Growing Acceptance Among Employers

One of the biggest concerns surrounding online degrees has been employer perception. Historically, some hiring managers questioned whether online programs offered the same rigor and outcomes as traditional campus-based education. However, because so many online colleges have turned out successful graduates, and because many highly selective colleges and universities now offer coursework and entire degree programs online, this stigma has largely faded. Today, even Harvard University and Stanford offer completely online degree programs in a variety of disciplines as well as a wide range of specialty certificate programs.

• Employer recognition: Surveys show that over 80% of employers view online degrees from accredited universities as fully equal to traditional programs. In fact, many companies now pay for the tuition and fees of employees enrolling in select programs.
• Credibility shift: According to the Online Learning Consortium, 83% of employers now consider online degrees credible.
• Skill emphasis: Employers increasingly value the transferable skills online learners develop, such as self-discipline, adaptability, and time management.

This shift reflects the broader acceptance of online education and digital learning in the workplace, where remote collaboration and online training have become standard.

Flexibility and Accessibility

The primary appeal of online degrees lies in their flexibility. For working professionals, parents, or those with geographic limitations, online programs provide opportunities that traditional education cannot.

• Convenience: Students can study at their own pace, often balancing coursework with full-time jobs or family responsibilities.
• Cost savings: Online programs frequently reduce or eliminate expenses related to housing, commuting, and campus fees.
• Global reach: Learners can access programs from prestigious institutions worldwide without relocating. In fact, the University of London established the first external degree program in 1858 for just that reason and the University of Chicago followed before the turn of the century.

This accessibility makes higher education attainable for populations who might otherwise be excluded.

Quality Matters

Not all online degrees are created equal. The value of an online credential depends heavily on the institution and program chosen.

• Accreditation: Degrees from regionally accredited colleges and universities carry the most weight. Accreditation ensures that the program meets at least basic, traditional   academic standards.
• Reputation: Employers are more likely to respect degrees from well-known institutions with established online programs.
• Field of study: Some disciplines like computer science, business, healthcare administration, education, and the liberal arts translate well to online formats, other areas of study require hands-on training, making them at least somewhat more problematic. However, surprising as it may be, today you can even earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in seemingly unlikely subjects like engineering, chemistry, biology, and nursing.

Choosing a financially stable, reputable institution is critical to ensuring that the degree you earn holds long-term value.

Career Outcomes

Online degrees can open doors to career advancement, but their impact varies by industry.

• High-demand fields: Online degrees in areas such as information technology, business administration, and education are particularly valuable now because they align with current workforce needs. That could change in the future, but it’s not hard to track which fields need more workers and which specific skills are most needed by making a few simple Internet searches. In addition, the Department of Labor, among others, has an excellent record of predicting future hiring trends.
• Professional growth: Many students pursue online degrees to qualify for promotions or career changes. Employers often reward the initiative and persistence required to complete such programs and some will even offer employees financial support.
• Networking opportunities: While online learning may lack the traditional campus experience, many programs now integrate virtual networking, internships, and alumni connections.

Ultimately, the value of a degree is measured not only by the credential itself, but by how well graduates leverage it throughout the course of their careers.

Challenges and Misconceptions

Despite their many advantages, online degrees are not without challenges.

• Self-motivation required: Success in online learning demands good organizational skills and self-discipline.
• Limited hands-on experience: Some fields may require in-person labs or practicums that online programs cannot fully replicate. If you plan to study in one of those fields, you might consider some number of classes on-campus.
• Persistent myths: Some people still assume online degrees are “easier” or less rigorous, although evidence shows otherwise.

Students should be prepared to counter these misconceptions by demonstrating the skills and knowledge their degree programs provided them with.

The Future of Online Education

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning, normalizing it across industries and institutions. As technology advances, online education will likely become even more immersive, incorporating tools like virtual reality, AI-driven tutoring, and interactive simulations.

With these innovations, the line between online and traditional education will continue to blur, further enhancing the credibility of online degrees.

