Getting hired w/ an online degree

View the entire University System of Maryland here: USM Institutions - USM

 

It beats University of Phoenix or Drexel,etc.

Im not sure how employers view online colleges on a resume. 2 years ago I would have said University of Phoenix is a waste of 30k but I have a buddy that works for the state that was able to use that degree to move up to management. So from that aspect maybe its worth it and thats why Im looking at online grad school. And the thing is alot of reputable schools are into distance learning now at a cheaper price. I would think that should shut down all the U of Phx types soon enough.

 

The landscape is changing. Enough people are leaving school with DL diplomas earned online that HR is starting to take notice. Add in the efforts of many of these schools to get noticed (e.g. WGU, heavy advertising of online programs from state B&Ms) and people are starting to perk up. It won't be 100% acceptance for a while, but it won't be that long before we get to 100% either. How long ago were people dissing online dating? Now hardly anyone blinks an eye at it-- it will be the same soon with DL diplomas from reputable schools.

It also helps that there are plenty of studies to back the value of distance learning, including online. As it turns out, most studies of DL diplomas earned online indicate that the online learners outperform their "butt-in-seat" counterparts. I won't beat the idea to death here, but I think it might be becoming obvious that anyone who takes initiative to learn, research and grow on their own terms/their own time might be pretty competitive folks.

As far of U of P types disappearing. . . don't count on that happening soon. You'll see some vanish, but you'll also see some get their acts together (and maybe even innovate!) while others will try to out-litigate/out-lobby more legitimate counterparts. The next 5-10 years should be pretty interesting on that account, among other DL fronts.

 

I don't think you should worry too much about UMUC hurting your chances of getting a job. I got a sales position in a Fortune 100 company, #1 in it's industry with a TESC degree...Liberal Arts degree, in fact LOL. I think the degree in itself is just a check mark for most companies along with your work experience to see who they will give an interview to. So being confident, articulate and composed during an interview is key, I think.

I think wanting to graduate from a more well known school is just more of a vanity thing. I know I am guilty of that too sometimes.

 

I would be curious to see these studies and who conducted them. I would be hard pressed to find anyone in H.R. that would be more impressed with an online degree than a campus degree.

 

I wouldn't discount the power of a name school on the resume completely just yet. People are still people, and you will find that they rub shoulders and share opinions about such thngs-- not to mention sometimes read or hear nasty generalisms (e.g. a line in "Glee" about online diplomas I heard about?).

Looking at LinkedIn will give you an idea-- in some fields, a name college is still preferred. Yes, you're starting to see Ashford and U of P people pop in some high posts, but look at CIOs in Southern California. Most of those folks are from state schools or extremely prestigious private schools. Some of those guys will have to retire before this changes-- not that it's a bad thing, but hiring trends have been what they've been. (I'm sure some wiseacre would say it'll change in about 1.5 years as that's how long most CIOs last, but that's another issue.)

Besides, TESC is a state school. Don't knock the name-- you've done well in many folks eyes just by the name alone.

 

I spoke to one HR person that said she is. She said it is about the "package" and someone that worked fulltime while taking online classes is more impressive then a person that went to "XX StateU" or something because their parents told them had to. She was more interested in the motivation and thought proces involved in the choice.

 

I hear you. I'm in LA and USC is not a school, it's a way of life. In this city if you have a SC or UCLA degree I'm sure it will open more doors for you, just from networking alone. But the OP is wondering if he or she can get hired with an online degree, and in most cases I would say yes. Of course, there will always be that hiring manager from Hell that will discriminate against a person's educational background because the interviewee didn't attend the "it" school. From my experience, I've worked with guys that graduated from USC, UCLA, ASU,University of Wisconsin, UC Berkeley, and etc. And we all worked for a manager that graduated Cal State and had an MBA from UOP (on campus). I'm not endorsing UOP by any means but you will find successful people who graduate from these programs.

 

Drexel is a highly ranked private university in Philadelphia with an excellent (though expensive) DL program. The name Drexel is also unfortunately similar to DeVry, which I think is probably the school you had in mind.

 

Balios beat me to the punch. I agree: Drexel's a really good school, just expensive. Don't lump them in with UOP, or even UMUC.

 

As a newbie, and potential doctoral student, you have calmed my fears as well. I am looking at NCU Organizational Leadership DBA. I'd like to PM more questions if possible...