Five Myths about Online College Degrees

If you’re interested in earning a degree via the Internet but have some reservations, you’re not alone. With so many scams associated with the web, many people are hesitant to trust e-colleges that offer online college degrees. Here are 5 misconceptions that people have about earning a college degree online.

1. Online College Degrees are Scams. While it’s true that there are businesses that will gladly take your money and issue a degree to anyone who is willing to pay the price, most online degree programs are legitimate. A great majority of land-based colleges and universities offer classes online. In fact, a wide variety of degrees can be earned from start to finish in a virtual classroom. You can check out the legitimacy of any online college by going to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) websites and searching their database of accredited academic institutions to see if the program you’re interested in is accredited.

2. Online College Degree Programs are Merely Correspondence Courses. Not true. Like bricks and mortar colleges, students must submit assignments in a timely manner and fulfill all of the requirements that they would in a traditional classroom. Many programs require students to participate in online discussions to earn credit for attendance. Depending on the format of the class, you may be required to attend synchronous learning sessions or view the sessions before a test. Many instructors offer live chat tutoring, iPod lesson downloads, and make themselves available for office hours and phone conferences.

3. Online Courses are Easier than Traditional Courses. The mistake that many students make is to assume that online classes are easier because they don’t have to sit in a classroom. To the contrary, online learners have to be more proactive in their learning. They must pay close attention to all the information online. They should avoid shortcuts and take advantage of all the tools available to them in order to get the full benefit of the course. For students who are committed to the learning process, e-learning provides a wonderful opportunity for taking challenging college courses when they may otherwise be unable to do so.

4. Employers don’t accept online college degrees. Not only are employers accepting online college degrees but they are also paying for them. Years ago, employers were suspicious of online degree programs because many of them used to be degree mills. Today, however, accredited colleges and universities offer online learning as an ordinary component of the college curriculum. Students who work jobs during the day or cannot travel the distance necessary to attend classes are awarded full credit for successful completion of online courses. As long as the course is part of an accredited college program, most employers are willing to accept college degrees earned entirely or, in part, online.

5. Online college credits don’t transfer to other institutions of higher learning. For the most part, online credits are accepted as transfer credit by other colleges, as long as the college awarding the original credit is accredited. However, some courses, such as lab sciences, may not transfer since they often require a hands-on component to learning. If you plan to transfer your online courses to another college, contact the transfer coordinator ahead of time to ensure that the courses you are currently taking will transfer without issue.

Don’t buy into the myths about online college degrees. Since most colleges incorporate online learning into their curriculums, these degree programs are considered a legitimate way to brush up on skills, take an occasional class, or earn a legitimate degree without leaving the comfort of your home.