Are Online Degrees Worth The Cost?

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.

Interestingly, some studies indicate that students learn more in online study, and other studies conclude that the opposite is true.

Thus, it seems likely that broad generalizations about the quality or perceived value of online degree programs will not be useful to people considering them. What might prove more valuable is an analysis of their individual situation, with particular emphasis on their educational and/or vocational goals. Of course, students should always limit their choices to fully accredited institutions, whether they plan to pursue a degree online or attend a traditional college or university.

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.

For most people, finances are a major factor in choosing a college or university, online or otherwise. Initially, few online degree programs were able to offer significant need based financial aid or loans, and even fewer offered scholarships. Today, however, many students in distance education program receive financial aid, including loans and scholarships.

There is no question that online degree programs offer optimal convenience, and most now also offer tuition installment programs, grants, loans and tuition costs which make them within the reach of the vast majority of working adults. And, in almost every career and profession, you can find people who have moved up the ladder after completing an online degree program. Are online degrees well regarded by employers? That's the million dollar question.

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.

Finally, when determining whether or not an online degree is a good choice for you, you would be well served to consider your learning style, preferences, academic skills, and your ability to self-motivate. If you have serious concerns, you may want to attempt a single online course or an online educational certificate program before deciding to pursue a full fledged degree program.