Conclusion

So, are online degrees valuable? The evidence says yes. When earned from accredited, reputable institutions, online degrees are respected by employers, provide flexibility for diverse learners, and foster critical workplace skills. Their ultimate value depends on the program’s quality and the student’s ability to apply what they’ve learned in real-world contexts.

For many, online degrees are not just valuable; they are transformative, offering access to education and career opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach. If you want to maximize your career potential, it will serve you well to investigate your online college options at college-scholarships.com or one of the many similar sites.

The post Are Online Degrees Valuable? first appeared on ONLINE COLLEGES, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND DEGREE PROGRAMS.]]> https://www.college-scholarships.com/study-groups-for-online-college-students/ Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:43:12 +0000 https://www.college-scholarships.com/?p=2590 Everyone knows about study groups. They exist in high schools, undergraduate colleges and universities, and in professional and graduate schools around the world. In some places, students together with educators create and organize study groups. Lots of students and former students swear by study groups, crediting them for fueling their academic success. Educators too believe in their Read more…

There are more online colleges every day, or so it seems.  Therefore, here’s a helpful guide to our five favorite online colleges.

1. Purdue University Global

You can’t go wrong with the online version of an academically-sound Big 10 University.  Not only are the online programs of PUG tailored for adults, but one great unique feature of Purdue is that provides one-on-one mentoring, which is so crucial in the online environment.

The college is structured around three main tracks, the Open College, which allows students to transfer previous credits; the ExcelTrack courses, which allow swift students to graduate more quickly; and the traditional interactive classroom path.

Programs: 175, including Aviation, Criminal Justice, Communication, Business, and Fire Science

Tuition: For undergrad programs, $371/credit hour; for IN residents, $280

Niche: Purdue Global offers online students to forge an experience somewhat similar to that of campus students with its 25 student organizations.  The institution is flexible with its plans and gives military discounts.

2. Colorado State University Global Campus

One of the great things about CSU’s online education is how forward-looking it is.  Many of their programs are in specific, finely-tailored fields that can be put to use in the current world.  This is a great school for folks who want to apply a degree to a career with a future.

Programs: Computer Science, Healthcare Administration and Management, Interdisciplinary Professional Studies; certifications in Data Management and Analysis, Cybersecurity, and more

Tuition: $350/credit hour/$8,400 annual

Niche: SCUG is a not-for-profit university; accordingly, its tuition is lower than analogous online institutions, and when one considers that it consistently ranks in the top 10 national by the major rankers, this affordability is all the more impressive.

3. University of Florida Online

Though you may know UF as a brick-and-mortar school, its online programs are highly developed, well-known, and great for continuing learners.  The online degree learners earn are the same as those achieved on campus; online students have access to an accomplished faculty.

The instruction is both synchronous and asynchronous, and the school emphasizes that they strive not to compromise the rigor of in-person programs.

Programs: more than 100 programs, and 25 majors, including Anthropology, Criminology, Business Administration, Advertising, Health Education, Geology

Tuition: $129.18/credit hour

Niche: University of Florida flourishes by applying its resources as an institution of higher learning that has operated since 1853 to online instruction.  They offer a nice hybrid of older-school, established liberal arts education and flexible digital learning.  They value education as personal enrichment in addition to career credential, offering quite a few Humanities and Social Science programs hard to find online.

4. Strayer University

Strayer merged with Capella Education in 1996, and the resulting mega-college operates under the name Strayer.  What started as a business school in 1892 has now become one of the heavyweights in online learning.

Students receive a laptop with Microsoft software upon enrolling, and for every three classes they complete, they get access to a free one.

Programs: Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s.  Bachelor’s programs are Accounting, Applied Science in Management, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Information Technology.

Tuition: See the calculator.  Many discounts are available, including one for military personnel

Niche: Strayer has a somewhat unique distinction among online colleges, in that it has a large minority population.  According to the most recent government data, 58% of Strayer students are African-American, and 81% non-white. The school offers mainly programs that translate into career advancement.

