A keyword phrase that garners quite a bit of traffic in the search engines is "are online degrees worth it?". There is little wonder why that is the case.
We have so much technology available to us today that the explosion of virtual campuses and external degree programs has made a college education much more attainable than it was twenty years ago.
With the almost daily introduction of new internet devices it's no wonder that people of all ages are curious about furthering their education right from the palm of their hand.
But with the ease of delivery and the increasing number of respected universities offering these degrees there are logical questions that need to be answered.
First of all, are these online degrees credible? Do they gain the respect of the employer who interviews a prospective job candidate with a virtual degree on their resume?
Twenty years ago the answer was probably no. But times have changed and they have changed radically. Today an online degree is viewed on a par with a traditional campus degree. These degrees are credible because they come from very respectable and prestigious institutions and they can even pass the muster as far as regional accreditation goes too.
When legit schools like Ohio University, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Arizona State, Grantham, Walden, SUNY and hundreds more are found on the sheepskin then credibility is not an issue.
Second, are the skills learned in these programs transferable to the workplace? I think the answer to this question depends on the chosen degree and the work in which you are currently employed. Virtual degree program offerings mirror their campus rivals. A degree in business, engineering, criminal justice and hundreds of other choices translate to the work force as smoothly as campus based degrees. It should also be kept in mind that many times those folks who pursue degrees online are older adults who already pretty much know what they want to be when they grow up. Thus, these students are more likely to pick programs of study that mesh well with their career objectives.
One of the exciting breakthroughs of these non traditional approaches has been the granting of credit for "life experience". Arizona State University advertises that they have over 100 online degree programs and they make a big point of telling prospective students that their life experience may translate into credits toward their degree. ASU is not alone in this practice as literally hundreds of other schools are doing the same.
Another aspect of the off campus approach is the fact that a degree can be completed much quicker because a student can set their own pace and schedule. This is particularly appealing to older students
As virtual programs become more sophisticated and as technology presses education into new horizons it will become even more apparent that online degrees are indeed "worth it"..
