Still a Long Climb for Online Universities
Online degrees gain respect among hiring managers, but traditional degrees are still far more reputable.
Doreen Clark graduated from Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis in 2006 and immediately considered pursuing an M.B.A. When someone suggested she try an online degree, she was incredulous. "Who does that?" she says. "Online? I remember thinking it was just crazy."
But after some research, and realizing she would have difficulty obtaining an M.B.A. while working as a full-time public relations representative, the once-crazy idea seemed sane. A year after graduating from Metropolitan State, she enrolled in the University of Phoenix in hopes of obtaining an M.B.A. in marketing. She finished the program in October 2009 with a 3.91 GPA, but has been unable to find a job. She did, however, start her own PR company and lure a national retail client. "My education gave me added background and credentials for this step," she says. "[But] I still see that many large