The idea is not new, in the UK the Open University has been engaged in distance learning for many years.

The question is, what are these degrees worth.

There is constant discussion as to whether degrees taken at the ‘new’ Universities are as valuable as those taken at ‘ancient’ Universities, but there is little discussion regarding the online options available to Students.

The kind of people that online degrees appeal to are those with parental or work commitments that prohibit them from attending University full time (the same people wh have used the Open University for decades).

Many Universities now offer part time courses, which would be my preferred option, allowing flexibility regarding attendance times whilst still encompassing an element of face to face contact and assessment. In the US where online degrees are more popular

Universities offering part time courses seem to distance themselves from ‘distance learning’ due to concerns regarding assessment. It is not clear to me whether this is because there are genuine issues around assessment of distance learning courses, or whether these Universities are playing on their advantage over 100% distance / online providers (that being facilities and infrastructure).

Certainly it is not in the interests of existing Universities to compete with providers of distance leaning.

So where does this leave prospective part time students? Unfortunately most information is specific to the Us, but here are some snippets I have found referring to the value of onlin degrees

Is a clicks-and-mortar degree the same as a degree from a bricks-and-mortar school? It depends on whom you ask. The American Federation of Teachers said “no” at its July 2000 convention, passing a resolution that, while acknowledging distance learning’s “great potential,” called for all undergraduate-degree programs to have some face-to-face coursework. Meanwhile, the six regional U.S. organizations that accredit American colleges and universities are developing guidelines for evaluating distance-education schools and programs that differ from traditional higher-education accrediting standards.

Another comment read:

Potential employers wanted to know I had been able to hold a full-time job in one state while going to school in another. When I explained that the courses were online, I was met with befuddlement. “I got the feeling that they didn not understand the concept,”

This is not encouraging!

I think that in the UK, for the moment the only organisation worthy of consideration is the Open University, though I think their courses are overpriced, at least they are a widely recognised / known organisation.

The Open University themselves claim:

The OU is very popular with employers. They know that OU students:

• Get the most up-to-date knowledge
• Continue working while they study, and apply what they learn immediately
• Prove they have the skills and determination to succeed

Whilst I would not expect them to say anything else, I do think they are telling the truth.

I know that the Open University are working on new I.T. solutions that will allow them to put more resources online for students, so in the UK at least it is possible to take a worthwhile degree online.

Students in other countries will have to be far more careful when selecting an online degree.

The key consideration when taking a distance degree should always be the reputation of the institution awarding the degree:

I would advise finding a University that offers distance learning in the following manner:

1) Start with state / official Universities you know are genuine:

Approach Universities directly and ask if any of the following options are available:

• Part time study
• Distance learning
• Flexible leaning

Tell them your curcumstances and see what they suggest.

If they do not offer distance degrees / distance learning directly, ask if they can recommend a reliable source of information regarding online study.

2) Find out if there is a state sponsored / official organisation specifically offering offering distance learning (as opposed to state funded bricks and mortar Universities that may also offer distance degree’s).

In the UK there is what is known as the Open University. This is widely recognised, and you can be sure that you will get what you pay for.

3) If you cannot find a suitable organisation using the above methods then you will have to resort to using the internet.

Using the internet to find an online degree is very dangerous, there are a lot of fake Universities and Fake degrees being marketted online.

You need to be very careful, you need to make sure that the University is genuine and offering accredited degree’s that will be recognised by employers.

This is difficult if you are taking a course offered in another country.

Again, look for ‘known’ Universities that have been established a number of years and have some form of reputation.

Never believe what you read on a website, seek advice elsewhere, use a variety of different sources, contact the distance University directly and cross check everything you are being told.

The distance qualification:

Once you have shortlisted potential organisations offering distance degree’s, you will need to ensure the qualification is suitable.

For this you should obtain a copy of the prospectus from the distance University you plan to attend.

To help ascertain whether a degree course is suitable for you, or for that matter whether you are suited to the degree course I have another post on choosing a degree course.

