Online Bachelors and Masters: Are these degrees respected?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:47:27 -0400

I'm having trouble finding any recent opinions regarding this topic.

In my situation, I'm considering going to school to become a Healthcare Administrator. My most affordable solutions seem to be online schools, since I won't have to quite my full-time job, and I'll be able start classes and manage my workload more easily.

However, the question of accreditation comes up. From what I've read, this is a BIG deal in the healthcare industry. Though I'm currently working in healthcare now, my job is dead-end and doesn't sufficiently educate one to move up into an administrative role.

Basically my question is: if I were to earn my masters in healthcare administration through an online university that is only regionally accredited, will I have wasted my time, or will I move into the roles I'm seeking?

Does this principal apply to all degrees and certificates earned online, or programs that are only regionally accredited, as opposed to a popular, nationally recognized agency (like CAHME)?

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 11:48 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:48:50 -0400

Definitely avoid University of Pheonix. Heard so many horror stories from people.

Unfortunately like you suspected, where you earned your education really matters. I would only assume the location would be of more importance when regarding the health sector.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 11:57 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:57:57 -0400

It really depends on the degree as some will have labs, practicums, and internship requirements. Others just want your writings. I prefer the brick and mortar schools because of the interaction in class they allow. Plus, having to go somewhere for class helped keep me on track.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 11:57 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:57:51 -0400

It really depends on where the degree is from. You need to check the accreditation of the institute. If they are not accredited, your degree will be laughed at as "just a printed piece of paper". However, if they ARE accredited, the degree will hold some pull with other institutions as credits will xfer or count towards degrees from another institution.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 7 at 2015 12:04 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 07 May 2015 12:04:57 -0400

I don't know enough to vote because I haven't been in the health care business for a long time. However, make sure the programs you are looking at are accredited by the same body that does the in-house ones. A body that just accredits on-line institutions should be a red flag. They are likely established by the on-liners and have some conflict of interest. In my case as an Engineer, only an ABET EAC credential counts. Look for the dominant credentialing body and go from there. At that point, the how you do it shouldn't matter.

So many programs have been on-line for enough years that the percentage of the HCA input is rising and the stigma of on-line has been decreasing over the years.

Also take a look at the other things you need to do besides the on-line piece to fully complete a program e.g. internship, externship, etc. The outside work does more to get you a job than just electronic book learning.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made May 7 at 2015 12:06 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Thu, 07 May 2015 12:06:04 -0400

I used to work for competitor. "For Profit" universities are pretty terrible, overpriced and not particularly respected. While it's better than nothing, I would really look into other options. Many major universities offer online courses/degree programs for less money and with higher recognition value.

Accreditation comes in two flavors - Regional and National. Interestingly, national is actually the "worst" if you want to transfer. It's made up largely of religious and tech schools. Almost all major universities are regionally accredited.

Ultimately, think of how far you want to go. At lower levels, just having a degree is sufficient. HOWEVER, at higher levels, it may hold you back. "Got his MBA from Arizona State University" is much more respected at exec level than "got his MBA from University of Phoenix." At that level, things are extremely competitive.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 7 at 2015 12:19 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 07 May 2015 12:19:32 -0400

My wife got the lowdown on this asking the same questions while applying to schools for a second degree. If you have a degree already, bachelors or masters from an accredited brick & mortar college, an on-line second degree, either level, will be looked at favorably. If you don't have a degree from an accredited brick & mortar college and the only degree you have is an on-line degree it will not be looked at as being credible, especially if its based on pass/fail and not letter grades. Just passing on the scoop.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made May 7 at 2015 12:25 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Thu, 07 May 2015 12:25:34 -0400

Other: There is almost a "pecking order"

-Ivy League is at the top of the pile.
-Non-Profit is better than for-profit
-School that is a "Brick and Mortar" school is better than an Online only school.
-Regional Accreditation is better than National (or none at all)
-Depending on the degree, being recognized by that governing body (the ABA, Civil Engineering Assoc, etc) is extremely important.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made May 7 at 2015 1:01 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Thu, 07 May 2015 13:01:02 -0400

