Do you know anyone (or have you) who has graduated from an online college? Are online degrees taken seriously?
I’m in the military, so I can’t go to a college campus, unless I want to deal with transferring credits as I move from station to station. I hear it’s a huge nightmare and I could end up doing work for nothing if credits don’t transfer.
I know a lot of parents and military etc. do college online, but I’ve also read that some online degrees aren’t as valuable as campus degrees, and that totally makes sense, but I don’t really have a choice I guess. Are there online colleges that have better reputations than others? Do you have any stories from people that have already graduated from an online college?
I keep reading things from people that haven’t graduated yet, but I want to hear from people that have graduated and how their job outlook is (I’m aware of the economy lol). Thank you.
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I have SEVERAL friends and colleagues who’ve earned their under grad and graduate degrees. It’s been a pretty consistent experience; you
must have disclipline. All enjoyed the flexibilty and online interactions.
It is recognized, some have gotten promoted due to obtaining the degree; I think it’s great to obtain the degree!
My brother got his MBA online (though not his BS – that was at a “real” school). His company gave him a raise and promotion, so I guess they took the online MBA seriously.
My son has his Associate Degree from an online college. he is now working on his Master Degree. To date, my son has been The Speaker of The House in a northwestern state and four years as the west coast head of Homeland Security. i would say his online degrees have been very beneficial for him.
I’m attending Kaplan online. I’ll have a BS in Communications about a year from now, as I take two classes per semester. If you have the opportunity, avail yourself of it. It’s pretty great.
I do not think employers view online degrees as favorably as degrees from traditional, in-person universities.
Generally the school’s accreditation will determine if a degree is accepted. You are correct that online degrees are not as valuable as campus degrees unless the program was part of a reputable traditional university.
@TLRobinson I work for hiring managers, have reviewed employment applications with them and this came up many times.
@TLRobinson If I have two applicants with the same degree, one from an online only school and one from the University of Florida, or any other traditional university, with everything else being equal, I will hire the UF graduate. The college experience is life enriching and helps people reach their personal potential. You miss a lot of that with distance or online learning. If the online school is not accredited the applicant’s degree would carry no weight whatsoever.
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