Even though online degrees have become quite popular recently, more and more people are getting skeptical about the efficacy of online degrees. I can tell you why!
One of the major reasons why people shy away from earning online degrees is because they fear they won’t gain the kind of accolades a traditional course would bring. Likewise, they don’t want to spend valuable resources, like time and money, on an online program that’ll offer little benefit after graduation.
It’s true that the thought of earning an online degree makes a lot of people nervous, but it’s also true that in almost all cases these fears are unfounded. “How credible are online degrees?” you may ask. Well, this article will shed light on how rewarding online courses can be, especially if you choose to make the most of the opportunities presented to you. Let’s get this started!
Whether you’re a person who’s seeking a career change or a student who’s new to the job market, it’s in your best interest to consider how potential employers will view you with an online degree. Let’s go more in-depth!
First off, you should know that there are plenty of online degrees out there that are respected by employers, and these are the degrees you should aim for attaining. Some of the most respected degrees are offered by not only online colleges but properly accredited colleges as well. Regional accreditations are also viewed favorably by the vast majority of employers.
One might think that a school’s accreditation is all that matters to employers, but such is not the case. In fact, employers dig deeper to see how long your course was (a short course typically isn’t viewed favorably), what the fee structure of the program was, and, of course, whether or not you were present in class to complete coursework. Even if you’re like me—a student who would pay someone to do my online class—you should always try to stay on top of your coursework.
Lastly, employers are more concerned with whether or not you earned the degree than they are with which platform you used to earn it. If you wish to land a six-figure job, you should be striving to achieve a respectable and credible degree, one which employers will recognize immediately.
The mental picture most associate with online courses is a person all alone at 3 a.m. trying to suck up as much information as possible. Also, when compared to traditional courses, online courses often seem as though the fun has been taken out, to the point where all that’s left is pure misery, boring books, and videos that seem to go on forever. If you’re asking someone in this situation how they view their online course, you shouldn’t be surprised when you get a less-than-stellar response.
With more and more respectable institutions now offering online degrees, and with the acceptability of these degrees now going off the charts, it must gladden your heart, if you’re an online student, to know that you’ve got a whole community behind you. Would you like more proof? Here are some statistics to consider:
According to a report published by the U.S. Education Department’s National Center for Education, the total number of students enrolled in a post-secondary traditional degree program dropped by 90,000 students between fall 2016 and fall 2017. Meanwhile, the number of students that took some of their courses online grew by more than 350,000 students, a cool 5.7% sprout. Also, as the number of students who mixed online courses with traditional courses grew to 17.6%, the total percentage of students who took exclusively online courses was set at 15.4%.
If you look at the statistics, it’s plain to see that the credibility of online courses is growing by the day. And with this being the case, you may consider throwing caution to the wind and registering for a course spontaneously.
You should, however, keep this golden rule in mind: if you want to make the most out of the money you spend earning an online degree, you have to work hard and take advantage of all opportunities. Earn a degree that employers respect and value, for this will help you gain a lot of credibility in their eyes.
