online degrees

What Do Employers Think of Online Degrees?

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when college students were expected to go to class. Morning, noon, and night, students would trudge across campus and plant themselves in uncomfortable chairs, then spend the next hour or three scribbling notes while listening to a professor lecture.

Oh, how times have changed. 

Today, thanks to the power of the Internet, many college students take classes from the comfort of their favorite couches, coffee shops, or office. They log on when they want, where they want, and watch lectures when it's convenient. They earn credits—and ultimately—their degrees. 

And they do it entirely online.  

Do a lot of people earn degrees online?

Just three years ago, 2.6 million students were enrolled in fully online degree programs, and another 5.5 million were taking at least one online course (according to the National Center for Education Statistics). Now that more colleges and universities have caught on to the power of online learning, that number is growing. 

Yes, online learning is quickly becoming the norm. It's popular with students, who appreciate the convenience and flexibility it provides without sacrificing the rigor and access to professors. It's also popular with colleges, who can now share their exceptional programs and professors with students who might not otherwise have access to an education. 

But are graduates with online degrees popular with employers? 

What employers think about online degrees is an important question that you'll want to consider before enrolling. Here's the answer:

'Things have changed' for online learning

While it's true that only a few years ago, employers weren't entirely knowledgeable about online degree programs, it's also true that they have come to see their value. 

In an interview with U.S. News & World Report, a regional vice president of a global recruiting firm said that many employers now see online degrees as an advantage. 

"Things have changed," Fontana, who works for Manpower, is quoted as saying. "It really is so much more accepted today." 

In fact, she says recruiters recognize the amount of effort, focus, and discipline that goes into earning an online degree. Many students work or take care of children while earning their degrees online. Employers figure if a candidate for a job is driven enough to balance work, family and education, he or she will be equally as driven to do a good job for their company or organization. 

Some online degrees are now considered 'elite’

You don't have to look beyond the sage old institution of legal education and the ever-changing curriculum of MBA programs to see that employers see value in graduates with online degrees.

Legal education hasn't changed very much over the past 100 years—until the American Bar Association approved one law school's request to offer an online program. Then, just a year later, two online MBA programs broke onto the Bloomberg Business list of the best business schools in 2015. 

When online law school and MBA programs are accepted by organizations that admire tradition and excellence—such as legal and business education—you know online degrees have broken into the mainstream, and maybe even become elite. 

Employers have to like them

The fact is, there are more online degree programs in the United States than ever before. More students are also earning their degrees through online programs. And they are some of the best students. They are people from all walks of life who want to earn their degrees and do well in their professions. 

In other words, they are just the type of students companies love to hire. 

As more and more students choose to take advantage of the flexibility, convenience, and rigor of online programs, employers have no choice but to like online degrees—if they want to hire the best candidates. 

Today, employers are more concerned about a student's ability and track record of success than they are about where a student studied. In other words, good grades, an ability to demonstrate that you know how to do the job, and a strong portfolio of practical experience (which you can get through online programs) matter more than the words printed on your diploma. 

Learn More about Online Degree Programs

If you are interested in exploring the benefits of an online degree, contact the experts at ECPI University. You'll learn how to earn your degree on your schedule—and then connect with employers who have come to appreciate the value of online degrees and the people who have worked hard to get them. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

Learn more about ECPI's Online Degree Programs

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