What will it take to get an online college degree?
Students that seek an online college degree typically do the same work as their more traditional offline peers. Schools that offer shortcuts and substantial 'life credit' should be disregarded as they are probably not truly accredited colleges. In addition to the schoolwork, an online degree requires students that are:
- Self-motivated. Online college degree students have higher drop-out rates than traditional students. Students pursuing online college degrees need to motivate themselves to work independently and on their own.
- Willing to ask for help. Since students rarely have a personal relationship with their professors, they need to be comfortable asking for help when they need it.
- Comfortable using a computer. Nearly all the work that you will do from completing assignments to taking tests, to working with other students will require you to be online.
How do employers regard online college degrees?
Employers have traditionally viewed online college degrees with suspicion. This is changing as the lines between online and offline college degrees become blurred. Many universities make no distinction between degrees granted to online students and degrees granted to offline students.
The prevalence of diploma mills continues to degrade employer's opinions of online college degrees. However, many nationally recognized online universities such as the University of Phoenix (19,000 students currently enrolled) are changing how employers consider online college degrees and acceptance of online college degrees is certainly rising.
You should look for an online degree program that:
- is accredited
- has a nationally recognized name; or
- has an offline degree program (and no distinction is made between the online and offline degrees)