Earning an Online Degree; A good idea, or not?
How do online degree programs stack up against traditional college degrees? It's both a commonly asked and good question.
Research, so far, has been inconclusive. All that seems certain is that some students learn more in a traditional, classroom-based degree program, while others do better online.
Therefore, it is difficult to make sweeping generalities about whether an online or traditional college education will be of higher quality or will be received with greater acceptance. A better idea for folks considering their options would be to consider their individual situations and goals. But, the one constant is that students should consider only fully accredited colleges and universities.
In choosing a degree program...any degree program...it is important to be clear about your goals. Are you primarily interested in personal development or do you hope to pursue a new career or move forward in a current one? Is it important to accelerate the rate at which you earn a degree or can you move forward at a more leisurely pace? Do you seek licensure or certification, and if so, what is required and by what agencies or organizations? In addition to institutional accreditation, is professional accreditation an issue? Only after these and related questions are answered can you begin to determine which institutions and degree programs make sense for you.
Convenience, especially for working adults, tends to be a primary consideration. Of course, if you will have trouble finding time to commute to a college in your area, or if family and/or other responsibilities make it difficult for you to attend classes offered at fixed times, an online degree may be your only option. And, because online degree programs are designed to accommodate adults, they often are more willing to allow credit for life experience, shortening your "time to degree".
Most students also have to consider finances. Years ago, that consideration favored traditional degree programs, because few colleges offered aid to their online students. Today, however, most colleges and university award financial aid to qualified students, and some offer academic scholarships as well.
Certainly online degree programs offer convenience, and many offer tuition payment plans, tuition rates and financial aid which make them affordable...in some cases, even cheap. And, it is not hard to find people in many professions who have enhanced their career options by earning online degrees. The tough question to answer is how well online degree programs are accepted by employers. Again, as with one of the questions posed earlier, generalizations may not be instructive.
My advice is that you contact people in your field...by phone, letter, or email...especially folks in the organization in which you work or the organizations where you might wish to work in the future, and ask how they regard online degrees. If you have an online degree and are up against another candidate for a job, would you be at a disadvantage? How about when you are competing for promotions? Ask the questions. And, ask some questions when speaking with admissions representatives of the colleges you are considering to find out how their graduates have fared after earning degrees. Does your profession or future job require licensure? If so, find out if the program in which you are interested qualifies you for licensure and how well graduates have done on licensure examinations.
Don't forget to consider your learning style, academic skill levels, and motivation when deciding if enrolling in an online degree program would be a good step for you. A great way to be sure is to take a single course online before seeing if online education is your best choice.
Daniel Z. Kane has worked at schools and colleges for 30+ years. He has created nearly a dozen educational websites on online college degrees and online colleges to assist students, counselors, and parents.
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