5. Western Governors University

Formed in Utah in 1995, this private institution uses a unique and rare competency-based model of instruction.  It takes into account a student’s current knowledge and allows them to progress as soon as they’ve shown mastery of material, as opposed to the traditional semester/quarter model.

Programs: IT degrees such as Cloud Computing, Software Development, and Cybersecurity and Information Assurance; Health and Nursing degrees such as R.N., and Health Information Management; and business degrees such as Marketing and Accounting, and a full range of Education degrees.

Tuition: Bachelor’s: $6,670/year

Niche: Not only does WGU implement their competency-based model, but they pride themselves on the fact that 42% of their recent students completed their degrees without going into debt.  This unique institution seems to truly care about its students.

In its infancy, the world of online colleges and online degree programs was like the old U.S. wild west. Initially, only a few, mostly highly suspicious, “online colleges” popped up. Most had no campus; some operated out of a single office, and others were nothing more than degree mills with P.O. boxes where scammers exchanged worthless degrees and fraudulent transcripts in exchange for hefty sums. Their “catalogues” generally contained little or no academic information. Instead, they were packed with essentially dishonest, self-promoting advertising copy and a short list of “professors”, many of whom had degrees from the institution itself or similarly fraudulent entities. Often, operators of these degree mills owned and promoted several, and the cleverest among them created their own bogus accrediting agencies. In some states, particularly those in which there was limited consumer protection legislation and equally little regulatory interest in institutions which claimed to be schools or colleges, these fraudsters raked in millions of dollars and remained untouched by the authorities. In worst case scenarios, degree mills could claim “licensure” in a few states after going through the same process, and paying the same fees, as any other business entity.

After years of ignoring the fraudsters, the more progressive states tightened up their regulatory legislation and enforcement, but in some conservative states there remained strong resistance against any regulation, especially regulation against the institutions which claimed religious affiliation. Not surprisingly, some of the bogus institutions incorporated to protect their owners against personal liability. A few established themselves as (usually religious-affiliated) non-profits and claimed exemption from taxes. Not surprisingly, many online college degree mills popped up in the states with the least regulation, and established degree mills “moved” to them.

Eventually, the FBI stepped in, there were inquiries and hearings, and some of the most egregious degree mill operators were fined and/or imprisoned. At the same time, and for many subsequent years, holders of the bogus degrees they bought were exposed, with many losing their jobs and a few suffering relatively small criminal penalties.      Soon, most of the bad guys were sidelined and legitimate educators and institutions established control of the industry. While a few predatory, for-profit institutions remained, (and a few still do) they became the exception, and online education gained the acceptance it merited.

The Growth of Online Education

With that greater acceptance, and genuine accreditation, came growth.

Then, several years before the COVID pandemic, when online student growth exploded, online college programs experienced dramatic increases in enrollment, and a university offering mostly online degrees (University of Phoenix) became the largest private university in the United States. Just twenty years ago, many organizations were reluctant to seriously consider hiring men and women who had earned online degrees or certificate programs. Now, it is extremely hard to find an organization of significant size, a business, government agency, school, or college which does not include employees who have earned at least one educational or professional credential online. In fact, many such people are in positions of leadership.

It is the success of so many people who studied online that initially elevated the worth of online degrees and professional credentials. And, as perceptions of online and other distance education delivery systems improved, the major accreditation agencies…those approved by the United States Department of Education…began to accredit many more institutions and degree programs. With full accreditation, students studying online became eligible for veteran’s benefits and federal financial aid programs. Obviously, the ability to obtain grants and loans greatly increased the number of people…especially working adults…who could access higher education while meeting their professional and family responsibilities.

At that point, the for-profit institutions that had dominated online education could not adequately serve the entire market, and many well-established public and private institutions, including many that had questioned the rigor and value of online education, realized that their resources could allow them to serve many more students, and generate tremendous revenue via online programs. At the other end of the higher education pecking order, several relatively anonymous small colleges, especially those located in rural areas, literally saved themselves from extinction by adding online career-oriented programs in business, computer science and other high demand areas.

