Online Degrees; How do they stack up?

As the number of colleges and universities offering online degrees continues to increase, and as more and more people enroll in online degree programs, questions are raised about the value of degrees earned via online education and the acceptance of such degrees as compared to those earned through traditional classroom study.

It is possible to point to research indicating that students earn equally well in online and in classroom-based instruction, there is research indicating that traditional programs result in better learning outcomes, and there is data which suggests that online learners take more away from their experience than students in traditional campus-based programs.

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.

The process of choosing your best educational options should always begin with questions. What are youir personal goals? Career goals? How strong is your commitment? How much time do you have to devote to your education? Will your goals require licensure or certification of any kind? As you answer these questions, your options will become clearer.

Of course, for most working adults interested in continuing their educations, convenience is a critical factor. For folks who don't have time to commute to and from a campus and/or folks with responsibilities which make it tough to attend fixed time classes, an online degree program may be the only viable option. And, in some instances, colleges offering online education may be more willing to grant credit for prior experience, shortening the time it might take to earn a degree.

Financial considerations, for most of us, are also pretty important. At one point, colleges and universities were far more willing to offer financial aid and scholarships to traditional students than to their peers in online or distance education programs. Today, almost every college and university offers financial aid to students who qualify under current regulations.

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.

You might best answer the question by contacting folks in your profession, especially those who are in charge of hiring and promoting, and ask them if an online degree would serve you well. Ask if they have found qualitative differences between students who have sat in a classroom and those who have availed themselves of online education. And, when speaking with admissions counselors at the institutions you are considering, ask them for placement information. While you're at it, be sure your admissions counselor addresses any licensure or certification concerns you may have.

It's important to factor in your level of motivation, your learning style, and your academic strengths and weaknesses when making your final decision about pursuing a degree online or on-campus. It might be smart to take a single course online to see how well suited you are to distance education before making a final decision.

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 and educators.
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