10 Things Employers Think About Your Online Degree

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Online education's flexibility is ideal for those seeking a career change. For prospective online students, it's important to consider what employers think about job applicants who didn't earn a degree in a classroom setting.

Here are 10 facts to know about how today's employers view online degrees.

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As many well-respected universities now offer online programs, employers accept them to a greater extent than in the past, experts say.

"Schools got better at the delivery models, and hiring managers, particularly in the technology industries, became much more comfortable with it," Nicole Cox, chief recruitment officer at Decision Toolbox, a national recruitment firm, told U.S. News last year.

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Though perceptions have shifted, a range of perspectives remains, experts say. There are still some who would hesitate to hire or consider an online degree holder.

That will vary depending on the company, says Mary M. Massad, division president of recruiting services at the human resources firm Insperity. For instance, she says, in the human resources field, "Not every company is going to view an online degree in HR equally."

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Especially for lesser-known schools, employers will often verify whether an online program is accredited, meaning an outside authority ensures the program meets high standards of quality.

"The key for most of our clients and how we guide them is that the online degree is coming from an accredited program or school, and that really is the difference in what we're looking for," says Massad from Insperity.

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A stigma remains about for-profit online degree programs – which have faced widespread criticism about low completion rates and questionable recruitment practices in recent years, among employers, experts say – though some are becoming more receptive.

"My guess would be that if you've got five really qualified applicants, and one of them has the for-profit degree, it could work against them," Greg Keller, chief operating officer at the District of Columbia-based national recruiting firm Bloomfield & Company, told U.S. News in 2016.

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A recent study found many employers don't know a lot about competency-based programs, where online students must demonstrate mastery of specific skills. But employers don't necessarily view them negatively, and many want to learn more about the option.

Frank Green, managing principal at the staffing and recruiting firm ExecuSource, told U.S. News that if more hiring managers he works with understood what competency-based education entailed, they might see why it works for some students.

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During job interviews, Michael Urtiaga, then an online MBA student at the Indiana University—Bloomington Kelley School of Business, told U.S. News he's been asked how he balances his education with a job near Cincinnati. He then explains he earned it online.

That's pretty common, experts say. Hiring managers usually won't recognize an online degree until an interview, unless the school is known for being mostly virtual.

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Answering that question can reveal a candidate's decision-making abilities, particularly about working in different types of settings, one expert told U.S. News.

"I flat-out told them, 'I don't have the time to spend driving to these locations when I'm working full time, with a family,'" Billy Parsons, who earned his MBA online at the for-profit Capella University, told U.S. News.

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Online students often balance their education with a full-time job, and many employers would view that as a positive, says Chris Vennitti, president of HireStrategy, a District of Columbia-based staffing firm.

"The flexibility that it's offering – it's very appealing to an employer," he says, adding that strong time management illustrates a drive to further both an education and career.

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Recruiters say if a job candidate earned his or her degree online, a potential employer would likely ask whether they had similar opportunities for teamwork and student interaction with other students they would have gotten on a campus.

"That is a huge part of what we see employers look for today – is that ability to work within a team, to be a good team player, to collaborate," Mitchell says.

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Most employers won't base a hiring decision strictly on whether a degree was completed online; that becomes part of a much bigger picture of the candidate, Vennitti says.

"They're also going to look at certain things outside of the education piece," he says – including references, qualities such as intellect and talent, and work history.

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Find tips from online students and faculty on our Online Learning Lessons blog, and access our complete rankings of the Best Online Programs.

For additional advice on how to navigate online program admissions, connect with U.S. News Eduaction on Twitter or Facebook.