Employers More Open Minded About Online Learning

Distance learning has made the dream of a college or university degree a reality for many Americans eager to get ahead in today's competitive workplace. Online learning is especially attractive because it offers flexible scheduling that allows online students to earn a degree without leaving the comfort of their home. But are employers truly enthusiastic about the qualifications of students who pursue an online degree?

Once only a qualified "yes", the answer to this question now more clearly favors the acceptance by employers of an online degree. It seems the sheer popularity of online earning may well force skeptical employers to take a second and closer look at online grads. Data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) indicates that more than 54% of the nation's colleges and universities have an online curriculum or degree program. Estimates by the NCES for 2006 put the number of online degree seekers as high as 6 million students. Data from 2004 - the latest available at the time of this writing - put enrollment at the University of Phoenix Online, the nation's leading online university, at more than 115,000 students.

Given the magnitude of these numbers, it's difficult to imagine that employers can long overlook online grads as potentially valuable new employees. But an initial study of the phenomenon by Vault.com, a website specializing in career information, revealed a strong preference by employers for a more conventional degree path. Degrees requiring actual physical attendance at traditional brick-and-mortar universities were still preferred over online institutions by a substantial margin. For some at least, a purely "virtual" degree was considered less credible than a diploma from a well-known Ivy League or Big Ten university.

Fortunately, name recognition and on-campus attendance isn't the whole story. More recent studies - some commissioned by online universities themselves - show that job applicants holding a degree from an accredited online university now enjoy more or less equal footing with graduates from their brick-and-mortar competitors. The key to the attitude shift seems to be accreditation, a voluntary review process in which universities are evaluated by one of a half dozen regional accrediting agencies. All colleges and universities that win accreditation meet the same uniform standards that define a quality education and a respected degree program. The Department of Education maintains a database of accredited colleges and universities at www.ed.gov.

There are situations in which employers appear more willing to accept the qualifications that go with an online degree. One example is the existing employee who sees an online degree as a step up to a bigger paycheck and better career. Many employers encourage such employees to pursue online courses and online degrees and even provide a financial incentive for doing so. Nearly three-fifths of the students at the University of Phoenix Online, for example, receive some or all of their online tuition from their employer.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, online learning is expected to grow faster than any other part of the education landscape in the years ahead. As long as an online degree comes from a properly accredited college or university, graduates can expect their degrees to meet with increasing acceptance by employers.

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Education Online" article category.

People interested in the above article "Employers More Open Minded About Online Learning" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

Equivalent Equations – Definition and Examples

The term “equivalent” means “the same”. Two equations are said to be equivalent if they have the same solution.

Fear, Anxiety and Test Taking?

Who doesn’t become a little nervous when it is time to take a test? It is a common occurrence in schools, especially in post-secondary institutions such as universities and colleges, where students will suffer some stress and anxiety before and during a test or an exam. Why do they have anxiety? Many suffer anxiety because they are concerned about their future.

I Want To Lose Weight - Well Stop Making Excuses!

For most people, a weight loss program is not easy to fit into their daily lives. It is really hard to come to terms with the fact that the music must be faced. Coming to terms with reality isn’t always very pleasant. Even though on the inside, they desperately want to make changes, the combination of being sedentary and having been in an unchallenged and cozy comfort zone for too long makes it more difficult for them to get moving. Their willpower has evaporated.

Online Degree Programs: A Way To Start An Education

Online Degree Programs is a way to start an education through online. They are easy to complete and provide options. Research about these programs will show that they offer many different programs on many different disciplines. Schools that offer online degrees are increasingly common. Therefore, attaining a degree online is simple.

Should You Consider Online College Courses?

Today, college students have more educational opportunities than students of past generations. College courses in the modern post-secondary educational setting can be taken either in the classroom or through online methods. These two types of classes can differ substantially in learning methods and hands-on training techniques, but both can still be effective and enjoyable.

7 Strategies to Succeed with Online Education Degree

For those students who cannot afford the time or money to take full-time courses on campus, an online education degree has removed many roadblocks. In fact, there are several advantages over traditional degrees. Nevertheless, because the methods of instruction and learning are quite different, students need to consider the adjustments and changes necessary to receiving a quality education degree online.

NCLEX Exam- What To Do About The Dropping Pass Rate

You can pass the NCLEX RN the first time! Most students pass the exam on their first try, but there is still a large percentage that don't. With some thought about how you study, you can too! Only 87.1 per cent of United States trained pupils and 47.4 per cent of students educated abroad passed the NCLEX in the first quarter of 2008.