Today, almost every college and university in the United States, from community colleges to Ivy League schools, offer online degree programs of some kind, making it possible for students to earn degrees up to and including PhD’s, EdD’s, and JD’s with little or no time in a traditional classroom.

Online Colleges Today

Here is where we are today; online courses and degree programs are widely (though not universally) respected, nearly every major program of study can be completed online (or with very-limited time on campus), and financial aid…grants and loans…are available to most students. Yes, students may have to take out loans, but flexible online scheduling allows them to work and earn while they learn.

In fact, many employers will finance the educations of those they employ, especially if they select coursework that will create or enhance a skillset valued by the employer. In some instances, companies will fully pay an employee’s tuition, fees, and textbooks for as long as he or she is employed by them. There are many happy stories about workers who influenced their organizations to create tuition assistance programs which became a win-win for all.

Equally encouraging are the tales of people who received raises and/or promotions immediately upon beginning online educational programs. And, happily, it is extremely common to hear of people who are awarded significant promotions and increases in income soon after their degree is conferred. Others, even older workers, have been able to enter entirely new professions after completion of their online studies.

Now that we have delved into a bit of the history and evolution of online colleges/universities and taken a quick look at what an online degree can do for someone, let us consider finances. As noted earlier, students in pursuit of an online degree at any level may qualify for federal financial aid including grants and loans, some of which may be subsidized by the government to ensure lower than normal interest rates. In addition to those offerings are scholarships, sometimes referred to as gift aid because they need not ever be repaid. To get more details about Online Colleges visit: https://www.college-scholarships.com/colleges/online-colleges/

Scholarships and Financial Aid for Online Study

Although online colleges and universities, for obvious reasons, do not award athletic scholarships, dance team scholarships, band scholarships, journalism scholarships, etc. to their students, many do offer a variety of scholarships, like those at residential colleges, that are designed at least in part to try to be competitively priced in what is a highly competitive market. A competitive higher education market, by the way, can be a student’s best friend. First, competition forces colleges and universities of every kind to invest in their programs, from academic offerings and student support services to faculty compensation packages and job placement services (an increasingly high focus area for both prospective students and accreditors). Competition may also help hold down tuition and make admissions requirements less stringent. We will talk about admissions in a moment, but first let us further explore scholarships.

In this discussion, the word “scholarship” will mean only funds awarded to a student by the institution in which he/she is enrolled or an organization other than state or federal government. In several surveys over the years, it has been determined that most people overestimate the cost of college and underestimate the availability of scholarships and financial aid. Before ruling out an online degree program, confirm the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other necessities, and determine what scholarships (and need-based aid) might be available to you. A quick and easy way to do that is to use the “Quick Degree Finder” tool at the top right of virtually every page on this website.

Our Quick Degree Finder Can be a Big Help

In fewer than 5 minutes the “Quick Degree Finder” will match you to colleges and programs meeting your needs and enable you to request information from them in a single click of your mouse. There is no upper limit on the number of colleges from which you can request information, but we recommend you contact three to five initially.

Learning More: Finding the Information you Need

Once you hear from the colleges from which you requested information, it is likely that costs and scholarship/financial aid will be presented to you clearly. If not, or if you have further questions, respond to your admissions counselor…by email, telephone, or messenger…with your questions. Do not be shy; it is the job of your admissions adviser to answer questions, help you navigate the admissions and financial aid processes, and make certain you overcome any obstacles to enrolling in the online degree program of your choice. Your admissions advisor, however, is far from your only source of scholarship and financial aid information. If you look at the index in the right margin of this page, you will find a link to approximately 70 free scholarship search websites. Once there you can choose to visit as many of the sites as you wish. Although a few sites share data bases, most build and maintain their own, so try searching at least a few different sites if you want to maximize your chances to come away with a list of scholarships for which you can be competitive (or even some for which you automatically qualify). If you are asked to write and submit an essay or a “brag sheet”, be sure to save it. For the most part, submitting something you have used to compete for a scholarship elsewhere is allowed, and it is often faster and easier to adapt something you have already created than to start from scratch. Be aware that many scholarship search engines support themselves by selling your information, so if you do not want to be contacted by military recruiters, folks who sell class rings, agencies which offer college tours, stores which rent or sell clothing for formal events, agencies which provide student health insurance packages, or those who offer SAT prep courses or textbook rentals, you might want to create and use a new email address.

