Online schools are relatively new to education so it’s important to know all the facts before pursuing your degree. If you’re interested in an online school, take a few minutes to read about what’s true and what’s not in order to make an informed decision about your education. We’re here to set the story straight and debunk common myths associated with distance learning to help you in your decision-making process.

  • Online Degree Myth #1: Online Degrees Aren’t RealAre online degrees real? You bet they are. Now, an important caveat here: phony schools do exist. These “diploma mills” are illegal, and if you go through one of them, your degree will not be valid. But any accredited school will offer an authentic degree that will hold up in the real world.
  • Online Degree Myth #2: Online Degrees Are Less InexpensiveYou can prove this myth wrong so fast it’ll make your head spin.  Start searching different online degree programs, and click on the tuition link. If you’re still thinking “budget” at the end of ten minutes, then you’ve got more money to burn than the rest of us. Are online degrees less expensive than going to a real campus?  Sometimes, yes. In fact, many schools’ tuition rates are fairly comparable to on-campus rates. However, you do save money on gas and other expenses.
  • Online Degree Myth #3: Online Degrees Aren’t Accepted in Corporate AmericaIf you get an online degree through an accredited institution, your degree is going to look exactly the same to employers as a degree from a traditional school.  Let’s repeat that: exactly the same.  And the good news is that corporate America knows this. The key here is accreditation, and we can’t stress this enough: go to an accredited online school.
  • Online Degree Myth #4: Online Schools are EasierFor all you slackers out there that have treasured the ambition to get a degree without having to actually “work” for it, you’ll be devastated by this news flash. Online schools are just as challenging as traditional ones. Why? Because you have to be self-disciplined. Without an instructor looking over your shoulder, it’s up to you to take the initiative. Is it easy? Nope. So if you want to slack through school, you might be better off taking “Napping 101” on campus.

So there you have it, four of the most common online degree myths debunked. Are there more? You bet. But if you can get past these few, then you’ll see that an online degree is an effective way to continue your education.