Article on how employers view online degrees

Hi

I have been doing some more searching online about different degrees and came across this article. That thought I would pass it on and see what you think.

Diana

Should I Tell Employers I Earned My Degree Online? | GetEducated.com
Should I Tell Employers I Earned My Degree Online?
Expert Advice > Careers
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst | January 28, 2010
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Question:

I’m worried about employer acceptance of my online degree. I just completed my bachelors online and am ready to send out my resume. Should I use my cover letter to reveal to potential employers that I earned my degree online?

—Holly, Nashville, TN

Answer:

These days, taking college or post-secondary courses online is not an oddity. In 2010, more than 85 percent of traditional residential colleges will offer college courses online or through distance learning.

Online education is no longer the future. It’s right now.

As a result, there is no need to reveal in a cover letter or resume that you “earned your degree online.” Details about why you chose any particular type of school—such as a private school versus a public school or a Christian college versus a secular college—are best left to discussion during an actual interview.


Even then, you’ll only want to discuss the issue of online education if asked.

We say "if asked" because GetEducated.com’s studies show that most employers are not overly concerned about how a degree was earned. They are, however, very concerned about overall school reputation and educational quality.

In the end, the name of your college and the type of degree you have earned is going to be much more important to your employer than the method by which you earned your degree—online or on campus.

Keep in mind that two kinds of colleges issue online degrees: those that are online-only (such as the University of Phoenix) and those with campuses that also offer distance learning programs (such as the University of Massachusetts).

Expect to encounter no stigma if the college you attended is already known to your employer and respected by your employer for the quality of its graduates. For most people, this means attending an online degree program offered by a college with a long and respected tradition of educating students via a local residential campus.

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Which online college programs are most likely to suffer from employer suspicion or stigma?

GetEducated.com has researched employer perception of online university degrees for more than two decades. We’ve found two specific instances where you are most likely to encounter questions about your online education during a job interview. If your degree was earned under either of these two circumstances you should arrive at your interview prepared to discuss online education.

• Your college is 300 miles or more from where you live.

If the college you attended online is located more than 300 miles outside the immediate area where you live or work, your future employer may wonder how you could have attended.

Example: Your job history shows you've lived and worked in Los Angeles for the last 15 years, yet your resume says you earned your bachelors in business from the University of Illinois last year.

On the other hand, if the online degree program you attended has a regular campus within 300 miles of your home or work area, chances are excellent that your employer will already have formed a solid impression of your school. This established brand impression will override any concerns your employer might have about how your degree was earned.

• Your college doesn’t have a campus.

If you earn a degree from a school that lacks a campus or from a school that is perceived as being “online only” by employers. GetEducated.com’s research shows that online-only schools are often perceived as “less rigorous” than universities that offer both campus-based and online degrees.

Our surveys over the last twenty years have found that some employers may harbor strong bias against online-only colleges.

What should you do if your school is online-only?

If a potential employer questions your online education credential:

• Stress the positive work traits that you have already demonstrated by your success in online education. These positive work traits include:


> superior time management
> self-motivation
> advanced online collaboration skills
> advanced computer literacy
> the ability to learn independently.


Studies show that online education is harder than residential learning because it requires more discipline, personal motivation and perseverance.

• Point out that a recent study by the U.S. Department of Education found that online education at the collegiate level is as good or better than traditional on-campus learning.

Most people are shocked to learn this fact, but the supporting data is readily available online.

• The future of work is increasingly online. Stress to your potential employer that as a result of your high-tech, virtual educational experience, you stand well-equipped to help the company excel in today’s high-tech, virtual work world.


© 2010, GetEducated.com, LLC

 

This is all very good information. Most of that is pretty common knowledge around here, but it doesn't hurt to supply it again to those who may be new to DL.

I have been in the business world for many years and I have rarely ran into anyone who would not honor an online degree. Here are the major exceptions:

1. The banking industry, I have recently learned, is often not favorable towards online degrees.
2. Traditional colleges and universities will not hire someone to teach with an online degree, although there are a few talented and experienced individuals who have managed to land tenure track university positions with such a degree. There are not many though. Some community colleges are not as prejudiced against online degrees.
3. Many of the extremely high-tech firms that require scientists or high level-engineers are not interested in online degrees, unless the individual with the degree has considerable experience.

Other than that, with a few exceptions here and there, you should probably have little problem. The biggest problem right now is the fact that the job market is terrible and there are more and more degree holders, online and traditional, out there competing for the same jobs.

 

The article has a glaring error:

Keep in mind that two kinds of colleges issue online degrees: those that are online-only (such as the University of Phoenix) and those with campuses that also offer distance learning programs (such as the University of Massachusetts).

UoP has campuses in Phoenix and satelite campuses in quite a few cities including the city where I used to work (and where several co-workers obtained degrees) and in the city where I live (students enroll there to obtain degrees that are not available unless one can commute for 1-1/2 to two hours each way several nights a week).

 

Yes, I should have mentioned that. Not all online schools are created equal. Some are great, some are poor and some are fraudulent.

 

I would go even further and say that there is no such thing as an "online degree".

Many students complete their coursework in "classrooms" such as:
Closed circuit television
Internet connections
Satellite communications
Correspondence
Weekend Intensives
Live online lectures
Live TV lectures
telephone conference calls
group projects
Off campus satellite locations.
Not to mention all the challenge courses offered by DANTES, CLEP, TECEP and ECE.

For some reason, people label non traditional education as an "online degree". This has got to stop! Distant learning comes in many ways and the degree isn't retrieved online!

 

Good point.

 

Sorry, but anyone that uses the term "online degree" displays their ignorance!

It is a college degree earned through "distant learning" or "non traditional" means but none the less, a college degree. Ironically, many "traditional schools" integrate the use of the technologies mentioned above to teach "traditional classroom" courses.

 

I am studying this topic and have been asked to investigate compliance issues as they relate to the education market in general.

My initial opinion would be that there is no more need to discuss online as the degree medium than there would be to worry because most of your on-ground courses were lecture hall verse instructor led, verse teaching assistant led, verse CLEP, or verse whatever.

 

I use the term "online degree" and I don't consider myself ignorant. It's really just a shortened way of saying "degree that was earned by attending online classes".

However, I get your point; it's not an online degree, it's a normal degree that was earned online. Online degree sounds like something you would buy from China for $50.

 

Perhaps ignorance is a strong word? Enlightening others about the true nature of a "non traditional" or "DL" college degree would be more appropriate.

 

That's exactly right, online is a "medium" for course delivery. Using the label "online degree" is a misnomer.