Online Degrees: Are They Legit?
Can you trust an online degree?
As many people learn the hard way, checking the source of information found online is vital, especially when your pocketbook is on the line.
Continuing education is no exception. While online degrees provide flexibility for the busy returning student or on-the-go working woman, it’s easy to fall into a trap that promises a degree in minimal time, for minimal work, at a minimal price. But degree and accreditation mills are easy to avoid with the right tools and information about online programs.
Online vs. On-ground
“An adult student can now get a degree without ever walking onto a campus,” reports Beth Rubin, director of the School for New Learning (SNL) Online at Depaul University.
As you begin to search for education programs, weighing answers to some very important questions can help you decide whether or not you’re ready to sign up for online classes or stick to a more traditional route. John Endrud, vice president of marketing for Deltak, which partners with traditional “on-ground” institutions to develop effective online programs for colleges and universities, says some online programs lack vital tools students need in order to succeed.
“When we started working with schools and faculty to provide online courses and support services,” he recalls, “they had great services for the on-ground students, but the needs of online learners were not being met. Therefore, we provided the tools for them.” Enjoying the same types of resources and support whether you’re taking a class online or in a classroom is a reasonable expectation, agrees Ms. Rubin.
Online programs and degrees are becoming more and more accepted by employers; in fact, says Ms. Rubin, online programs are just, if not more, challenging. “The quality of the programs are just as rigorous as any other,” asserts Michael Kaley, state vice president of University of Phoenix Illinois Campuses. And institutions continue to find innovative ways to better help students perform their best. For example, the SNL programs at DePaul, says Ms. Rubin, have moved past pure lectures and now integrate group work, Skype-like conversations and other interactive methods.
“We invest a lot of time, effort and dollars back into the technology behind our programs,” Mr. Kaley says. “We want programs that are the most efficient for the students.”As more on-ground institutions and their faculty embrace the idea of online programs, Alinne Click, director of eLearning at Northern Illinois University, says the line is becoming more and more blurry. “It’s fuzzy as to what is online only or face-to-face now,” she says. “Our programs do a little bit of both.”
New Government Regulations
The idea of attending class in your own living room may be enticing; however, making sure your prospective school is a legitimate one may take a little more research. Organizations like The Center for Higher Education Accreditation list legitimately accredited colleges and universities in an effort to help students avoid scams.
“Look for regional accreditation and check the CHEA,” advises Ms. Rubin. “Make sure that the school is really accredited. A lot of them sell quick degrees, but make sure it’s legitimate. A 2-week program is a scam.” New regulations passed by the Obama administration through the U.S. Department of Education take steps to hold institutions responsible for ineffective career college programs.
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Education, which details the administration’s efforts, the rapid increase of enrollment – and default rates – at for-profit institutions in recent years pushed forward the new regulations to combat the “widespread evidence of waste, fraud and abuse.” “There are a number of for-profit schools that are not meeting these requirements and leave students more in debt,” says Sara Gast, press officer at the U.S. Department of Education. “These regulations help make sure students are protected and that tax payers are protected.”
The regulations require institutions to disclose their program costs, loan repayment rates, debt-to-earnings ratio and other consumer information to help potential students make an informed decision on a program. For the University of Phoenix, these regulations come after programs were implemented in efforts to protect students from making bad choices.
According to Mr. Kaley, the University of Phoenix offers a three-week orientation program for students to learn about the program. “Students are not charged for [the three week program] and receive no grades,” he says. “It’s a way to ease into the full program and to make sure it’s right for them.” There are an abundance of online programs to help you earn that advanced degree in a way that’s cohesive with your busy schedule. Just be sure to do your research and establish your needs as a student before signing on the dotted line.
Written by Vanessa Valentin
Tagged as: continuing education, higher education, degrees, online education and Depaul University