This is a loaded question. In nursing, it is very much dependent on WHO/WHICH SCHOOL you go through... There are some schools that are considered puppy mills..... going through a few motions and cutting you a degree. If you go through a school that also has a brick and mortar school, it is much more respected from what I have seen. Name goes a long way..... if you take online classes from Harvard (if they have it) vs. from Grand Canyon University, I know which one will be more respected.... Grand Canyon is one of those that are edging towards the "puppy mill"..... It is all about researching the program, knowing what you want out of it, and being methodical about your selections. All this will truly determine if you would have been better off saving your money, low end return, well respected...but don't count on ever being QUITE as powerful as a full degree from Harvard!!

Response by Sgt Cody Dumont made May 7 at 2015 1:14 PM

Sgt Cody Dumont — Thu, 07 May 2015 13:14:43 -0400

No one cares where a degree is from, only that you one and it's an accredited school.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 7 at 2015 1:16 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 07 May 2015 13:16:47 -0400

It really depends on what your degree is in, and how you apply yourself towards the career field of your choice. For example, receiving an engineering degree online may be questionable as you may have no hands on experience with the work itself, however if you have work experience to back it up, it does help.

If you are already in the field and want the education to back you up, it's a good plan. Is it as powerful as a degree from Harvard, no. I would research the university you are getting your online degree from.

Response by CPO Benjamin Walker made May 7 at 2015 1:41 PM

CPO Benjamin Walker — Thu, 07 May 2015 13:41:13 -0400

The power of a degree is dependent upon the person evaluating it and you as a potential employee. I have come across many managers that feel a candidate is not worth the time if they do not have a degree from a major university. This is the narrow mind of those that have all of the book smarts in that one needs, and in some instances more. However, they lack the intellectual common sense to find their way out of a paper bag. The candidate that understands this and can figure out how to get around it is the most likely to get the position.

Response by SPC Jay Hefty made May 7 at 2015 2:04 PM

SPC Jay Hefty — Thu, 07 May 2015 14:04:37 -0400

Look hard at the uh-cl mba/mha. The bill of the.program is distance or located in the Texas Medical Center

Response by LTC John Shaw made May 7 at 2015 2:30 PM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 07 May 2015 14:30:13 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member I strongly recommend you go to the best possible accredited University for the geographic area and the career subject matter.

If healthcare then request a mentor through ACP-USA.org in one of your target organizations and hospitals and find out what they expect and respect from their candidates.

UofP may be just fine, but your future employer is the real judge of this.
I recommend using linkedin, they have a university 'board' that can be used to explore different institutions.

Response by LTC Scott O'Neil made May 7 at 2015 2:36 PM

LTC Scott O'Neil — Thu, 07 May 2015 14:36:01 -0400

I did my online Masters at Norwich University and they have been voted one of the best schools in the country and their programs are well respected and come with national recognition.

Response by SPC Nathan Freeman made May 7 at 2015 2:43 PM

SPC Nathan Freeman — Thu, 07 May 2015 14:43:03 -0400

I would go to a nationally accredited online program. You may never have time to attend full time. I've done both and I find sitting in a classroom boring which is counterproductive. Currently I am a student at liberty university as an online student. It really depends on the reputation of the school. Your degree from online courses is identical to the in class degree so who cares? Also Liberty University gives you a $100 book voucher per class which adds up. They are very military friendly.

Response by SrA Diego Alvarez made May 7 at 2015 3:16 PM

SrA Diego Alvarez — Thu, 07 May 2015 15:16:45 -0400

Depends on the subject. I think that as with anything in life, it all comes down to the quality of the individual.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made May 7 at 2015 7:03 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Thu, 07 May 2015 19:03:31 -0400

my wife is doing phoenix, observing how much work she has to do, i hope its respected, its really a ridiculous amount of work.

