Title: Are Online Degrees Worth It? - Cost, Perception & Downsides
Headings: Are Online Degrees Worth It? – Cost, Perception & Downsides
Are Online Degrees Worth It? – Cost, Perception & Downsides
Pros of Pursuing an Online Degree
1. It Could Be Less Expensive Than a Residential Alternative
2. It Could Be Easier to Accomplish While Working Full-Time or Raising Kids (or Both)
3. Many Online Degree Programs Are Reputable (Even Prestigious)
4. You Don’t Have to Leave Your House
5. Larger Online Degree Programs & Institutions Have Vast Alumni Networks
6. Your Employer Might Not Realize You Got Your Degree Online
7. It Could Earn You Respect for Your Time Management Skills & Focus
Cons of Pursuing an Online Degree
1. Some Employers Remain Resistant to Online Degrees
2. Some Employers Are Justifiably Skeptical of For-Profit Degree Programs
3. Unaccredited Programs Offer Little Value
4. Online Degree-Seekers Drop Out at Higher Rates Than Campus-Bound Counterparts
5. It Could Call Your Teamwork Skills Into Question
Final Word

Content: Larger Online Degree Programs & Institutions Have Vast Alumni Networks
Vast alumni networks are an equal boon for online graduates of fully or mostly online institutions, such as Southern New Hampshire and the University of Phoenix, and of larger institutions that rely more heavily on physical campus networks, such as Arizona State University and Penn State. With access to a massive alumni network, you’re far more likely to make connections that result in lucrative job offers or contracts. 6. Your Employer Might Not Realize You Got Your Degree Online
Because so many traditional institutions now offer online-only degrees that aren’t readily distinguishable from their on-campus equivalents, it’s far from certain your employer will learn how you got your degree — assuming they don’t ask. In practice, employers that care to do so can figure out the provenance of an applicant’s degree, often with a cursory overview of their resume or curriculum vitae. A lifelong Californian with a Southern New Hampshire University degree probably didn’t attend classes in person, for example. 7. It Could Earn You Respect for Your Time Management Skills & Focus
The ability to juggle the demands of a distance learning degree and your myriad other obligations is a sign of superior time management skills and task orientation. It’s no secret employers prize candidates with these skills. Cons of Pursuing an Online Degree
Pursuing an online degree isn’t right for everyone, including those seeking extremely high-quality or individualized instruction, those seeking employment in industries or with specific employers that remain resistant to credentials earned through distance learning, and those more likely to thrive in collaborative environments.