Posted by jstoppi on July 17th, 2008
The stigma of obtaining an online degree may dissuade some who might have otherwise benefited from furthering their educational horizons. Unfortunately, the inception of online degree programs was muddled by unscrupulous diploma mills that would confer a degree to anyone who was willing to pay the money (without doing any real academic work). These diploma mills tarnished the future of online degrees.
There are several qualities of online universities that forecast a legit, quality program. These are:
- Accreditation
- The same degree or program offered in the traditional sense
- Financial Aid
If the university offers the same program in the traditional sense, once a student graduates, he/she does not need to indicate they received the degree via the online format (although what I’ve observed personally is that, after going through all the hard work of obtaining an online degree, most graduates are proud enough to tell anyone they received the degree online).
I too was affected by the stigma of online degrees. I attended a large university that offered the same program in the traditional sense. I was still a bit skeptical after I graduated until I met someone who attended the same university for the same degree, on campus. I was satisfied when I compared his degree to mine (they were identical). I was more satisfied when we compared knowledge as I felt I knew just as much–if not more than–he did.
In the near future, there is no doubt that there will be no stigma surrounding online degrees. Indeed, I envision a future where more degrees are offered online than not. In the meantime, I hope this information helps you overcome the stigma of online degrees so you can attain your educational and career dreams!
Posted by admin on July 9th, 2008
What is the difference between a Diploma Mill and an accredited Online College Degree program? The simple fact is that a Diploma Mill makes you pay between $300-$1000 and they will send you a “diploma/degree” based on your work and life experiences. They boast on their sites you can earn a degree in 5-7 days but beware of these sites that boast online diplomas but offer nothing but your name on an expensive piece of paper. Their main selling point is “convert your knowledge into a college degree.”
Diploma Mills to look out for:
Bedford University
Rochville University
Affordable Degrees.com
Glendale University
Suffield University
Redding University
The best way to protect yourself from being duped into paying tons of money for a non-accredited degree or diploma is to follow the following check list and follow this simple rule, “if its sounds too good to be true, it is!”
Accredited Online Degree Checklist:
1- Is that school accredited? All accredited colleges must be reviewed by an accreditation company and this information should be posted on the schools website.
2- Are you required to actually do any school work? If you aren’t writing papers, doing projects or taking exams, your not earning degree, your paying for it.
3- How long did it take you to get your degree/diploma? Undergraduate degree programs take 12-24 months to complete based on your class load with Masters and PHD programs lasting 8-16 months.
4- How much did the degree cost? Diploma mills can cost you between $299-$1000 per degree/diploma compared to accredited online colleges that will cost you on between $200 and $800 per credit hour. On average, online degree programs range in cost based on their program and degree level this information can be found on the universities website.
Top Accredited Online College Degree Programs
University of Phoenix
AIU Online
Virginia College Online
Complete List of Online Degree Programs