Response by MAJ Monique Ruiz made May 7 at 2015 7:15 PM

MAJ Monique Ruiz — Thu, 07 May 2015 19:15:41 -0400

I know Soldiers think that the military friendly schools catalog is a great guide, BUT, unfortunately, it has nothing to do with the public's vote. It's about the school who can pay the most money to put their name at the top. Bubble buster, I know.

I concur with people who say "stay away from University of Phoenix" and that "regionally accredited schools are more favorable than nationally."

Backwards planning is what I use best to make sure I know all the steps to accomplish something. Find someone who is already in the profession that you seek and do a professional informative interview. Ask questions about their educational background and anything they recommend you to do. You may need to ask a few of them to get a better consensus.

I've done these kind of interviews as homework projects, let me know if you want a copy of questions to ask. Good luck!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 8 at 2015 9:48 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 08 May 2015 09:48:24 -0400

Two daughters got degrees on line. One through Phoenix. The other did a MSN that was a hybrid, part on line and part campus. Worked out great for both.

From my private sector experience I will say that the type of degree compared to job requirements is much more important than where you get the degree. BTW our HR department always called schools to verify graduation.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 8 at 2015 10:03 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:03:11 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Please take the time to look at some of this investigative reporting. It is written about Florida but has more broad implications.

Be Positive of accreditation, consider non-profit schools, many big schools are beginning to offer online versions (like University of North Carolina)

http://pubsys.miamiherald.com/static/media/projects/2015/higher-ed-hustle/index.html

Higher-Ed Hustle | A Miami Herald investigation into Florida's for-profit college industry

While other states have reined in for-profit colleges caught defrauding students, Florida seems bent on embracing the schools no matter what.

Response by SPC Nate Lamphier made May 8 at 2015 10:03 AM

SPC Nate Lamphier — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:03:13 -0400

I'm on my phone now so wont write all of my thoughts on this subject due to my fat thumbs getting tired.

Online degrees are great and I'm sure you'd be surprised in knowing how many professionals, especially ones who earned them for career advancement (while working full time) have received an online degree.

In selecting a school though...my best advice is to attend a school who not only has a sports team, but one that is operating under the NCAA (whether that be at the division 1, 2 or 3 levels). Reason for that is the NCAA has set guidelines that meet the national accredited requirements. The NAIA division would also fall under this.

Also check to see if the University has dorms. They have dorms....that is also a good sign.

Schools that would fall under what I said above are also, more than likely going to have a discounted rate for current Military and Veterans.

Like I said, I'm on my phone so if you have anymore questions just hit me up and Id be more than happy to help you out since I have done the classroom bachelors degree and the online masters.

Response by SSgt Christopher Orlowski made May 8 at 2015 11:26 AM

SSgt Christopher Orlowski — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:26:33 -0400

The best way to find out how respected he University or College is would be to ask. I am currently in healthcare as well and before starting my current classes I checked with the HR department to see if the University was on the accepted list for reimbursement. If the University wasn't then odds are they look down on the accreditation.

But having a degree is much better than not having a degree, more and more employers are changing the requirements of jobs to having the degree with a minimum of a 2 year and experience just to get in the door.

Response by SSgt Michael Orcutt made May 8 at 2015 12:38 PM

SSgt Michael Orcutt — Fri, 08 May 2015 12:38:36 -0400

If you are going to work for the Government then they are fine. The federal government only makes sure the institution that you received your degree from is accredited. Private business might look at this differently. My 2 Cents is, your resume should reflect who you are as well as what GPA your received while completing your degree. I'd hire someone with solid job experience and a good GPA from an online university over someone that received a degree from a traditional school with spotty job experience.

