With today's advances in technology, and an increase in the number of high school students choosing to continue on to accredited colleges and universities, alternative means of getting a college education are showing up all over the Internet.
There are hundreds of degree programs, ranging from computer science to fashion design, which can be completed online.
According to the Web site "Online School Guide for Online Schools & Campus Programs," there are over 55 master's degree programs that can be attained solely through online courses.
Even with the abundance of online degree programs, and the comparable requirements, many employers, graduate schools, and students doubt that a degree earned online will hold as much weight as one earned at a brick and mortar school.
"I don't think an online degree is the answer," said John Wichman, president of Creative Concepts of WNY Inc., a media production business. "There's a certain level of commitment demonstrated when attending a university. You don't just learn from books; you learn from interacting with the professors and the other students as well. A traditional degree involves interacting with individuals, groups, and exposing yourself to various ideas."
Many of these virtual universities have grand claims. The Web site for Saint Leo University says that it is "one of the largest online undergraduate degree programs in the nation, ranked first among Catholic colleges & universities in terms of bachelor's degrees awarded in business."
Saint Leo University is one of many online degree granting schools whose graduation requirements include the completion of 120 academic credit hours - comparable to the requirements of the University at Buffalo, for example.
Similarly, Internet undergrads must complete 45 credit hours of general education requirements, 15 to 21 credit hours of electives, and 54 to 66 credit hours must be components of a chosen major.
With the number of college graduates increasing steadily each year, the type of degree and the institution from which graduates earn a degree is quite often a big factor in where he or she ends up after school.
"It is very important that students are prepared for graduate school, have met all the previous requirements, and possess the ability to succeed," said Michael Evensis, a graduate admissions counselor for the University at Albany. "Although I can't speak for others, I would presume that faculty with traditional degrees would probably prefer graduate students with a traditional degree as well."
Online colleges and universities advertise that they offer degrees that are flexible and more convenient than the customary college degree and while many students said they wouldn't mind taking an occasional online course, several said they feel an entire degree earned online may not be as good as it sounds.
"In light of all the Internet's false Web sites, I wouldn't trust an online degree," said Natalya Alpert, a junior biotechnology major. "Even if the degree is valid, I don't think you would get the same level of education. An online degree lacks the competition and interaction of actually going to college."
While many students are willing to take a few "easy" classes a semester to boost GPAs or make time for other activities, according to Ryan Hickey, a sophomore business major, in the case of degrees earned online, what sounds too good to be true may very well be.
"I don't think (degrees earned online) are equivalent to a regular college degree because of the amount of time a regular student spends in the classroom on a day-to-day basis, an online degree seems too easy," he said.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
