| This article looks at the current level of acceptance | | | | accredited online degrees, others merely provide a |
| of online degrees by employers, and advises | | | | poor substitute for more traditional study programs. |
| prospective students on comparing those available | | | | Studies reveal that three-quarters of employers' |
| from the traditional institutions with those from the | | | | today view online degrees gained from established |
| newer providers who offer only online degrees. | | | | universities as being more valuable than those from |
| There are a wide range of benefits to be gained | | | | universities that cater only for online degrees. |
| from undertaking online degrees. Because of this, the | | | | Whether or not it is fair for them to make such |
| number of students enrolling in courses leading to | | | | sweeping judgements is debatable but is |
| online degrees has risen tremendously since the | | | | nevertheless a fact that has to be faced. Whether |
| mid-1990s. The make-up of the student groups is as | | | | we care for it or not, employers are far more likely |
| diverse and varied as for any site-based degree | | | | to know the name of an existing, traditional learning |
| program you could wish to name. | | | | institute than that of a new learning institute |
| Considering the traditional learning institutions, over | | | | established to provide only for online degrees. |
| two-thirds of them now offer online degrees, at | | | | The good news is that employers' recognition of |
| either bachelor or master's level. So, how do | | | | online degrees obtained from the newer learning |
| employers' view those who have gained online | | | | institutes is increasing as the profiles of these learning |
| degrees, whether at a graduate or a post-graduate | | | | centers - and the online degrees they offer - rises. |
| level? And which type of institution is best suited to | | | | Further evidence of this fact can be seen in the |
| provide your qualification? | | | | number of companies who are now offering their |
| Realistically, the fundamental response to these | | | | employees incentive schemes to undertake |
| questions is actually rather simple: in order to ensure | | | | post-graduate online degrees. This may take the |
| that prospective employers take their online degrees | | | | form of paying for their tuition fees and providing |
| seriously, those looking to enrol in them do need to | | | | time-off for study, in much the same manner as has |
| carefully research their chosen field of study, and the | | | | previously been provided for more traditional types |
| institutions offering them, before starting on the | | | | of post-graduate programs. |
| lengthy (and, in some cases, costly) process of | | | | The best news of all is that a recent survey shows |
| completing online degrees. | | | | 85% of employers saying that they would be willing |
| Sadly, this preliminary step of researching the | | | | to employ someone with an online degree. With this |
| institutions offering online degrees needs to be done | | | | high level of acceptance the way is clear to making |
| because, though some of them do offer valuable | | | | an online degree your next move. |