Very often we are asked if online degree programs are of the same quality as their traditional on-campus counterparts.  In past years the perception has been that online distance learning was not at the same level as campus classroom situations.  This is simply not the case.  Not only are online degree programs a good choice, they are widely accepted by employers, these days.

Online education is a proven model for learning, with a lengthy track record. It enables accredited higher learning for individuals living with physical disabilities, busy working class people, soldiers and those living abroad, and stay at home parents to mention a few. There is fundamentally little difference between physically sitting in an auditorium listening to lectures versus watching a webcast video of the professor.

The recognition of the quality of online degrees compared to on-campus degrees varies. While most major online colleges are regionally accredited, the public perception of their quality is in dispute. Some experts argue that degrees in certain fields are more accepted online than in others, while some programs are less suited for online-only schools.^[1]

A survey by the Distance Education and Training Council found that 100 percent of employers who responded felt that distance education program graduates performed better on the job as a result of their degree (as compared to their previous performance). Additionally, employers felt that an employee receiving a distance education degree compared favorably, in terms of knowledge learned, to someone with a resident degree.^[2] On the other hand, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported in January 2007 on a Vault Inc. survey that found 55 percent of employers preferred traditional degrees over online ones. 41%, however, said they would give "equal consideration to both types of degrees."^[3]

The Sloan Consortium, an organization funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to maintain and improve the quality of distance education, publishes regular reports on the state of distance education in the U.S. In its 2006 report "Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006," it stated that "in 2003, 57 percent of academic leaders rated the learning outcomes in online education as the same or superior to those in face-to-face. That number is now 62 percent, a small but noteworthy increase."^[4]

In some instances, an online degree may be no different than a degree earned in a campus-based program. The instruction is often exactly the same, and the online degree contains no special designation. An example of this is the degree offered to Columbia University students who earn a degree through the Columbia Video Network (CVN) versus the campus-based program.^[5]

References:

1. ↑ New York Times, "Degrees of Acceptance"
2. ↑ http://www.detc.org/downloads/UsingYour%20DE%20to%20Earn%20Degree.pdf
3. ↑ Chronicle of Higher Education, "Employers Often Distrust Online Degrees"
4. ↑ Sloan Consortium
5. ↑ About Business Majors

^{source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_degrees}

Do you dread getting out of bed to go to work? When Sunday evening comes does your stomach start churning because you know you have to go to work the next morning? Do you have trouble sleeping because you dislike your job so much? So many of us stay in dead end jobs because we just can’t see a way out.

Sometimes we become so stressed and depressed by our current situation that we just feel helpless to find a way out. We make excuses that it is too difficult to apply for new jobs because we can’t take time off from the current one, and so on. Another reason that many of us get stuck in dead end jobs is because we don’t have the education or skills to move on. It’s amazing what having that college degree in your hand will do for your self-confidence, and the ease with which you can get good job interviews.

These days, with so many great, accredited online degree and online career diploma options, there are no more excuses. You can earn a university degree in your own time and move on to a better career. Whether you need to increase your credentials and skills to move forward with your current employer, or if you want to start an entirely different career, you can do it. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Determine what you really love to do, and research the options available. Do you like working with children? Then a child development or education program may be good for you. Are you interested in law and the legal system? If so, there are excellent paralegal and criminal justice degree programs available through online distance learning.
2. Take a realistic look at your responsibilities and obligations. How much time can you devote to earning an online degree? This will help you choose the program that is right for you. Depending on the subject, you may be able to earn a degree through an accelerated program, or you may only need a career diploma which may be earned in a much shorter period of time.
3. What method of study is best for your learning habits? Some programs offer videos and podcasts that are just like being in a regular classroom setting. Other programs are based on books and reading, feeding the information to yourself. Research the programs carefully to choose the one that is best for your particular learning style.

Don’t stay in a dead end job! Get the credentials and skill set that you need now to move forward in your current career, or to start down the road to an entirely new career.