Distance Education Degree

With so many distance education schools and degrees currently available to hungry learners everywhere, many education market analysts have begun to ask the question: what is your distance education degree worth? Is it worth less than a traditional four year degree earned at a brick and mortar building, or is it worth more, or the same? The answer, of course, varies on the degree, but in general, here are some guidelines on evaluating the worth of your distance education degree.

The Value of Your Distance Education – What Factors Come into Play?

What are the factors that decide the worth of your distance education degree? There are many factors that come into play. The first factor, of course, has to do with where you received your distance education degree and what you studied. There are many fine and well-respected institutions of higher learning that now offer distance education degrees. A distance education degree from a college or university with good credentials and accreditation is worth just as much as a degree earned by attending traditional in-person courses on campus.

Certificates and Degrees – What's the Difference?

Most colleges and universities that offer a distance education degree offer both certificates and degrees. A certificate is a great way to earn credentials by taking a block of coursework that earns you credentials in a specific field. Certificates are available in variety of program study areas, including fields as wide and disparate as TV and Broadcasting, writing, nursing, fire science, automotive repair and teaching certification. There are also many distance education colleges and universities that allow you to earn four-year university degrees through distance education courses. A distance education degree from a well-accredited institution of higher learning is worth just as much as a traditional degree.

Beware of the Diploma Mill

The popularity of distance learning has brought about numerous start-ups looking to cash in on the popularity and convenience of these types of educational opportunities. Beware of the diploma mill—those who seek to confer diplomas and degrees that are not really valid.