Online degree’s are becoming more popular due to their accessibility for people unable to physically attend University courses. Traditional Universities are cautiously moving into this field offering ‘Flexible Learning’ (part time) as opposed to online courses. The reluctance of traditional Universities to offer ‘Distance’ or online degree’s stems from difficuties that arise in assessment, i.e. ensuring the person given the qualification actually does the work. In the UK at least moderators / external examinors do not like onlined degree courses and they are more difficult to get accreddited, and it is this issue that leads many to question the value of an online degree.

In theory, an online degree should be worth as much as an attended degree, providing it is properly accredited, however, many employers remain suspicious of online degree’s, and so they are often not “worth” as much as a degree taken at a bricks and mortar University.

However, that does not mean an online degree is not worth taking, some institutions offering online degrees are reputable.

Also remember that some ‘bricks and mortar’ Universities are themselves starting to offer
online degree’s, distance / flexible learning.

So, with reference to the question “What is the Value of an Online Degree” what does this mean?

• Some online degree’s are valuable (but probably not as valuable as an attended degree)
• Some online degree’s are worthless!

So, how do you know the difference?

1) The reputation of the online institution is the key consideration:

Increasingly it is possible to find ‘bricks and mortar’ Universities catering for online students, offering a mix of distance and flexible learning.

It is these institutions you should target, i.e. those that have been around for a long time and have an established reputation offering conventional, attended degree courses.

Universities that offer 100% online degree’s that are not ‘proper’ universities will be viewed with more suspicion by employers.

When I say they are not ‘proper’ Universities, I mean they do not engage in research or other activities associated with ‘proper’ universities. They simply want to make money selling online degree courses and are not widely known, understood or recognised.

Beware Companies offering Online Degree’s

Many online degree’s are offered by companies as opposed to Universities.

An online degree from a company will be worthless, they are will not be accredited.

Consider Companies Brokering Online degree’s

There are companies that ‘broker’ online courses, collecting commission from genuine Universities for referrals to online degree courses.

Assuming the Universities themselves are genuine, reputable, respected and accredited then there is no issue with using one of these (referring or brokering) companies to assist your search for a suitable online degree course.

If you do use such a company, be sure to research the University offering the course and ensure it is accredited and of good repute (preferably an existing ‘bricks and mortar’ institution, not a 100% online University).

Be Very Careful:

There are many fake Degrees and Fake Universities marketing themselves online.

Depending on the country in which you live, some “Universities” may not be genuine. In the UK for example there have been a number of bogus colleges (not Universities) set up specifically to take advantage of a loophole in immigration law that allows people to stay in the UK whilst studying (these have been shut down).

In other countries online degree’s are complete fakes and not worth the paper they are written on.

2) The second consideration is the qualification itself

Try and find out how much demand is there for this kind of qualification. Using job searches on recruitment sites is a good place to start.

Then try to find out whether employers in this field will accept an online qualification.

• If you have a specific career in mind, try phoning companies you would like to work for
• Ask to speak to someone in HR / personnel and ask whether they have a view on online qualifications

This will be difficult, companies will never directly advise on such matters.

The best you will get is general guidance as to whether:

• “In principle” a company would accept such a qualification.

To get any form of answer, you will need to keep the question generic and ask them to

• “Assume the online degree is from an accredited organisation”

Don’t be stupid and ask “is this course any good”, keep things general, informal and try to get a “feel” for what they think.

Even if you do this, you will be lucky to get a response, but it is worth a try.

So, What is the value of an online degree in the eyes of an employer:

• Less than an attended course from an established bricks and mortar University
• If you take an online course from a bricks and mortar university, it should have similar value, though employers may remain a little retisent if they realise you took your degree online
• More than no degree at all, some online degrees are recognised by employers and are worth having, and will be better than no degree at all
• Nothing if you sign up with a fake University or a company awarding degree’s directly then you are wasting your time and money

So, I am afraid there is no simple answer to this, other than be careful with your money and do some extensive research!

Disclaimer: advertising carried in this site may also lead to fake online degree’s.
Do not assume that because and advert appears on this site it is genuine.
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