Myths About Online Education
Unfortunately, the few negative things about online college get much more publicity than its many positive aspects. You’ll hear about diploma mill scams and people swindled out of their hard-earned cash, but there aren’t any evening news specials about the many individuals who have started better careers with their online degree. Check out these four myths about online colleges so you'll know what to actually expect from online school.
Myth: Most online schools are scams—watch out!
Truth: There are hundreds of reputable schools out there offering online degrees.
- While diploma mills definitely still exist, they’re easy to avoid if you do a little research. These days, many online schools boast the same accreditations as traditional brick and mortar institutions. You can even find online programs offered by some of the most prestigious schools out there, like NYU, Northeastern, and Stanford. (ed.gov)
Myth: You can only earn one or two types of degree online.
Truth: These days, nearly all types of degree program are being modified to online education.
- Sure, the stalwarts like medical billing and coding come to mind when you think about the types of things you can learn online. But these days, more programs are being added than ever—you can even earn doctoral degrees and hands-on degrees like nursing through an online university. (neu.edu)
Myth: You’ll never see a professor or your classmates in an online program.
Truth: Good programs are getting more interactive than ever.
- Just like you can find bad traditional programs, there are less than great online programs out there where students may never interact with their actual instructor. But great programs are developing more ways than ever to keep students in touch—video chatting and instant messaging with professors is common, as is blogging, using forums, and emailing peers. (unf.edu)
Myth: Future employers won’t regard an online degree as highly as a traditional one.
Truth: Online degrees from accredited institutions are just as valuable as traditional ones.
- When you earn your online degree from an accredited college, it’s not going to say “online degree” on your diploma. All your employer and colleagues will know is that you attended an accredited college, something that shows that your program was rigorous and met certain quality standards. (asu.edu)