Even if you have not been in a high school for years, it would be a mistake to overlook the possibility that your local school counselors, especially those who specialize in college and financial assistance, might help you track down scholarships you would be unlikely to discover on your own. In fact, many school guidance offices maintain a list of so-called “local” scholarships…scholarships awarded by local businesses and organizations to local students. Remember, it takes almost no time to find the phone numbers and/or email addresses of counselors on the websites of their high schools, so you can quickly and easily reach out to counselors…much like earning an online degree… without leaving home.

Finally, make sure you spend time looking for “affinity” scholarships, scholarships for which you may qualify as a function of you or someone in your (mostly) immediate family being affiliated with a company or group of some kind. In some cases, scholarships are available to everyone in the group, in others you would compete only with those in the group, greatly increasing your chances of winning. Probably the best approach is to make a list of the groups to which you, your immediate family members or your grandparents belong and visit their websites looking for scholarships. Finally, try a few searches, like “scholarships for accounting majors”, “scholarships for children of veterans killed in action”, or other groups which include you.

Admissions: Easier and Quicker than you Think

Now, as promised, let us talk about admissions. Much as there is a lot of erroneous information out there about the cost of online degree programs and the difficulty of college-level work online, there is a good deal of misinformation about admission. Many colleges and universities welcome every applicant with a high school diploma or GED with open arms, without regard to their secondary level academic achievement, grades, coursework, or standardized test scores. In fact, even at the graduate degree level, standardized test scores are almost never required. Bottom line: you can pretty much totally forget about standardized testing unless you choose to sit for (as you should) CLEP (College Life Experience Program) exams to “test out” of courses for which your experience may earn you equivalent college credit. Generally, colleges will limit the number of courses for which you can earn CLEP credit to a maximum of five or six, but there is some variability in that number, so consider that in selecting your college and your major field of study. Although most colleges will charge a fee of some kind to accept CLEP credits, that fee is generally far lower than tuition costs. In other words, your life experience can save you both substantial time and money. The same is true of prior undergraduate college coursework. Not all colleges and universities have the same transfer acceptance policy, but most will accept the equivalent of up to three years of fulltime study in which a student has earned a grade of at least a “C”.  In addition, many colleges require no additional general education courses from undergraduate degree seekers who have earned a two-year degree. In general, graduate programs will accept up to twelve graduate credits.

Earlier, we recommended that you use our “Quick Degree Finder” to request information from 3-5 online schools. However, once you receive that information, review it carefully (taking notes as you go), and speak with admissions counselors, you need apply only to your first-choice college, as there is little chance you will be denied admission. If you are not admitted, or if you are unhappy with the financial aid, CLEP hours, or transfer credit you are awarded, you can always move on and apply to your next choice. However, if you want to compare multiple offers before making a final college selection, you can apply to several institutions. There is no reason not to do so except for the time and effort required to fill out multiple applications and send in supporting documents. Many online programs, by the way, will gladly waive application fees, so money should never be a deterrent to you applying to a degree program of possible interest to you.

After you Get Admitted: What Comes Next?

The day you receive your letter or email of acceptance, you will get the answer to the question most prospective students have asked themselves, often more than once: Am I really prepared to do this?

In fact, that sometimes nagging, often-difficult question will be answered easily and definitively. By then, you will know exactly what will be expected of you to successfully complete your program and how badly you want your degree. If you are jumping with joy, just go for it.

Conversely, if your feet feel cemented to the floor…if you have serious reservations about your preparation or commitment, it is probably not a good time for you to begin a new degree program online or otherwise. You can always revisit your decision.