It is for a fact that we owe so much to technology. Every aspect of our lives is changing due to its impact. The ways we receive our education do not stand behind either when speaking about this fast alternation. Lucky for our generation, we can start a whole new career at any phase of our lives, from the comfort of our houses. Or, we can further invest in our continued education by following online training. It’s enough that we have internet access.
But people still wonder if online graduate degrees are credible enough and if spending money on online courses is really worth it? We’ve listed a few of the greatest advantages of earning an online degree, speaking from the perspective of the University of Potomac, which is eligible to offer online programs and from the perspective of people’s experience in online learning as well.
Online Degree Advantages
1. Increased chances of career advancement
Studying online is precisely amazing if you’re the multi-tasking, the ambitious type who’s trying to reach success in multiple fields at a time. You can work part-time and get back to your learning process anytime you want to. According to a study from the Learning House, 44% of online students reported improvements in their employment status by obtaining full-time jobs within 12 months of graduation, and 45% reported a salary increase.
2. More flexibility
The fact that you can adapt your lectures and coordinate them with your working hours is probably the most efficient feature of getting a degree online. This freedom of choice will provide you with excellent time management skills. And since you’re responsible for setting yourself up to speed, you can even reach out for help if you don’t understand the coursework, with no rush.
3. Developing self-discipline
Great freedom comes with great responsibilities. The most notorious discussion around online learning is often made towards the fact that students tend to lose focus half-way through classes. However, that totally depends on the nature of the class and the type of content that is presented to the student. Many diverse courses are offering decent information, during which you can choose to remain active and develop a good sense of self-discipline.
4. Lower costs
There are a lot of expenses that you have to pay if you choose the option of face-to-face learning. Those include the costs of housing, which can reach an amount of $12,000 per year. That without including the transportation costs at all. Meanwhile, when studying online, you don’t have to worry about all those issues. You will only have to pay the tuition fee or an application fee, along with a few book supplies. We’re not saying that there are no costs at all because this totally depends upon your choice of university. Yet, the costs of online classes are highly reduced compared to traditional ones.
Are Online Degrees Recognized by Employers?
When speaking about the perception of employers towards an online earned diploma, it is definitely difficult to generalize. You have so many different recruiters who are prioritizing personal qualities over professional qualifications, or vice versa.
But there’s always a way that employers can verify whether that diploma has been well-deserved or if it was offered by online universities who scam people all the time, also known as accreditation mills.
They can check if an online program is accredited, and see if an outside authority ensures the program meets high standards of quality. If the online degree does come from a well – known, accredited program, that is really all the insurance they need. As all corporations are experiencing a technology shift of their own, online programs must be more than welcomed and even incorporated in employee training programs. Nevertheless, we do not take out the possibility that you will still find employers who will see your online diploma with a level of suspense. It will always depend on the type of jobs you’re applying for and the companies themselves.
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How Can You Tell If an Online Program Is Accredited?
Except for some doubts on online degrees which employers might have, sometimes there is certain insecurity bugging the students as well. Pursuing an online school can be tricky, especially with so many colleges that provide low-quality degrees within a short time or that can only scam students. This is why there are some steps you can take to verify if an online school has institutional accreditation.
For starters, you can check the website of the school or university you want to enroll in. Most of them list their institutional accreditations in certain sections of their website, such as on “About” or “History of the university”. If you can’t find anything there, then you must dig a little bit deeper and visit the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, by visiting the department or council websites. The websites usually have a list of recognized accrediting agencies that students can use to ensure the university of their choice is accredited.
The amount of research one should conduct before enrolling or finishing an online school is of the highest significance. You don’t want to risk spending money, time, or even patience on a university that does not meet the standards set by the Department of Education. This would only hinder your chances of getting hired and advancing throughout your career.
And we can conclude that accreditation is the light at the end of the tunnel. Both employees and students can prove the credibility of a degree if they make sure to go through the steps we listed above. With all the advantages and flexibility at your disposal, we don’t see why shouldn’t an online degree be more than worth it! If you’re interested in learning more about how online colleges work, you can check out this detailed guide how online college works.
