Discussion: Is a Degree from an On-Line College Worth?
I did not start this site to discuss the pros- and cons- of Telangana state. It is just one of the issues, which is divisive, and beyond any one of our control. Hopefully, separate Telangana state issue will not be the issue that defines the content of this site.
One of the reasons I started this site is to serve as a resource on career and education for global Telugu people. In fact, the first serious discussion I wanted to start was on a topic about which I get a lot of questions.
As an educator, I have lots of educated opinions on on-line education. I would like to jump-start the discussion with just this question: Is it worth to pursue a degree from such on-line colleges as University of Phoenix, Strayer University etc?
What do you think?
Sriram,
Thanks for the input. As a professor at a major public university my take may have been a bit biased. So, take it for what it’s worth.
The reason I brought this topic is this. With the economy doing so poorly, several of these online universities have increased their advertising and claim that somehow getting a degree from their colleges will dramatically make the students’ job prospects better.
Take for example the University of Phoenix, which has one of the worst graduation rates in the country. U of P has been accused of perpetrating hardball recruiting tactics such as giving incentives to the recruiters for enrolling more students. Many of these schools also rely heavily on Federal loans to students. The U of P is also accused of violating federal laws in meeting the educator obligations for continued loan eligibility.
Some of the anecdotes I read are heart-breaking. Returning war veterans are among the prime targets by unscrupulous recruiters. Their goal is to make students register and pay for as many credits as possible.
To top all this, the pool of instructors at these colleges is not as qualified and scrutinized as at major schools. Few in my academic circles have any respect for these degrees. As far as I can tell, nobody in the industry also cares to reruit an online MBA from the likes of U of P or Capella.
As far as I can tell, an online degree from no-name college is as good as no degree at all. Their next marketing target could be unsuspecting foreign students who believe in their marketing pitch. Watch out.
I know little bit about these online degree courses but i can definitely tell that it may not be equivalent to the regular degree.
The reason for this argument is ..
1. Is there a law or an agreement all over the world which can tells us that these private online degrees are equivalent to regular degree?
2. When a person who has got online degree and go for interview for the so called corporate companies will the company take him by keeping a regular degree person a side?
I have little knowledge on this .. but these are my opinions.. i may be wrong also .. you can educate me .. i will know more about this ..