How to Make the Decision to Get an Online Education

Whether you are considering going back to school or going for the very first time, getting a degree online is a huge decision, possibly one of the biggest you will have to consider. So, is getting an online education a good idea? Most universities offer online classes now, and many offer full online degree programs, which is why it is not surprising that many young students and those with kids are increasingly being drawn to online higher education. So let’s look at why these programs are helpful, and what you need to do to make the decision to study online…

The first, and most important thing to consider when trying to get an online education is that there are many “degree mill” universities that offer little to no value, take your money, and give you a piece of paper that is basically worthless. There are a few things to consider: Is the institution accredited? By whom is it accredited? Are graduates satisfied and thriving? Are graduates getting jobs? Validate this on your own, and not by relying on the school website.

It is important that the online degree program is the right fit for you. Online degrees are not for everyone, and can be much more complicated than it originally seems. They can be some of the most difficult years of your life. You need to be self-motivated. Online programs have strict schedules and deadlines that you are expected to meet, as well as learning most of the material on your own – without the help of a teacher at any time. If you do not think that you can rely on yourself to take care of these things, maybe an online education is not the right fit for you.

Employers have begun to look at online degrees in a different light as they have been growing in popularity. As mentioned before, having the motivation to be a self-starter is necessary to graduate, and this shows to employers. In general, if you got all of your education online, with a good grade point average, employers tend to recognize that you are highly motivated and intelligent enough to manage things on your own. In other words, you would be low-maintenance. This is even more accurate if you have gone even further and obtained a Master’s degree online. The most popular and commonly obtained online master’s program is the MBA program. There are thousands of MBA courses online that cater to many different student types, and they stand out to employers with even more volition.

The benefits to earning your degree online far outweigh the negatives, but these programs are not for everyone. Employers look at those who have successfully completed an online program to be motivated, strong-willed, and as intelligent as those who went the on-campus route. If you have found yourself questioning whether or not you should attempt to get a degree online, consider some of these points before starting. It can have huge payoffs if you are willing to put in the time and effort to make it so.

*This is a collaborative post