Are Online Degree Courses Worth It? Unveiling the Truth!

Are you thinking about getting an online degree but unsure if it’s worth it? You’re not alone! Dive into our article as we break down the real deal behind online courses. Spoiler: You might be in for a few surprises!

Online degree courses have become increasingly popular in recent years. They offer several advantages over traditional on-campus programs, including being more flexible, convenient, and often less expensive. 

But are these worth it? In this article, we will get into some myth-busting. 

Myth 1: Online Degrees are Not Accredited

Accreditation is a process that ensures educational institutions and their programs meet specific quality standards. Both traditional and online degree programs undergo this process.

In India, an institution must have existed for at least five years and be accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and the University Grant Commission (UGC) to offer an online degree. Additionally, it should rank among the top 100 universities in India according to specific criteria.

Courses like:

• Masters of Business Administration-General at Chandigarh University
• Master of Business Administration (Online) at Parul University
• UGC-entitled Online MBA at Manipal University Jaipur

is both UGC and NAAC accredited.

Myth 2: Online degree courses are not as good as on-campus degree

Online programs are just as good as on-campus degrees. At least, this is what the Statista report suggests.

Online degrees offer a variety of ways for students to interact with each other (through discussion forums, Teams, Zoom, skype chats, and WhatsApp groups) and with their Professors (in doubt class and video-conferencing sessions).

Similar to offline classes, students can collaborate on projects and assignments. In addition, many online degree courses offer opportunities for students to participate in virtual extracurricular activities – webinars, social events, and campus visits.

The professors in these online degree programs are mainly those who have graduated/post-graduation/doctorate from esteemed organizations like IIT, NIT, IIM, and ISB.

But in online degree courses, you will get one advantage: these degree programs also include industry experts who give the latest industry experience.

The Executive PG Programme in Data Science offered by upGrad has the experience faculties of IIIT-Banglore and the industry experts from Gramener and Walmart Labs.

Myth 3: Online degree courses are only for working professionals

Online degree courses are for everyone, regardless of age, background, or employment status. Many traditional-age students are choosing to attend online colleges and universities.

According to a 2019 National Center for Education Statistics survey, 36% of online students were under 24.

Courses like:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at BITS Pilani
• Online BCA in Data Analytics at Amity University
• Online BCA in Cloud and Security at Amity University

can be done by the student who just passed the 12th class, and these also can be done by working professionals. 

In India, the government plans to open e-universities offering online degrees in BA, BCom, MCom, BCA, MCA, BBA, MBA, BSc Maths, MSc Maths, Journalism, MA communication, etc.

Myth 4: Online degree courses do not offer credit points

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India has envisioned a learning outcomes-based curricular framework for all programs of study, including online programs. This framework ensures that online courses are structured with credit points like traditional ones.

Moreover, in a statement, UGC mentioned that the students enrolled in online degree programs can transition to e-universities, where they can accumulate 130 to 140 credit points in two and a half years.

Institutes like IIT Guwahati have launched online degree programs such as BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, which have specific credit requirements. to complete this degree, you must have to acquire 299 credits.

Myth-5: Online degree courses are not entertained by employers 

Employers are increasingly accepting of online degrees. A 2019 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey found that 91% of HR professionals would consider hiring a candidate with an accredited online degree.

There are a few reasons for this shift in attitude. 

First, employers realise that online degrees can be as rigorous and high-quality as on-campus degrees. 

Second, employers are seeing that online students often have the same skills and experience as on-campus students, and they may even have additional skills, such as time management and self-discipline.

The institutes offering online degree programs have already partnered with big companies. 

For instance, the MBA specialization in HR Analytics at Amity University partners with companies like Godrej, Accenture, Antal, Fractal, and Raymond for student placements.

BE AWARE OF TAKING ADMISSION IN THE PROHIBITED ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMMES