The level of degree comes into play when an employer compares a traditional and online degree, according to Online-College-Degree-Review.com. Many employers view an online bachelor's degree with skepticism, but others view these online degrees as acceptable. However, graduate degrees attained online usually are just as credible to employers as traditional graduate degrees. Still, even though 49 percent of employers encountered applicants with online degrees, only 19 percent actually hired one, according to a 2008 survey of hiring managers conducted by career publisher Vault, Inc.
Online degrees carry more weight in some industries as compared to others when viewed by employers, according to CollegeConfidential.com. For example, employers tend to accept online degrees in fields such as information technology, accounting and other knowledge-based fields. The highest acceptance rate of online degrees are likely in the fields of Internet and new media, high technology and marketing versus more traditional fields such as law and medicine, according to Vault Inc.
When employers look at a job applicant's degree, they might question the credential if it comes from a school with which they are not familiar. This is because many degree mills carry legitimate-sounding names but offer degrees based on "life experience" for a small fee. When students are looking for an online school, they should make sure the distance learning institution is legitimate. They also should note that choosing an online school that advertises heavily, such as Capella University or the University of Phoenix, will automatically relay to an employer that the student went the online route. The best way to pursue an online degree is to find a well-known traditional school that offers the same campus degree program online and is accredited by a regional accreditation group.
Every hiring manager is different, so the preferences of individual hiring managers determine whether an online degree is considered just as credible as a traditional degree. Most hiring managers in Vault Inc.'s 2008 survey favored traditional degree-holders. However, some employers prefer a candidate to have more work experience and don't pay as much attention to the candidate's education background, while other employers strongly emphasize academic accomplishments. As candidates start out in their field, their academic history likely will play the most major role in an employer's job decision.
When an employer compares an online and traditional degree from job candidates, the remainder of the candidates' resumes also establishes a degree's credibility. If job candidates' resumes show that they chose to complete the online degree to allow them to work full time while going to school, an online degree might carry more weight. Employers also might be more accepting of an online degree-holder who also took some traditional classes, has work experience in a related field or has career accomplishments. However, employers might look down on a candidate who pursued an online degree without an apparent reason or has no work experience to back up the degree.