How do online degree programs stack up against traditional college degrees? It's both a commonly asked and good question. Research, so far, has been inconclusive. All that seems certain is that some students learn more in a traditional, classroom-based degree program, while others do better online. Therefore, it is difficult to make sweeping generalities about whether an online or traditional college education will be of higher quality or will be received with greater acceptance. A better idea for folks considering their options would be to consider their individual situations and goals. But, the one constant is that students should consider only fully accredited colleges and universities. The process of choosing your best educational options should always begin with questions. What are youir personal goals? Career goals? How strong is your commitment? How much time do you have to devote to your education? Will your goals require licensure or certification of any kind? As you answer these questions, your options will become clearer. Of course, for most working adults interested in continuing their educations, convenience is a critical factor. For folks who don't have time to commute to and from a campus and/or folks with responsibilities which make it tough to attend fixed time classes, an online degree program may be the only viable option. And, in some instances, colleges offering online education may be more willing to grant credit for prior experience, shortening the time it might take to earn a degree. For most people, finances are a major factor in choosing a college or university, online or otherwise. Initially, few online degree programs were able to offer significant need based financial aid or loans, and even fewer offered scholarships. Today, however, many students in distance education program receive financial aid, including loans and scholarships. Certainly online degree programs offer convenience, and many offer tuition payment plans, tuition rates and financial aid which make them affordable...in some cases, even cheap. And, it is not hard to find people in many professions who have enhanced their career options by earning online degrees. The tough question to answer is how well online degree programs are accepted by employers. Again, as with one of the questions posed earlier, generalizations may not be instructive. Perhaps your best bet is to do some informal research. You can call or email people in charge of hiring in the professions and or individual organizations of interest to you and ask them if they differentiate between candidates with classroom-based and online degrees. And, ask the admissions representatives at the colleges you are considering to provide you with a list of the organizations in which they have placed graduates (and the titles of the positions in which they were placed). Of course, if certification or licensure is an issue for you, be certain the program you choose meets all the requirements for the credential you seek. Don't forget to consider your learning style, academic skill levels, and motivation when deciding if enrolling in an online degree program would be a good step for you. A great way to be sure is to take a single course online before seeing if online education is your best choice.
Article Source: http://www.articlecontentprovider.com/articlesubmit
How do online degree programs stack up against traditional college degrees? It's both a commonly asked and good question.
Daniel Z. Kane has worked at schools and colleges for 30+ years. He has created nearly a dozen educational websites on online college degrees and online education to assist students and educators. This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 5 4 out of 5 3 out of 5 2 out of 5 1 out of 5
