The overall ranking of an institution offering an online degree is vital to determine its job marketability. Many leading state colleges and universities offer online programs, as do a growing number of respected private institutions, and degrees earned through these programs are often as marketable as any other degree. For-profit schools, or those that exist only online, may not have the prestige of established schools, and degrees from these institutions can be less marketable.
As with any college degree, the subject matter makes a considerable difference in whether it will result in a marketable profession. Consulting references such as the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook can provide students with an idea of the projected job growth in specific professions, as well as training required for those professions.
Employers tend to view recent graduates with good grades more favorably than those whose performance was average. However, obtaining experience in a field is an even better step towards improving job marketability. In this case, students pursuing online degrees can have an advantage. Since online learning is flexible and can be done at any time of day, online students are freer to pursue internships and part-time work that exposes them to their chosen profession.
Students who want to pursue an online degree should verify that the institution they are interested in is accredited. Students should give preference to colleges and universities that have well-established and respected conventional programs and offer online degrees that are based on those established degree programs.
Many employers favor degrees that, although earned largely online, also have an offline component. Most online degree programs offer this arrangement, with online courses offering flexibility supplemented with offline courses that provide more traditional instruction. Students who can afford the time to attend some in-person classes should consider this option to increase the job marketability of their online degrees.