Avoid pitfalls of online degrees
Published 8:47 pm Friday, January 30, 2009
NEW YORK — One way to get an edge in this job market is to earn an advanced degree. Just don’t assume doing it online will be easy.
Online master’s programs are often cheaper and more convenient than traditional ones, but they also present challenges.
“You’re home alone and have to motivate yourself. It’s not the same as sitting in a classroom where you have a social support group,” said Michael Lambert, executive director of the Distance Education and Training Council, an accrediting agency based in Washington, D.C.
Online education is nevertheless becoming more widespread. In 2007, more than 3.9 million students took at least one online course, a 12 percent increase from 2006, according to online education advocacy group the Sloan Consortium.
Picking a school
Many traditional universities also offer online courses. At some schools, select master’s programs are entirely online.
If you’re not set on getting a degree from a traditional institution, online-only schools can be viable options. For instance the University of Phoenix offers master’s programs in business, education, health care and psychology. Other career-focused schools, such as DeVry University, also offer master’s programs online.
Beware of any online outfits promising quick and easy degrees. These so-called schools might ask for $1,000 or more in tuition and have names that echo those of prestigious universities. Mailing addresses are often P.O. boxes.
If you’re not sure about a school’s credentials, check the U.S. Department of Education’s list of accredited schools at www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation or the Web site of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation at www.chea.org.
Course work
Course work won’t be any easier with online programs. In fact, at traditional schools the online materials should be comparable to what’s taught in classrooms.
As with any course, you’ll be expected to hand in periodic assignments. Meeting deadlines might be a struggle if you’re accustomed to the structure a classroom provides.
The trade-off is that you study when and where you please.
“You don’t have to drive across town after work or juggle baby-sitting appointments,” said Lambert.
Chat rooms, frequent e-mail exchanges and online message boards are often integral elements of online courses.
Costs and financial aid
Online degrees are typically cheaper than traditional programs, but tuition is still considerable.
At the University of Phoenix, for instance, tuition for full-time graduate students was $13,500 in 2007, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. At the American Intercontinental University Online, it was $21,300.
That doesn’t mean you can’t ease the hit to your wallet. A regular paycheck will limit how much federal aid you get, so a better resource might be your employer.
A 2007 survey of large companies by the business consulting firm Mercer found 87 percent of respondents offered some form of aid for education.
Professional associations also offer scholarships and stipends.
Return on investment
The stigma of online degrees among employers is abating now that more traditional universities are embracing distance learning, said Coy Renick, president of The Renick Group Inc., a recruiting firm in Roanoke, Va.
That’s not to say a degree from the University of Virginia will be viewed in the same light as a degree from an online school. But it matters less than it did in the past, Renick said.
The decision to get a master’s degree ultimately boils down to whether you think an advanced degree of any sort will boost your career.
According to the Census Bureau, median earnings for those with a graduate or professional degree was $61,000 in 2007 compared to $47,000 for those with a bachelor’s degree.
