"You'll never get a job with an online degree."

[onmygo]

This has probably been discussed, I've had some family members tell me I'm wasting my time with an online degree and no one will hire me. I've actually thought about this my self, I'm ok with missing out on a job because the other candidate has a degree from Harvard but I must admit I do have that fear of employers judging my school (WGU), especially because it's not well known like University of Phoenix or a more popular online program. In my case I have to go this route, I have 2 under 2 at home and a full time job, I cannot go to a brick and mortar program. I'm going forward with my plans, I'd rather have an online education than no education at all, haters..... Please tell me you're all happy with your decision and are gainfully employed :hurray:

[bjcheung77]

onmygo, I salute you... Good luck with WGU as I have plans to study there for Grad School.
Most, if not all online programs, won't even show up on your transcript or degree as "online".
A regionally accredited school degree is all you need, no need to fret how it was completed.

And many of the for profit schools such as UOP, or AIU, Devry, ITT Tech and many others charge an arm and a leg for their degrees. Just because they are larger and more popular doesn't mean they are better, they are going to go bankrupt as UOP has just sold their school rights and now are a private entity with less than 40% of their students at the peak of their popularity.

Those schools were thought by many as degree mills because they practically admitted anyone and graduated them as long as they paid for the classes and did their assignments, and passed their exams. My cousin actually paid 45 grand for a MBA to one of them and it was me who was laughing... I even told him his other school options, but he makes good cash. For me, I'm more frugal and cautious with everything as I have fallen for Nationally Accredited schools as a quick degree, but they lost their appeal as not many RA schools or future job prospects will look at them really.

[Mamasaphire]

My feeling, based upon reading here at the forum and elsewhere is that you are more likely to have a more favorable impression with a lesser known school. Those "popular online programs" have a more negative reception for the most part. And with a lesser known school, why would you have to announce to a prospective employer that it was accomplished online? A good education is doable completely online at many many colleges and universities.

Research (lots!) and then do what *you* feel comfortable with

[jsd]

University of Pheonix and many other for profit schools, rightfully in many situations, have a garbage reputation. You're much better off with an online unknown school than UoP.

It's 2016. In general, no reasonable employer is judging degrees based upon the medium by which the education was delivered anymore. Will brick and mortar ivy league beat online state school? Yes, obviously. But it has nothing to do with the state school being online.

Will B&M state school beat online state school? No, because your potential employer doesn't have an indication of which way you obtained it, nor is it relevant in 2016.

[bluebooger]

..... Please tell me you're all happy with your decision and are gainfully employed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gainful_employment

1: nope
2: yes
3: ok
4: nope
5: nope
6: nope
7: meh
8: yuck
9: meh

[UptonSinclair]

I believe most people see college as a two tiered system. There are degrees from the Ivy League and then everything else. By the time you are out of your twenties, I doubt many employers are looking at where you got your degree and just checking off the requirement of - has degree.

[rebel100]

99% nonsense, stay away from the known bad guys like u of Phoenix and you will be fine. The vast majority of employers don't know one school from another. More and more regular old brick and mortar schools have select courses online if not full online programs.... Even Harvard has a whole college dedicated to distance learning it's been around since 1910.

Besides all that, of you really can't return to a regular pants in seat school then online seems a reasonable option...what's the other choice? Do nothing and have no degree from anywhere?

My COSC undergrad combined with my WGU Masters has doubled my pay and trippled my responsibility. Go do it, you will be better for it.

[sanantone]

I believe most people see college as a two tiered system. There are degrees from the Ivy League and then everything else. By the time you are out of your twenties, I doubt many employers are looking at where you got your degree and just checking off the requirement of - has degree.

I'm going to have to disagree. Some schools, like Stanford and MIT, have equal standing with the Ivies. Honestly, Stanford and MIT are better than some of the Ivies. The "Public Ivies" also have more prestige than Podunk State U. I think most people would be more impressed by a degree from the College of William and Mary than one from COSC or TESU. In some fields, such as accounting at the Big 4 and law, program rankings matter a lot.

Other than that, the school is not all that important as long as it has the right accreditation and isn't an embarrassment such as IV Tech, University of Penis, Deprive University, Everclear College, Deadwood College, and Kap 'Em University. Slayer University, Cahella University, and Wall 'Em University are a little less known, but there is still a slight risk of them carrying a stigma.

[Life Long Learning]

It Gov't not always. We have turn down numerous Ivy types. We look in the interview who will FIT into our culture! When I am on the hiring board I could care less where the degree comes from.

Will brick and mortar ivy league beat online state school? Yes, obviously. But it has nothing to do with the state school being online.

Will B&M state school beat online state school? No, because your potential employer doesn't have an indication of which way you obtained it, nor is it relevant in 2016.

[jsd]

Well obviously I'm speaking in general terms. An incompetent jerk is an incompetent jerk no matter their education.