Online universities are more popular than ever, but recruiters say they may not be worth a person?s time.
“Employers do not give much credence to online degrees, especially those with questionable certifications. … [They] aren?t worth the cost of the stamp,” said Washington state-based career counselor Robin Ryan, the author of “Winning Resumes.”
Two of Maryland?s biggest online degree programs are University of Phoenix Online, a for-profit institution with a Howard County campus, and University of Maryland University College.
UMUC, which also offers classes at College Park, enrolls about 90,000 students worldwide, with almost 90 percent taking at least some online courses; University of Phoenix Online enrolls about 300,000 students, with 1,500 in Maryland.
Technical employers such as engineering, software and systems administrations firms prefer employees with hands-on experience, which is achieved in a typical brick-and-mortar university environment, said Jackie Heinrich, senior technical recruiter for Columbia-based recruitment firm Strategic Resource Group.
Online-university students also may miss teamwork projects, said Eileen Levitt, executive director of Columbia-based human resources firm The HR team.
Criticisms of online universities are false, said Timothy Moscato, University of Phoenix?s Columbia campus director.
“University of Phoenix is held to the highest academic standards,” he said, adding that the school has been accredited since its inception.
University of Maryland University College is “part of the University of Maryland system,” said Lawrence Leak, vice provost for academic affairs at the college.
“We believe our name means something to the average student, and people place a premium on the quality of the degree.”
Levitt said gaining an online degree has some positives, such as demonstrating the ability to multitask.
