Will an Online Psychology Degree be as Prestigious as a Traditional Online Psychology Degree?

The Prestige of Online Psychology Degrees

If you are interested in learning more about the prestige of online psychology degrees, you should know that making such determinations is often considered in context of how hiring managers view the degree. In an important infographic titled “How Do Employers View Online Degrees?” studies revealed that employers consider three factors when determining the value of a degree that was earned online. The three factors are:

1. Regional Accreditation

According to the infographic, the U.S. News & World Report produces an annual list entitled “Best Online Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs.” Only schools that have attained regional accreditation are listed. Additionally, the infographic found that all of the executives questioned stated that they view regional accreditation as a factor that contributes to the credibility of an online degree.

2. Traditional Campus

Of the top 10 online colleges in the U.S., each one has a traditional campus. Moreover, the “How Do Employers View Online Degrees?” includes some interesting statistics regarding traditional campuses. First, 76% of academics think that online degrees are as credible as traditional ones. However, if the online college has a traditional campus, this statistic rises to 89%. Finally, if the college does not have a traditional campus, the rate falls to 70%.

3. Established Brand

Studies reveal that HR directors and CEOs value degrees from well-known learning institutions much more than those obtained from less known colleges. And of the 5 online colleges ranked as the top 5, all of them have a traditional campus which has been around for at least 107 years. Finally, the majority of hiring managers who were asked what components give value to an online MBA listed school recognition as a top factor. And although this analysis pertains directly to MBA degrees, the findings are still significant for individuals pursuing online psychology degrees.

Putting It All In Perspective

As made plain by the information listed above, the majority of employers will view an online psychology degree as just as valuable as one obtained from a traditional campus. However, the online learning institution must conform to the aforementioned criteria in order for the degree to be deemed credible in the mind of hiring managers. With this thought in mind, you may want to ensure that you attend a school that conforms to each of the criteria. However, there are a plethora of other factors you should take into consideration before you make a final decision regarding whether to obtain your psychology degree online and which institution to earn it from. Some of the factors you need to take into consideration include what type of scheduling flexibility the program will afford, whether you will save money or spend more by obtaining the degree online, and whether you can graduate faster by obtaining the degree through distance learning.

Conclusion

If you are thinking about obtaining an online psychology degree, you should know that doing so can be the start of a personally and professionally rewarding career. Now that you have some basic information regarding the prestige of online psychology degrees, you can make an informed decision regarding whether this is the right educational path for you.

Related Resource: Advantages of Obtaining an Online Degree in Psychology