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: 1. Some Employers Remain Resistant to Online Degrees
Over two decades after the Internet brought distance learning to the masses, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Employment Counseling by two scholars from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi found that many employers remain skeptical of online degrees. The study’s key finding: “ A perception of lesser value for online degrees may lead employers to discount educational background based upon delivery mode,” with the effect “considerably more pronounced for employers making new hire decisions than for those making promotion decisions.” In other words, while your future employer might not know you got your degree through an online-only program, they might care if and when they find out. 2. Some Employers Are Justifiably Skeptical of For-Profit Degree Programs
For-profit higher education institutions in general tend to be viewed less favorably by employers. Their skepticism is justified, according to a 2017 Brookings report that found far higher student loan default rates among for-profit college graduates (and particularly among for-profit college graduates of color). The causes of this crisis are complex, but predatory admissions and financial aid practices and questionable quality of instruction certainly contribute. That’s a problem for students inclined to pursue their degrees online.