The National Center for Education Statistics reports that online education is one of the fastest-growing subfields of higher education in the United States. There were 3.1 million online students in the fall of 2017. Also, every year there is a 4% increase in the number of students who opt for online Degrees programs.
The growing popularity of online universities is evidence that students see value in an accredited degree program. The merits and benefits it offers have won over the hearts and minds of the kids.
Myth 1: Employers Don’t Take Online Degrees Seriously
One persistent misunderstanding regarding online degrees is that they make graduates less marketable to potential employers. This widespread misconception results from the false perception that online degrees are subpar in comparison to those conferred by brick-and-mortar institutions. While some employers may value online degrees, others may not. We must, however, make one point crystal clear. That they don’t take them seriously is untrue.
Most importantly, they will respect you since you worked hard to obtain that status. Those who choose online education are typically those who have other obligations that take priority over their academic pursuits. It takes discipline and organization to work full-time while attending school. Your employment prospects will improve just from having such abilities. It’s a plus if the online university you’ve settled on has a solid reputation and high ranking.
Talented job seekers who can show initiative, integrity, adaptability, and persistence are in high demand. All of these are skills a student develops when taking classes online.
Myth 2: The Legitimacy of Online Degrees Is Questionable
On the contrary, it is not the case. These days, you can get a degree online from a number of prestigious schools. Universities that provide online courses with the goal of attracting many students invest considerable effort into establishing their legitimacy and reliability. The first thing they do is give the students as much information as possible, both about themselves and the program. All of the necessary steps for completing the program and the expected duration of time to do so are laid out in detail.
It’s the same as taking the class in person if you take it online. It is expected that all enrolled students will attend and engage in this. This also adds to their credibility. The percentage of students who return after registering is another indicator of an online university’s quality. Colleges strive to improve their students’ educational experiences by providing adequate student services and a variety of payment choices. They recognize that a higher retention rate can be achieved by making university resources more easily accessible to students. As a result of these initiatives, prospective students can identify which universities are worth attending.
Myth 3: Online Degrees Aren’t Credible
There was once a time when people looked down on people with online degrees, thinking that they were only a means through which diploma mills might operate. However, this doesn’t hold to be true. Online education is now considered an accredited degree program. Students are showing a greater interest in these fields of study than ever before as they get more recognition in both the academic community and the job market. In many cases, online universities are seen as equally credible as their brick-and-mortar counterparts because they have received accreditation from state-approved authorities. Additionally, a student who completed their online education is considered to have completed their accredited degree program. He or she can expect to be regarded no differently than their counterpart who attended a more traditional institution.
Myth 4: Online Degrees Are Easy
Most people who have never taken an online course themselves are the ones who tend to downplay the difficulty of doing schoolwork from a distance. They could be under the impression that studying online is easy because of how flexible it is.
While getting a degree on the internet might be more unconventional, it isn’t any less challenging. And don’t mistake unique for simple. You will still be expected to be active inside the virtual classroom, contribute to class discussions, and turn in assignments on time. Regular assessments will be conducted by teachers, just as they would be in a more conventional classroom setting. Classes taken online can be as time-consuming as those taken in a traditional classroom setting, depending on the curriculum.
Myth 5: Online Platforms Dont Give Accredited Degrees
Since many prestigious colleges are now providing online degree programs, you would believe that this is no longer a problem for prospective students. Online colleges and universities are held to the same standards as their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Quite a few schools offering their courses online have earned legitimacy from the appropriate agencies. As more and more people show an interest in online graduate programs, schools that offer these programs are working hard to differentiate themselves and provide the finest possible education for their students.
Myth 6: Students Aren’t A Priority
Most individuals believe that online universities don’t care about their students. While this may have been common in the past, it is by no means inevitable in the present. Many options exist to help students pay for college, and online graduate programs work hard to earn and keep their students’ trust. Online students have increased access to financial aid in the form of scholarships and student loans.
Take Away
Debunking Popular Myths About online graduate programs. National Center for Education Statistics reports that online education is one of the fastest-growing subfields of higher education in the United States. There were 3.1 million online students in the U.S. in the fall of 2017. It’s the same as taking the class in person if you take it online. The percentage of students who return after enrolling is another indicator of an online university’s quality.
In many cases, online universities are seen as equally credible as their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Some people think that studying online is easy because of how flexible the curriculum is. Classes taken online can be as time-consuming as those in a traditional classroom setting. Online colleges and universities are held to the same standards as their brick-and-mortar counterparts.