Online University Myths: Are They True?

Posted by Andy McShane in Online Universities.

Online University Myths: Are They True?

The number of students enrolling in accredited online universities continues to grow every day, but there are still a few skeptics out there who think that online degrees are not the best way to get a college education. In fact, there are numerous online university myths that have kept people from enrolling in these distance education programs.

At UniversityFacts we’re here to prove that these online degree myths are not true. So, what are some of the most common online education myths?

  1. Online universities are not as good as traditional degrees – One of the biggest online university myths is that online degrees aren’t as prestigious or widely accepted by employers as traditional degrees. But that’s not true. According to a Graduate Satisfaction survey taken by Western Governors University, an online university founded by the governors of 19 U.S. states, 95% of employers rate WGU graduates as equal to or better than their counterparts, and 69% of employers rate WGU graduates as excellent employees. So if these students were able to get a job and do well in their career, it’s obvious that employers recognize the validity of online degree programs.
  2. All online degree programs are exactly the same – This is not true. Every online university offers its own unique course requirements, and tuition is also very different for each institution. It’s best to research the type of online university degree that you would like to receive, and then research each individual online university that you are interested in.
  3. Most students don’t enjoy their online education classes – An online education report released by the Sloan Consortium said that at least 97% of students surveyed said they were “at least as satisfied” with their online education classes. While some people may think that it’s too boring to sit on a computer and never interact face-to-face with actual people, many online students find this very convenient and fun.
  4. You won’t be able to transfer your online education credits to other colleges – Some students think that their online education course credits will not transfer if they decide later on that they want to transfer to a traditional college. The online course credits will transfer, but you need to check your new school’s credit transfer policies. Most universities only allow a certain number of credit hours to be transferred to your new degree, so do your research before you apply to a new school.
  5. Online education courses are easier than traditional college courses – You may think that having the flexibility to do your work whenever you want to is much easier than showing up for an 8 a.m. class, but don’t let this online education myth fool you. Online education classes are just as tough as regular classes, but it all depends on the online university you attend and the class requirements. Also, you must possess self discipline to be able to do the work on your own.

Online degree myths will continue to be around as long as people don’t find out for themselves about all of the benefits of online education. If you’re a busy professional or student who wants to further your career, disregard these online university myths and try these courses for yourself.