Many people who want to study a university degree have contemplated enrolling in an online course but are put off by their poor reputation. But online degrees have changed a great deal in recent years, and in 2020, an online degree is just as worth pursuing as a regular one. Here’s why.
The Benefits of Online Studying
Online degrees used to be looked upon with scorn, but that is definitely not the case today. In fact, there are now some real benefits to studying an online degree instead of a conventional campus-based course:
More flexible schedule: One of the main advantages of studying a degree online is that you can study at a much more flexible pace. Most university degrees are of a fixed length and really deviate from it. However, with an online course, universities are much more likely to offer the option of part-time studying.
Studying a university course part-time means completing it over a longer period, but it also means a gentler workload. If you are going to be studying a degree at the same time as working a regular job, part-time studying will make it much more manageable.
Save money: The other major advantage of studying an online degree is that it is significantly cheaper than attending a campus-based course. In fact, for many students, online studying is the only way that they can afford a university education. While school loans can help with the cost of a regular university, not everyone qualifies for them. Anyone can apply to study an online course and take advantage of the relatively low price. Being a student is expensive at the best of times, so anything that can potentially reduce the amount of money that a student needs to spend on their education can be the difference between being able to afford university and not being able to go at all.
Pay as you learn: Not only is studying an online degree cheaper than a conventional degree, but many universities who offer online courses also offer more flexible payment options. You can still use a student loan to cover the costs if you want, but in many cases, you can also pay for your course on a month-to-month basis. Again, this is a real benefit to those who are going to study part-time while they continue to work. If you have a regular salary coming in, making monthly payments for college can sometimes be a lot easier.
The Value of an Online Degree
The big question for any prospective student is whether an online degree is going to carry the same weight as a conventional degree awarded for a campus course. The answer to this is kind of complex. However, there are definitely many online degrees out there that can be just as valuable as a campus course and can unlock professional opportunities in the same way.
Study with a leading university: Online degrees are on offer now from many leading universities. Of course, if you want to study with a heavyweight Ivy League college like Harvard, then you are still going to need to satisfy their entry requirements. But there are renowned educational institutions across the US now offering online degrees and, because you study remotely, you can enroll in a university-based anywhere in the country. For example, you could study a Kansas-based Central Christian online degree while continuing to work at your job in southern California.Students who choose to study online still have just as much choice in which university to attend as any other student. Most major universities in the US see online students as an additional revenue stream that is relatively cheap to maintain.
Choose the subject you want: Online students don’t just have the same range of universities to choose from; they can also choose from just as wide a range of subjects as any other student. Some online colleges specialize in certain subjects, but most offer a selection of courses.
Will Employers Respect Them?
This is the big question and the answer is – yes. However, be aware that there are still some scams out there. As long as you enroll in an online degree through an actual university and not a diploma mill, employers will respect the qualification just as much as a regular one.
Online degrees are a viable way of earning a university degree for anyone who is unable to attend a regular university. For example, single parents and those who have families to support have traditionally been unable to access education. Online studying changes this for them.
