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Given the enormous cost to get a degree at a brick and mortar school and the much lower cost of online schools my question is: Are professions where a degree is required hiring online grads?

Or, as I fear, they don't considered such as really educated or worse, find them contemptible?

What say you?

Thanks!

I think it depends on the degree and what the employer is looking for.

I got my Masters from University of Phoenix. A Masters was required for the position I was just promoted to, but I don't think anyone really cared where it was from. It was an advanced degree in the right narrow field.

Its been my experience that most companies look to see if there is a check mark next to the educational requirements and move on to the rest of the resume. If you were seeking employment in a highly specialized field it would be a different story.

I also think it critical to make sure the school is accredited by the appropriate organizations. Otherwise, I think online education is going to become much more popular and common.

Didn't Johnny Manziel (sp?) take his courses on line?

Oldgringo,

Your spelling correct.

Not being a football fan, (the only spectator sport I watch is boxing - I like my sports without the violence distilled) so I didn't know who he is.

I looked him up and research revealed his school as Texas A&M.

I know some of the big schools also have online classes...

I know of two teachers at the high school where I teach that have degrees where most of their coursework were from online universities, as was their Bachelor's degree. From what I've seen, online degrees from accredited universities are good to go.

As mojo84 said, in today's world, online universities are becomming more common, and more accepted.

n5wd wrote:I know of two teachers at the high school where I teach that have degrees where most of their coursework were from online universities, as was their Bachelor's degree. From what I've seen, online degrees from accredited universities are good to go.

As mojo84 said, in today's world, online universities are becomming more common, and more accepted.

Accreditation is important for online degrees, but be careful. Some are simply too "cheap" to confer real _apparent_ value to a prospective employer. Others (like the Data Science Masters degrees I just looked at through SMU or UC Berkeley) are MASSIVELY overprices (60k!!!), but you're buying the name of the school more than anything else.

Frankly, if you're looking at an online education, focus on courses and certifications, rather than degrees. That's just my friendly advice.

Abraham -
You have asked some good questions, which I have thought about at length.
My opinions are based on many years of experience in high-tech, manufacturing and the aerospace and defense industries.
Here are some of my thoughts.

1. An on-line degree is better than not having a degree.

2. Having any type of degree opens the door to more job opportunities.

3. In the end, the on-the-job performance is more important than which school the degree was awarded.

4. I don't have much first hand knowledge about many colleges, resident or on-line, so most of my opinion about the school and degree comes from the graduate.

5. No matter the type of degree, it is very difficult to change to a different field. People tend to get pigeon holed with whatever they start with.

6. After getting a degree, some people stay in a field they don't like just because they make more money.

7. I have seen people with the same on-line degree get promoted at a rapid pace, while others have seen some stuck in the same position as they had prior to finishing their degree.

Again that points to the person's knowledge, work ethic, personality, the company where they are employeed and their career goals.

In response to the original question, I'm hearing many graduates are having trouble getting hired. I assume that is true for both types.

Thanks all.

My question is in regard to my 18 year old granddaughter.

I'm looking into possibilities/alternatives to attending a school whose cost is not so outlandish as to be impossible to afford...if you're not Bill Gates...

She doesn't (nor anyone else for that matter) need to be strapped with the albatross of debt so colossal hanging around her neck that she'll be forever in debt. (my family doc is still paying for his education and he's in his fifties)

It's my understanding that online education can be much lower in cost. The trick is to find high quality online education...

The certification necessary to make certain online education is high quality is a great tip.

Thanks all again for the great advice.

Another option to keep the cost down is to get as much done at the local community college and online, then transfer to the school of her choice to finish up. The challenge there is to make sure she takes classes that will accept the transfer credits. My nephews did the opposite, they enrolled at their schools of choice and then also took online courses and summer/Christmas mini semester courses at the community college when they went home for the breaks.

You are very wise to avoid college debt and the good news is, it can be done. If not completely, you can at least keep it to a minimum.

Abraham wrote:Thanks all.

My question is in regard to my 18 year old granddaughter.

I'm looking into possibilities/alternatives to attending a school whose cost is not so outlandish as to be impossible to afford...if you're not Bill Gates...

She doesn't (nor anyone else for that matter) need to be strapped with the albatross of debt so colossal hanging around her neck that she'll be forever in debt. (my family doc is still paying for his education and he's in his fifties)

It's my understanding that online education can be much lower in cost. The trick is to find high quality online education...

The certification necessary to make certain online education is high quality is a great tip.

Thanks all again for the great advice.

From what I've seen the cost of online classes are about the same as a brick and mortar school. Where you save money is room and board. Unless she is highly motivated I would recommend a local community college for the first year to get a feel for college level classes. If there is a community college close I bet you find that option is cheaper than online classes. Many community colleges now partner with universities allowing you to stay at the community college campus all the way through your bachelor degree. Our local community college partners with Tarlton, Texas A&M Commerce, and UNT Arlington. 4 year degrees from all three universities can be obtained through classes on the CC campus.

jmra wrote:

Abraham wrote:Thanks all.

My question is in regard to my 18 year old granddaughter.

I'm looking into possibilities/alternatives to attending a school whose cost is not so outlandish as to be impossible to afford...if you're not Bill Gates...

She doesn't (nor anyone else for that matter) need to be strapped with the albatross of debt so colossal hanging around her neck that she'll be forever in debt. (my family doc is still paying for his education and he's in his fifties)

It's my understanding that online education can be much lower in cost. The trick is to find high quality online education...

The certification necessary to make certain online education is high quality is a great tip.

Thanks all again for the great advice.

From what I've seen the cost of online classes are about the same as a brick and mortar school. Where you save money is room and board. Unless she is highly motivated I would recommend a local community college for the first year to get a feel for college level classes. If there is a community college close I bet you find that option is cheaper than online classes. Many community colleges now partner with universities allowing you to stay at the community college campus all the way through your bachelor degree. Our local community college partners with Tarlton, Texas A&M Commerce, and UNT Arlington. 4 year degrees from all three universities can be obtained through classes on the CC campus.

jmra's post is extremely important!

Traditional colleges, universities and on-line colleges will accept credits for courses from community colleges. HOWEVER, the reverse is not true. Most, if not all, traditional colleges and universities WILL NOT ACCEPT any accept credits from course work from on-line colleges. In other words, if you start an on-line program you must finish at the same college until you graduate and get your degree. If you don't your course work and credits don't mean anything.