Employers value online degrees accredited by respected professional accrediting agencies as much as those earned by on-campus students. However, with the proliferation of online diploma mills, finding a quality, accredited online degree programs takes the proper research.

Accreditation

Employers hiring in any given field look for employees who have earned degrees accredited by the respected professional organization in that field. For example, employers in the engineering field look for those with ABET-accredited degrees.

Significance

Professional accrediting agencies maintain the same standards for both online and campus-based schools. Employers view students with an accredited online degree from a quality university no differently than they do students who studied on campus.

Professional Value

Many accredited online degree programs partner with professional organizations and companies in their respective fields so that students can complete internships in their home communities. Employers value these professional partnerships and the experience they give online students.

Benefits

Online degrees allow working students to complete distance programs from home, thus providing them with the opportunity to continue working and further develop professional careers and ties with employers in their local communities.

Warning

Employers do not respect degrees that come from diploma mills or which have not been accredited by the principal professional organization which oversees advanced education in a given field. Be sure to pursue only those degree programs which have received the proper accreditation.

Source:

American Association of Colleges of Nurses: CCNE Accreditation

ABET.org: Accreditation Basics

Council for Higher Education: Overview of U.S. Accreditation