Online Education Blog

There are several myths about online education and college degrees. Let’s shed some light on these misconceptions:

1. Taking an online degree program is much easier than getting a degree at a college campus. The difficulty of a degree program is dependent on the school, not on the method in which it is acquired. Accredited universities that offer degrees in traditional campus programs have the same faculty address their online degree programs, which means the same professors are applying the same standards to the same type of class; it is just presented via the Internet instead of behind a desk.

2. Online degrees are not accepted in the workforce or at other colleges. Provided you make sure that your online degree comes from an accredited institution, it holds the same merit and value as a campus-based degree. As mentioned previously, these degrees follow the same guidelines used by the campus-based equivalents at their school. This means getting employment with your degree or advancing to another level of study at a different college is no more or less difficult than if you obtained your degree via a campus.

3. The credits from an online degree program are not transferable. If you begin your online degree and decide to transfer to another college during your study, your credits may be transferable to other accredited universities. Facts About Distance Learning Education claims over half the online programs can be transferred to any other program, including campus-based degrees. It is important to check with the online school in which you attend to learn more about transferability guidelines.

4. Online schools are not accredited. Many online schools have accreditation from either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education. Some of these schools have received accredation from both. It is important to review your online school of choice to make sure they have passed these accreditation guidelines; however, know when looking for your online education that most schools have passed this accreditation process and provide the same quality education you would find at a traditional campus-based university.

5. Online degrees are provided by low-budget schools. There are several reputable, established colleges out there that thrive on campus-based and online education, like Saint Leo University, which has been participating in education since 1889. These colleges are by no means considered “low budget.” There are colleges out there that work on very low budgets without any kind of accreditation, offering degrees with no real backing; they are typically called “degree mills.” So long as you avoid these online education “traps” and go to a reputable, established location, your online degree will be provided to you with the same prestige and esteem as a campus-based degree.

6. Online degrees are expensive. The opposite argument to online degrees being from low-budget organizations is that they come from these prestigious colleges and are entirely too expensive. This is the same thing a student must face when determining their financial assets they have available for a campus degree. Going to college is never cheap, but it is an investment in yourself, and it pays itself off in your increased earning potential with your career.

7. You do not get any personal attention to your studies when learning online. Students that take online degrees obviously are not interacting with their professor or classmates in a physical environment; however, classes are set up with discussion boards, forums, emails, and online conversations that offer the same kind of social immersion. Students work together on projects and receive individual attention from their online professor.

8. Online courses are not moderated and do not need to be “attended.” When you take an online degree program, it is common for your online professor to track when you are logged into the virtual classroom. These hours accrued are no different than attendance at a traditional campus setting. You are required to do reading and participate. The only difference is that you get to work more around your own schedule and have the advantage of flexibility. You are still required to attend your online class and meet the same criteria as your campus-based counterparts.

9. Earning a degree online means you miss out on the traditional campus experience. Online schools offer the same services to their distance learners as they do their local students: access to online library resources such as article databases, career center services, and financial aid advisors. Online students also are able to establish contacts in their college career through their forums, just as campus-based students network with their fellow classmates.

10. Online degrees can be obtained by just writing a couple of papers instead of actually taking courses. These stories come from degree mills that have given falsified college degrees. Accredited online universities require you to complete a four-year degree program. This can be shortened to three years, just like it can be shortened for campus-based degrees, if enough classes are completed each semester, but it is recommended to take four or five years.

If you are interested in reading about the myths of online high schools, About: Distance Learning has the skinny on the Top Ten Myths About Online High Schools.