Response by MSgt Rob Weston made May 8 at 2015 12:52 PM

MSgt Rob Weston — Fri, 08 May 2015 12:52:15 -0400

Do your research, the degree to be recognized must be regionally and nationally accredited and don't take the school site at face value. Go to edu.gov or search for regionally and national accreditation sites. My under grad was through AMU both regionally and nationally accredited, I am now in a masters program through UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio). My undergrad was recognized due to accreditation .

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 1:35 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 13:35:16 -0400

It really depends on the school in my limited experience. An online degree can be awesome, if you get it from the right school. University of Phoenix is well known for "handing out degrees" to anyone who pays the tuition and doesn't drop classes rather they deserve them or not. I know of several places that do not consider a degree from them to be a "real" degree and will not give your application a second look.

Research the school and the degree program you are going for. A good start would be a simple google search of schools that offer your degree program for prestige and merit. The higher you can get on that list, the better your degree will work for you.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 10:38 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 10:38:28 -0400

I have two online degrees. It is much more widely accepted today than it was five years ago. The programs are designed to work for the "working professional." Be sure to check for Regionally accredited schools. Most online universities fall under the same regions as Ivy League schools. Do, do your homework prior to finding a school.

Response by SCPO Al Bott made May 14 at 2015 11:41 AM

SCPO Al Bott — Thu, 14 May 2015 11:41:23 -0400

I have both my BS/Bus Mgmt and my MBA/Global Mgmt degress with UOP. I had a conversation with an individual about to pursue her degree at Univ of Mich and she commented it will be much better than just writting a check and getting a degree, like at Univ of Phoenix. I lit into her hard. I asked how long between her first class and her first paper being due? she said about a month, maybe more. I told her I had a paper due EVERY first day of every new class. When I told her how many papers I had written, how many stand up presentations, how many team projects I had been involved with, she appoligized. But she is the main stream person. WHen i started with UOP i was making exactly 40K my pay is now closer to 100K. The degree opens doors that might be closed otherwise. YOU keep them open or then open other doors that lead to more.

Response by LTC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2015 5:51 PM

LTC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 May 2015 17:51:25 -0400

A lot of big name schools offer more networking oppurunties for the graduate , graduates from the citadel and West Point have tons of options. But like many have said and online degree is better than nothing at all. Michigan State has a great CJ program online as an example. I am getting my masters online because I can't quit work to go to school full time so for me it's better than no degree
.

Response by SFC Andrew Kretz made May 31 at 2015 6:06 PM

SFC Andrew Kretz — Sun, 31 May 2015 18:06:35 -0400

SPC Kyle Kinas,

Another approach is to locate individuals that are in the career field that you desire to work in. Speak with them about your education concerns. This will not only provide you with a much more precise answer on which route to navigate, but it also will provide you with a network of individuals already in the career field.

You can also view LinkedIn profiles to see where likeminded individuals attended.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2016 10:24 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 May 2016 10:24:12 -0400

I personally got my B.S and MBA online and have never had an issue finding a job. In fact, employers look at my experience and certifications harder than they do where I graduated from. Going to school online is the norm for many and even Harvard University offers online degrees (Google Harvard Extension School).

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Sep 23 at 2016 11:21 AM

SFC J Fullerton — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 11:21:55 -0400

Online for profit schools are just the 21st century version of "Sally Struthers U." Instead of mail-order courses, it online and there are more of them available. If they are "nationally accredited", it is a red flag that it is a on-line only, for-profit school. Unfortunately, the credits rarely transfer and many employers do not hold these degree in high regard when comparing applicants.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Sep 24 at 2016 9:40 PM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 21:40:52 -0400

I have a friend of mine who is the department head at a small college in South Dakota. Suffice it to say, that when a resume with the UPhoenix or Capella comes across her desk, she dumps into file 13. She said it is a shame, but there are plenty of degrees that come from accredited brick and mortar schools "online," so she looks to these to fill her needs. Just a comment that needed to be said.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Sep 25 at 2016 4:21 PM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 16:21:10 -0400

You need to understand how accreditation works. First, the primary form of academic accreditation is regional accreditation. The valid accrediting bodies are:

