Are Online Degrees Accepted?
A common question of students considering an online degree is whether the degree will be accepted as readily as a campus-based traditional degree. The answer is "yes", as long as the online institution is accredited and you have chosen the right online major. But it's also important to consider how an online degree from a distance educaion program will measure up against those earned at traditional brick-and-mortar programs.
Some encouraging data can be found in a recent survey conducted by vault.com, an employment research company.
According to survey results from 107 employers who represent a variety of industries:
- 85% felt that online degrees are more acceptable today than they were five years ago and 91% said they would hire qualified job candidates with online degrees.
- 34% said they had encountered a job applicant with an online degree and
- 20% said they have hired applicants with online degrees.
- 54% of employers said they still favor job applicants with traditional degrees
but 86% said they consider online degrees as acceptable.
Complete results of the survey can be found here.
While human resource departments have become more comfortable with online degrees, there will always be recruiters who have reservations about non-traditional degrees. If questions about your online degree come up in an interview, you can point to valuable skills and experiences that make an online degree more valuable than a traditional one. Some examples include:
- Familiarity with web-based technology. Distance education programs often require you to conduct research via the internet, participate in online discussions, send and open e-mails with a variety of different attachments, download and install programs, and troubleshoot technical difficulties. All of which are critical skills in today’s workplace.
- Self-discipline. If you pursue an online degree you will often work without supervision. Therefore, completing an online degree requires you to build your time management skills and a lot of self discipline. These are traits that employers like.
- Strong written communication skills. Online degrees require a lot of interaction with peers and professors through e-mail or online discussions. Completing online coursework will result in a high degree of writing proficiency, increasing your employability.
If you are considering an online degree, call a few potential employers in your field and ask the human resource department what the organization’s policy is regarding the hiring of employees with online degrees.
