider work experience and education equally in their hiring decisions.
How do you know if your online degree will be accepted? Take a proactive position by getting your questions answered from the start, then carry your credentials proudly. The numbers are in your favor.
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