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: 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. Online-only institutions are much more likely than traditional and hybrid institutions to be for-profit. As of 2017, more than half meet that definition, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Graduates of for-profit online-only programs frequently find themselves stuck in a vicious cycle: struggling to find work commensurate with their credentials, then struggling to pay off predatory student loans backed by institutions that don’t really care about their success. 3.