*Middle States Comm'n on Higher Education
*New England Ass'n of Schools and Colleges
*Higher Learning Comm'n (formerly North Central Ass'n of Schools and Colleges)
*Northwest Accreditation Comm'n
*Southern Ass'n of Schools and Colleges
*Western Ass'n of Schools and Colleges

For example, Harvard is accredited by the New England Ass'n. The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Comm'n, just like Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and so on. While there may be some people who are dinosaurs and who will discriminate against an online degree, for some it it the best option. Both my associate's and bachelor's were from Regent's College of the University of the State of New York (now Excelsior College) and were distance learning degrees. I had absolutely no problem getting into law school with those, nor have I been discriminated against based on those.

Do your research and find a quality program, and it will serve you well.

Response by Veni Hansen made Sep 25 at 2016 7:15 PM

Veni Hansen — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 19:15:45 -0400

Honestly I would wait. A few years back my spouse actually wanted to earn a third degree through a major online college yet in the last semester decided to go to a state school for clinical purposes & when they accepted course credits we found out we wasted over $37,000 with the online "college" because they accepted NO credits from them... BUT! They DID accept credits from a no longer existing map dot college in Kansas that my spouse had attended in the mid 80s... Definitely be careful if you do decide to go that route because if the classes completed aren't accepted elsewhere then who knows how the degrees could be seen...

Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 26 at 2016 1:24 AM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 01:24:29 -0400

You might consider being a part time student. At Camp Lejeune I knew of a number of Marines who took 8-12 credit hours every semester, (including summer semester), at UNC Wilmington, instead of the traditional full-time load of 16-18. The commands were helpful in making it possible. They got the idea from fellow civilian students that couldn't balance a full-time schedule with the requirement to hold a full-time job. They were still finishing in 4-5 years.

Usually, (not always) the biggest factor affecting your salary 10 years into a company is your salary when you started. Some of that is determined by the college you went to. My wife is HR director for an environmental lab. The Ivy League and "top tier college" grads normally command a 10%-20% higher starting salary than the "others". At least in environmental sciences, on-line colleges credits from degree core curriculum credits transferred to a brick and mortar university are pretty much disqualifiers.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2016 4:23 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:23:00 -0400

Biggest thing to ensure is that it is Regionally accredited, not nationally.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 28 at 2016 4:46 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 16:46:54 -0400

Saw a number of folk talking regional vs. national accreditation. The value on them depends or one can be irrelevant. An example is the Engineering accreditation. If you want to register as a professional engineer, your curriculum must be ABET EAC credentialed, period. It's national. I don't recall regional bodies dabbling in this one. So it's important to find out what counts for what. One piece of Snake Oil out there related to engineering is a number of schools have Engineering Technology programs, some registered under ABET TAC. Those don't count for engineering registration. So just because it's ABET doesn't mean everything is the gold standard. Make sure your curriculum, degree, subsequent license, etc. pieces fit together.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 28 at 2016 4:54 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 16:54:05 -0400

The main thing that I encourage people to do is to see if your credits will transfer to a state university or a regionally accredited major private school. If you can't transfer your credits it is a huge negative and an indication that your school is not a very good investment. Frequently smaller state schools or community colleges are even cheaper than for profit diploma mills and their credits will transfer anywhere.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Aug 30 at 2017 2:40 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:40:44 -0400

i'm a bit biased... but i have also taught at some online schools. it depends on the degree you get. DeVry is fairly good. and their Keller business school is first rate. ITT Tech (now defunct) graduates wouldn't have gotten to the interview stage for me. University of Phoenix... if you are out for a fuzzy studies degree, go for it. If it's a technical degree, *I* wouldn't hire you, others might.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2022 11:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 23:17:05 -0500

I was always told that if it is a brick and mortar school that has an online option, you’re fine. It is the same degree from an accredited school. When it’s only online, you want to research it very carefully