Theres little doubt that distance learning and online degrees have captured the imagination of many adults looking for a better education and bigger paycheck. Flexible class schedules and the ability to earn an entire degree online without ever setting foot in an actual classroom make the online learning experience very attractive for students. But do employers share the enthusiasm of students for the online degree path?
The answer to this question is driven in part by the realities of the education marketplace. In one sense, employers have little choice in the matter because of the sheer popularity of distance learning. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), for example, more than 54% of the countrys post-secondary institutions now offer online courses or degrees. Estimates by the NCES for 2006 put the number of online degree seekers as high as 6 million students. Data from 2004 - the latest available at the time of this writing - put enrollment at the University of Phoenix Online, the nations leading online university, at more than 115,000 students.
Given the popularity of distance learning and online degree programs, its hard to see how employers can ignore online degree holders in their search for new employees. However, all degrees are not created equal according to an oft-cited study by the online career information website, Vault.com. By more than 3-to-1, employers tended to find online degrees from conventional brick-and-mortar universities more credible. When it comes time to hire, online graduates can expect to meet with at least some resistance from human resource managers looking for on-campus grads from a big name school.
Fortunately, name recognition and on-campus attendance isnt the whole story. According to more recent studies of hiring practices, human resource departments now appear to think more highly of accredited online degrees, putting them roughly on par with traditional brick-and-mortar degrees. The key to the attitude shift seems to be accreditation, a voluntary review process in which universities are evaluated by one of a half dozen regional accrediting agencies. All colleges and universities that win accreditation meet the same uniform standards that define a quality education and a respected degree program. A database of accredited colleges and universities is available from the U.S. Secretary of Education at www.ed.gov.
For many employers, the issue of an online degree isnt an issue at all. A case in point is the existing employee eager to improve his or her career qualifications. Employers frequently provide the financial incentive for such employees because an online degree can make the employee more valuable to the company. At the University of Phoenix Online, for example, fifty-nine percent of students receive all or part of their online tuition from their employer.
No segment of the education landscape is expected to grow faster than online learning for at least the foreseeable future. Online learners can best ensure acceptance of their degrees by employers if they carefully check the accreditation of the college or university they plan to attend.
